Photo Credit: Hofstra University
JJ Seaward, Beat Writer DU Pioneers
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Denver Pioneers (8-2) would continue to be successful against the Big East division, as they would defeat the Villanova Wildcats (6-5) by a final score of 16-11. In the victory, DU’s junior faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste registered his first career hat-trick with the Pioneers. Along with recording his first career hat-trick, Baptiste would dominate in the face-off zone once again going 23 for 28.
Baptiste would not be the only Pioneer who would have a great game, as 2016 Tewaaraton Finalist Connor Cannizzaro and freshman Ethan Walker would register nine total points between the two. Cannizzaro would post a four game night with a hat-trick, and one assist while Walker would score two goals and 3 assists for the win over the Wildcats.
In the first quarter, the Pioneers would get off to a quick start by tallying four goals from four different Pioneers. French would start the Pioneers run as he would wire a shot past Villanova goalie Testa at the 10:17 mark. Villanova would quickly bury the equalizer at 8:25 from Devin McNamara.
The Pioneers would get things going again, as French would follow up with a feed from Walker to give the Pioneers the 2-1 lead. Junior Connor Donahue and Cannizzaro would each put a goal away to increase the Pioneers lead to 4-1 heading into the second quarter.
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Villanova would string a few goals together to start off the second quarter to tie up the game at four with 9:21 remaining. Denver would respond however as French; Walker; and Nate Marano would score to put the Pioneers back on top with the 7-4 lead.
Villanova would notch one more before the break, but Baptiste would get some redemption heading into the half, as he would find the back of the net with 11 seconds remaining to give the Pioneers the 8-5 lead heading into halftime.
The Pioneers would build up to a 10-5 lead at the start of the third quarter, getting two goals from Walker and Cannizzaro. Villanova would get some momentum going, as they would score three of their own to cut into the Pioneers lead bringing the score to 10-8. However, DU would put an end to Villanova’s scoring streak, as Jackson, Cannizzaro, and senior Tyler Pace would find the back of the net giving the Pioneers the 13-8 lead heading into the final frame.
Baptiste would score his second of the day, as he would win the face-off and make his way down the field wiring it into the back of the Wildcats net giving the Pioneers the 14-8 lead. Both sides would fall quiet for the next 10 minutes of the game in the final frame, before Villanova would end the silence as Danny Seibel would find the back of the net.
Baptiste would again take matter into his own hands, and wire a rocket of a shot into the back of the net to complete his first career hat-trick with 5:22 remaining in the game, giving the Pioneers the 15-9 lead.
The Pioneers would shut out Villanova for the remainder of the game, and would go on to defeat the Wildcats by a final score of 16-11.
JJ Seaward, Beat Writer Denver University Men’s Lacrosse
Lacrosse is Awesome