DENVER – Following the longest offseason in its history, the [5] University of Denver men's lacrosse team defeated Utah 9-8 on Saturday afternoon at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
Turning Point:
Jack Hannah gave Denver's offense the spark that it needed, quickly turning a 3-1 halftime deficit into a 3-3 game to start the third quarter.
Leaders:
Ethan Walker had a hat trick and an assist and Hannah added two goals and a helper to lead the Pioneers offensively. Yale transfer
Jackson Morrill had a goal and two assists in his Pioneer debut.
Quotable:
"Credit to Utah. They came out and played with a lot of heart. We knew they were going to, but they did a great job today. Their goalie was fabulous. I'm proud of our guys for having that good run we had, down 3-1 to up 9-6. We've got to get better in a matter of four days, that's for sure." –
Head Coach Bill Tierney
First Quarter:
Utah scored the only goal of the first quarter with 3:20 remaining in the period. Denver outshot the Utes 9-7 in the first 15 minutes of the season.
Second Quarter:
Walker tied things up with 12:37 to go in the half, but Utah got the final two tallies of the second to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage at the intermission.
Denver went 0-for-4 on the man-up in the first half (all four 30 second penalties). Hannah led Denver with seven shots in the first half (one on goal), while Walker took six of Denver's 25 (four on goal).
Third Quarter:
After Denver's offense was held to one goal in a half for the first time since an 11-10 win over Towson in 2018, Hannah got Denver back on the right track with two quick goals to start the quarter to tie things back up at 3-3. Utah retook the lead at both 4-3 and 5-4, but two goals in the final 63 seconds from
Ethan Walker gave Denver its first lead at 6-5. Morrill tallied his first goal in Crimson and Gold in the third stanza.
Fourth Quarter:
Ted Sullivan,
Drew Erickson and a behind the back tally from
JJ Sillstrop gave Denver goals seven, eight and nine on the afternoon, but the offense went cold in the final 9:30 and Utah pulled it back to within one on Tyler Bradbury's third of the day at 9-8 with 1:53 to go.
After Morrill drew a penalty in the final minute, Walker was able to run out the remaining time on the clock and the Pioneers held onto their ninth-consecutive season-opening win.
Significant Stats:
- Walker's man-down goal was Denver's first since Connor Cannizzaro scored man down against No. 17 Air Force in the 2017 NCAA Tournament First Round.
- Walker's hat trick was the 28th of his career, after two in the shortened 2020 season.
- Walker's four points moved him to within two points of Connor Cannizzaro for second on Denver's all-time list, while the three goals tied Cannizzaro's career mark for third in that Denver chart.
- Kyle Smith tied a career-high with three caused turnovers.
- Danny Logan's three ground balls moved him up to 10th on Denver's all-time list at 143.
Up Next:
Denver will open its 2021 road schedule next weekend with a two-game trip to the Carolinas. The Pioneers will start the weekend with Duke on Friday at 1 p.m. MT, before heading just around the corner to take on North Carolina on Sunday at 9 a.m. MT (Feb. 7).
2021 Home Games:
Due to city and state public health orders, spectators are not permitted at home games. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you fill Peter Barton when restrictions are lifted.
Virtual Season Ticket:
Activate your exclusive virtual benefits for the 2021 season! Denver Athletics is committed to giving you the best experience possible, even in your own home. When you opt-in to become a Virtual Season Ticket Holder you gain access to exclusive season-long benefits with your donation going towards the
5280 Together COVID Relief Fund. This fund will provide crucial resources to our student-athletes as Denver Athletics faces incredible financial challenges in the upcoming year.
For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
DONATE:
Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in competition and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
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