PHILADELPHIA – The No. 5/6 University of Denver men’s lacrosse team dropped a 12-10 decision to No. 20 Penn on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field. The loss brings the Pioneers’ record to 3-2 on the season, while Penn improves to 2-1.

Denver was unable to overcome a late four-goal rally by Penn in the closing 9:36 of play, despite a five-point performance by sophomore transfer Jack Bobzien (Littleton, Colo.). The attackman finished with three goals and two assists, bringing his season hat trick total to four and his career total to five.

Freshman Zach Miller (Steamburg, N.Y.) also finished with a hat trick, his third of the season, while junior Wesley Berg (Coquitlam, B.C.) tallied two goals. Senior captain Jeremy Noble (Orangeville, Ontario) and junior Erik Adamson (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) both posted a goal and an assist each, while freshman Tyler Pace (Mission, B.C.) and senior Harrison Archer (Washington, D.C.) provided an assist each on the day.

Starting at face-off for the first time this season, sophomore Joe Bano (Dublin, Ohio) won 14-of-23 face-offs on the day. Junior Sean Cannizzaro (Cazenovia, N.Y.) led the team with six ground balls and freshman defender Christian Burgdorf (Westfield, N.J.) caused a team-high three turnovers.

Junior goalie Ryan LaPlante (Fort Collins, Colo.) made seven saves in the first half and senior goalie Jamie Faus (Lakeville, Conn.) made one in the final 30 minutes of play.

Nick Doktor led the Quakers with four points off two goals and two assists, while Kevin Brown finished with three goals. Isaac Bock and Pat Berkery both chipped in with three points each.

Denver held the advantage in shots (35-32), ground balls (34-24) and face-offs (14-of-24 to 10-of-24)

The Pioneers jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter off goals from Bobzien, Berg and Miller. The Quakers answered by out-scoring the Pioneers 5-2 in the second quarter, including a goal in the final two seconds before the half to cut the Pioneers’ lead to 7-6. The run included two man-up goals by the Quakers.

Penn continued with putting the pressure on in the third quarter, out-scoring the Pioneers 2-1, to tie the game at 8-8 heading into the third quarter. Berg made it 9-8 for Denver, scoring a man-up goal off a pass from Noble, but Penn answered with the first of three straight minutes later.

Trailing 11-9, Adamson netted his first of the game, second of the season, with 5:22 remaining to cut the lead to one goal. However, Penn sealed the win with 2:42 remaining as Bock scored his second of the game to make it 12-10.

Denver remains on the road, traveling to Orange County, Calif., to take on top-ranked Notre Dame in the Pacific Coast Shootout on Saturday March 8 at 2 p.m. MT.

 

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