March 1, 2003

Box Score

West Point, N.Y. - - The University of Denver men's lacrosse team lost a close 12-10 decision to No. 20 Army today in West Point, N.Y, despite holding a 10-8 advantage with 10 minutes left in the game. Senior sensation Mike Kenlay (Wilmette, Ill.) led the Pioneers in scoring, tallying two goals and setting up another. The loss drops Denver's record to 2-2 overall (0-1 on the road) while the Black Knights climb to 1-1.

Army opened up the game with guns blazing, scoring six goals in the first eight minutes but sophomores Matt Brown (Burnaby, B.C.) and Scott Davidson (Guilford, Conn.) kept Denver within striking distance with goals at 10:30 and 7:46, respectively. Pioneer head coach Jamie Munro pushed the team to gain momemtum as the quarter wound down, and the Saint Louis duo of juniors Jeff Biggs (St. Louis, Mo.) and Andrew Huelskoetter (St. Louis. Mo.) each responded with a goal to bring the score to 6-4 at the end of one.

The defensive specialists took over in the second quarter with neither team finding the net through the first eight minutes, before Huelskoetter fired home his second goal of the game from two yards out with 6:46 on the clock. A late Black Knight penalty (2:45) then gave the road team another opportunity and Kenlay threaded the needle to tie the game 6-6. The tie was short-lived however, with Army scoring in the last minute to end the half with a one-goal advantage.

The third stanza was another close battle, but the Pioneers finally broke through the Black Knights' armor to regain the lead half way through the quarter with quick goals from Biggs and Kenlay (7:48 and 6:59) to put Denver up 8-7 going into the final frame.

The Pioneers began the fourth looking to build upon their narrow lead with Brown scoring from just outside the right side of the crease (13:49) but Army kept things close with a tally less then a minute later. Not wanting to give the home team momentum, sophomore Christian Anderson (Madison, Conn.) matched Denver's biggest lead with a goal 37 seconds later to put his squad up 10-8. Then, at the 10:08 mark, the Pioneers were called for two slashing penalties that gave the Black Knights a two-man advantage. Fourteen seconds later (9:54) Army found an empty lane and closed back within a goal. DU then watched the Black Knights take control of the game with three-unanswered goals. The final four minutes drained away with the road team unable to regain their edge.

Denver will play its next game within the comfy confines of Pioneers Field when the squad returns home to play Siena on Monday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Team stats-Shots: Denver 38; Army 41.Groundballs: Denver 22; Army 41.Clears (No.-Fail): Denver 7-26; Army 19-26.Faceoffs: Denver 7-26; Army 19-26.Penalties: Denver 6/5:30; Army 4/3:00.Extra-Man Opps: Denver 1-3; Army 1-4.Attendance: 583.