DENVER – The [6/7] University of Denver men's lacrosse program continued to find different ways to win this season, coming out on top in a defensive slugfest by a count of 7-4 over [RV/-] Providence on Saturday afternoon at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium. Saturday's win clinched the one-seed in next month's BIG EAST Conference Tournament for the Pioneers, and their first conference trophy since 2021.
 
KEY PERFORMANCES:
Malcolm Kleban continued his hot run of form in-between the pipes for the Pioneers, finishing with a 71.4% save percentage after stopping 10 of 14 shots he faced.
 
Alec Stathakis went 11-for-14 from the faceoff stripe with six ground balls and a caused turnover to play a vital role in possessions.
 
Jimmy Freehill had two caused turnovers and four ground balls, Jake Edinger had a pair of caused turnovers and three grounders and Adam Hangland had a caused turnover and four ground balls to lead the Denver defense.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, Ty Hussey and Cody Malawsky finished with a pair of goals apiece. Malawsky added an assist on Michael Lampert's fourth-quarter tally to lead all players with three points.
 
Noah Manning and Lampert had a goal and a helper apiece.
 
NOTES:

• The Pioneers won their eighth BIG EAST regular season title (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024) and their 15^th Division I conference regular season title overall.
• DU improved to 16-0 all-time against Providence, including 9-0 in Rhode Island.
• Denver held an opponent under five goals for the first time since limiting Utah to four in February of 2023.
• Denver is 3-1 when scoring fewer than 10 goals this season (.750), but is only 17-33 since 2010 (.340).
• The Pioneers scored seven goals in a win for the first time since March 23, 2019 at No. 7 Towson (W, 7-6).
• Malcolm Kleban finished with double digit saves for the seventh time this season and the 10^th time in his career.
• Michael Lampert extended his team-best point streak to 11 games (16-19-35) and his goal streak to 10 (16).
• Denver was shutout in the first quarter for the first time since March 24 against Duke.
• The Pioneers defense shut the opposition out in a quarter (second) for the third time in the last four games.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter:
A heavy defensive battle in the opening 12 minutes saw Denver outshoot Providence 8-4, but it was the Friars that struck first when Richie Joseph buried a goal in transition to open the Saturday afternoon scoring.
 
Denver had a couple shots at an equalizer, but the Friars held a 1-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
Second Quarter:
After a defensive stop for the Pioneers on one end, Noah Manning finally got the Pios on the board with 13:28 to go in the first half on an unassisted goal.
 
Following Malcolm Kleban's fourth save of the opening half, Richie Connell stepped right into a 10-yard shot to bury his fourth goal of the last two games and give Denver its first lead with 9:05 to play before halftime.
 
Ty Hussey closed out the first-half scoring with a dodge down the left alley before burying his fourth of the season.
 
Third Quarter:
Providence opened the second half scoring with a goal from Michael Chabra to cut the Denver lead to 3-2 with 12:17 to go in the frame. Hussey responded several minutes later with his second of the afternoon to push the Pios lead back to two.
 
After winding down most of the quarter clock, Chris Cusolito scored for the home side to trim it to one once more with 40 seconds to play in the period. Following another Alec Stathakis faceoff win, Manning fed Cody Malawsky at the top of the crease, who bobbled it, caught it in mid air and in one motion shot it behind his head for his first of the day to send the Pioneers into the final quarter up 5-3.
 
Fourth Quarter:
Joseph got his second of the game for the Friars with 10 minutes to play to cut Denver's lead to 5-4.
 
Denver had several good looks at the cage before Malawsky buried his second of the half from 10-yards out to make it 6-4 with 3:45 to play.
 
Michael Lampert gave Denver another insurance goal after the Pioneers broke the Providence 10-man ride. Edinger hit Malawsky who hit Lampert on top of the crease for Denver's seventh of the day and its first three-goal lead.
 
UP NEXT:
Denver will close out the regular season on Friday night, when the Pioneers welcome Marquette to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Opening faceoff on Pioneer Vision and 104.3 The Fan HD3, is set for 7 p.m. MT.
 
TICKETS:
Single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
 
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