Matthews Hat Trick Helps DU over Falcons
from press release
DENVER -- The University of Denver men's
lacrosse team (5-4) defeated the Air Force Falcons (1-6) 9-6 on
Saturday afternoon at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Sophomore
Mark Matthews (Oshawa, Ontario) led the Pioneers with his second
consecutive hat trick, while junior Todd Baxter (Eden Prairie,
Minn.) and sophomore Patrick Rogers (Portland, Ore.) each added two
goals.
"It was an up and down game for us offensively today," said head
coach Bill Tierney. "We were able to jump out early in the first
and second quarters and create a build a little lead, but we really
struggled a bit in the third quarter to find our offensive rhythm.
A lot of credit goes to our defense today because they really
played an outstanding game."
Air Force took the early lead just minutes into the first quarter,
but the Pioneers rallied with six unanswered goals, the first
coming from junior Andrew Lay (Denver, Colo.) at 5:22 remaining in
the opening stanza.
After Rogers scored his first of the game with 3:51 remaining in
the first, senior Charley Dickenson (Dallas, Texas) teamed up with
his identical twin brother John Dickenson (Dallas, Texas) to give
DU a 3-1 lead in the closing seconds of the quarter.
Matthews opened the second quarter scoring back-to-back goals to
bolster the Pioneers' cushion to 5-1 as senior Cameron Kerr (Cherry
Hills Village, Colo.) and John Dickenson provided the assists.
Baxter provided the final goal of the quarter for Denver as he
netted his eighth of the season with 4:55 remaining in the
half.
Attempting to rally, the Falcons scored the next three goals of the
game, closing out the half and providing the only score of the
third period, to cut the Pioneers' advantage 6-4.
The Pioneers responded as Rogers scored his second of the game,
eighth of the season with 7:36 remaining in the game, ending
Denver's scoreless draught.
Baxter then added his second of the game, ninth of the season off a
feed from sophomore Alex Demopoulos (Canton, Conn.) to give Denver
a four-goal cushion.
Matthews provided the final goal for the Pioneers with 4:39 left in
regulation as he drilled a shot from freshman Alejandro Brown
(Amherst, Mass.) behind his back, past the Falcons' keeper.
Air Force made one final attempt to rally back, scoring its final
two goals of the game in the closing two minutes.
Senior Peter Lowell (Freeport, Maine) secured his second win of the
season, making 10 saves and allowing only four goals.
Earlier in the day, the Pioneers also recognized former alumni of
the DU men's lacrosse program in a half-time ceremony.
Denver will open Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference action next
Saturday, April 3 as it hosts Hobart at Peter Barton Lacrosse
Stadium. Face-off is slated for 1 p.m.
