Denver Rallies to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
from press release
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sophomore Mark Matthews
(Oshawa, Ontario) scored the game-winner with 35 second remaining
in the game to lift the University of Denver men's lacrosse team
(9-4, 4-0 ECAC) to a 10-9 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-6,
2-3 ECAC) on Saturday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in
Columbus, Ohio. Senior Peter Lowell (Freeport, Maine) made eight
saves, including four in the fourth quarter, to give the Pioneers
their sixth consecutive win and keep them undefeated in ECAC
play.
"It was a very frustrating game for us defensively because Ohio
State really took us out of our game early," said head coach Bill
Tierney. "I think our offense did a great job for us, keeping us in
it and giving us the momentum late in the game to eventually come
back and win. A lot of credit needs to go to our senior goalie
Peyton Tyrie who did a great job mimicking OSU's goalie during
practice this week and really getting us prepared."
To go along with his first-game-winner of the season, Matthews
finished the day with three goals on five shots, while sophomore
Alex Demopoulos (Canton, Conn.) finished with two goals and two
assists for four points. Demopoulos has now registered one or more
points in each of the Pioneers' game this season.
Also finishing with two goals for the Pioneers was sophomore
Patrick Rogers (Portland, Ore.), while senior Cameron Kerr (Cherry
Hills Village, Colo.), junior Andrew Lay (Denver, Colo.) and
freshman Cameron Flint (Georgetown, Ontario) each added scores.
Denver trailed Ohio State almost the entire game until Rogers
provided the equalizer with less than three minutes remaining in
the fourth quarter, scoring his 15th of the season off a pass from
freshman Colin Scott (Ridgefield, Conn.).
Over two minutes later, Matthews gave the Pioneers their first lead
of the game as he took a pass from Lay and slipped it past the
Buckeye's keeper.
The Buckeyes led by as many as four goals in the third quarter, but
Denver used five unanswered to storm back. The Pioneers held the
advantage in shots (9-5), ground balls (8-6) and face-offs (4-4 to
0-4) in the fourth quarter for their second come-from behind
victory of the season.
Senior Dillon Roy (Denver, Colo.) led the defensive efforts for the
Pioneers finishing with nine ground balls and three caused
turnovers, while also winning 7-of-10 face-offs.
Denver remains on the road, traveling to Fairfield, Conn., to take
part in ESPNU's inaugural Warrior Classic on Saturday, April 24 at
11 a.m. The Pioneers' game against Fairfield University will be the
first in a doubleheader played at Rentschler Field in East Harford,
Conn., with Massachusetts and Georgetown playing in the second game
of the day. Both games will be televised on ESPNU.
