Di Miller, Correspondent DU Men’s Lacrosse
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Di Miller
With their final home game before the Big East Tournament on May 2 and May 4, the DU Pioneers hosted the Providence Friars. It was Senior’s Day at Peter Barton Stadium on a beautiful spring afternoon. Providence would keep it close until the fourth quarter when DU would come alive outscoring the Friars 6-3 for the win. Final Score: Pioneers 14—Friars 8.
With the win, the University of Denver Men’s lacrosse team became the first team to qualify for next month’s BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
DU would open it up with four unanswered goals, the first two from Ethan Walker (4G, 1A); the second from Jack Hannah (3G, 1A); and the last of the run coming from Matt Neufeldt (1G). Providence would hold the Pioneers to no goals for the last seven minutes in the first, while scoring three in a row, Matt Grillo (2G) with two; and Evan McGreen (1G), their only goals in the contest. DU would lead in shots on goal 7-5; ground balls 8-6; and face-offs 4-2. Score at the end of one: DU 4—Providence 3.
A very low scoring second would see the Friars tie it up at the 3:29 mark with a beauty by Kevin McCordic (1G, 1A) at four apiece. Fans would see only two more in the second, both from the Pioneers. Quinn McKone (1G, 1A) at 6:53; and the final in the first half by Jack Hannah (3G, 1A) with 35 seconds before the buzzer. Friar net minder Tate Boyce did well to keep the Pioneers out of the net with facing six shots on goal and only allowing two. Score at the end of two: Pioneers 6—Friars 4.
After the break, fans would see another slow 15 minutes of lacrosse and great net-minding. It would take over five and half minutes for the ball to hit twine and it would be from Providence Kevin McCordic (1G, 1A) would get them to within one 6-5. But again, DU would close out the frame with another from Walker; and the final from Ted Sullivan (2G). Score at the end of three: DU 8—Providence 5.
The Friars still had a chance for a comeback, but the Pioneers would have their best quarter when it counted with five different Pioneers finding the net. Blair Schuyler (1G) would get it going only 10 seconds in. On the man up, the Friars would see Luke O’Grady (1G) get his only goal of the game. The teams would trade goals once more, Walker with another for DU; then Ryan Nawrocki (1G) for the Friars. The Pioneers would outscore the Friars 4-1 in the final eight minutes with another from Hannah; Sullivan; and Colton Jackson (2G) with back to back shots. The final goal for Providence would come from Tim Hinrichs (1G) with 2:54 remaining. After several turnovers, DU was able to run out the clock to take home the win. Final Score: DU 14—Providence 8.
| Game Stats | PC | DEN |
| Shots | 23 | 50 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 7 |
| Caused Turnovers | 3 | 10 |
| Face-offs Won | 9 | 15 |
| Extra-Man Opps | 1 | 2 |
| Ground Balls | 25 | 32 |
GOALIE STATS:
Providence—Tate Boyce 14GA; 18 Saves
DU—Cole French 7GA; 6 Saves
DU—Alex Ready 1GA; 0 Saves
NEXT UP:
Denver University heads to Marquette on Friday April 26 before returning home for the BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship on Thursday May 2, game time 7:00 p.m. MT.
Di Miller, Correspondent DU Men’s Lacrosse
Lacrosse is Awesome©