DENVER – The [14/16] University of Denver men's lacrosse team dug out of an early hole to take a 6-5 lead before eventually falling to [19/13] Jacksonville 11-9 on Saturday afternoon at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
 
Inside the Box Score:
Denver's midfield was responsible for all nine goals and 10 of the 12 points on Saturday. Two-time First Team All-American Jack Hannah finished with five points on a team-high four goals and a helper. Ted Sullivan also netted his second hat trick of the season.
 
On the defensive side, Jack Thompson was stellar in the goal, stopping a season-high 18 shots, against 11 goals allowed. Malik Sparrow had three CTs and two grounders.
 
First Quarter:
Jacksonville was the faster team out of the gate, outscoring the Pioneers 4-1 in the first 11:29. Sullivan scored the lone goal for the Pioneers, his seventh of the season. Hannah stopped a 3-0 JU run in the quarter to make it 4-2 to the visitors through the opening 15 minutes.
 
Second Quarter:
The Dolphins struck first in the second as well to push their lead back to three, but a second from Sullivan a few minutes later and a goal in transition from Jake Edinger cut the margin to one at 5-4 heading into the locker room.
 
Jack Thompson was the story of the first half, making 11 saves in the opening 30 minutes to keep Denver in the game.
 
Both teams were physical on the defensive end in the first half as the two teams combined for 23 turnovers.
 
Third Quarter:
Hannah scored the first two goals of the half to put the Pioneers in-front for the first time in the afternoon, but Jacksonville responded with three-straight to take a two-goal advantage with 3:07 to play in the quarter.
 
Riley Curtis kissed a bouncer off two posts and in to cut the lead to one, but Jacksonville rounded out the third-quarter scoring with a tally after a man-up opportunity expired to take a two-goal lead into the final period.

Fourth Quarter:
Jacksonville went on its second 3-0 run of the half with the first two in the second to make it 11-7 with 10:31 to play. Sullivan's hat trick goal on the man-up and Hannah's fourth tally of the afternoon with 1:08 to go got Denver back to within two, but the Pioneers were unable to get a 10^th to make a game of it in the final minute.
 
What's Next
The University of Denver men's lacrosse team, Presented By Your Hometown Toyota Stores, will be back in action tomorrow morning when the Pioneers welcome Canisius to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Faceoff is set for 11 a.m. MT and will be broadcast live on ESPN Denver 1600 and Pioneer Vision.
 
For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
 
TICKETS:
Single game tickets for the 2022 Denver men's lacrosse season are on sale now, and can be purchased 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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