May 4, 2004

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. - Three different Pioneers contributed two goals apiece but the University of Denver men's lacrosse team could not hold on as it was defeated by Duke, 10-9, on Tuesday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C. Junior Greer Hanlon (Libertyville, Ill.), sophomore Geoff Snider (Calgary, Alberta) and freshman Ryan Zordani (Littleton, Colo.) each added two goals apiece in the loss. The Pioneers fall to 8-6 (3-2 GWLL) on the year, while the Blue Devils improve to 5-7.

Denver rallied from a two-goal deficit in the fourth period, knotting the game at 9-9 on sophomore Adam Miller's (Columbus, Ohio) unassisted goal at the 8:59 mark. Duke then controlled the face-off, and Fred Krom, who entered the game with one goal on the year, scored his second goal of the day on an assist from Matt Danowski to provide the difference as the Blue Devils snapped a six-game losing streak.

Duke jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first nine minutes of action as Bret Thompson, Chris Haunss and Danowski found the back of the net. The Pioneers responded with three straight goals of their own by junior Scott Davidson (Guilford, Conn.), Snider and Zordani. Haunss and Ben Fenton then scored for a 5-3 Duke lead, but Snider and Hanlon matched the goals for the game's second deadlock. After Haunss scored an extra man goal from Dan Flannery with 6:39 remaining in the second quarter, Hanlon sent the teams into the locker room tied at 6-6 with an unassisted goal.

Haunss opened the scoring in the third period with a goal from Danowski at the 12:50 mark, and Krom tallied an unassisted goal with 9:35 left in the quarter for an 8-6 Duke lead. After Zordani scored, Ben Fenton scored at the 9:37 mark of the fourth period for a 9-7 Blue Devil advantage. Just seven seconds later, junior Matt Brown (Burnaby, B.C.) found the back of the net for the Pioneers and, after the ensuing face-off, Denver tied the game at 9-9 on Miller's goal at the 8:59 mark.

Hanlon and Zordani each scored two goals while Davidson logged one goal and eight ground balls while winning 10-of-12 face-offs. Hanlon has tallied 12 points in the last five games (11g, 1a), while Brown, Denver's leading scorer, successfully recorded a goal or an assist in every game this season.

In goal, junior goalie Brian Sanders (Columbus, Ohio) was credited with 10 saves while Duke's Aaron Fenton registered eight saves.

The Pioneers will await a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Monday, May 10.