# #

Utah LAX Battles #5 Denver to the Wire

by Utah Athletics
Jan 30, 2021
Photo Credit: Niko Blankenship / Denver Athletics

Box Score (PDF)

DENVER – The Utah lacrosse team gave the lacrosse world a show Saturday afternoon, taking No. 5 Denver to the brink and was ahead late in the third quarter before the Pioneers sneaked out 9-8 win over the Utes.
 
Utah (0-1) was even with DU in the first quarter before Jordan Hyde laced a ball past the keeper for his first collegiate goal and 1-0 lead for Utah. The home team evened it up a few minutes into the second quarter but it wasn't long before Hyde fired another one past Denver's Jack Thompson with 10:07 left in the half.

 
Zack Johns, who made his first-career start and appearance between the pipes, had a great save that led to Sammy Cambere going nearly the length of the field to give Utah the 3-1 lead heading into the break.
 
Not to be outdone on their home field on opening day, the Pioneers (1-0) came out of the half firing and evened the game up a 3-3 on back-to-back goals from Jack Hannah, 3-3. With 5:13 left in the third frame, Jack Barron found Tyler Bradbury cutting through the crease for the 4-3 lead.
 
The offense for both teams began to rev up as DU answered right back 1:20 later to knot it up, 4-4. However, the Utes did not flinch and answered right back with another Bradbury strike, this time on a pass from MJ McMahon. However, the Pioneers did not waver and rallied with two quick goals and took a 6-5 advantage into the final 15 minutes of play.

 
Ted Sullivan gave Denver some breathing room when he laced one past Johns 1:03 into the fourth frame. Cole Brams did not waste any time after the DU goal, grabbing the ground ball from the faceoff and rifled it into the net to bring the Utes within 7-6 just nine seconds later.

 
Denver wound up finding the back of the net twice more for the 9-6 lead with 9:30 to go. Down three, Utah mounted its attack late starting with a Drew Wasserman heater with 2:49 on the clock for Bradbury's second assist of the afternoon. The Oak Park, Calif., product then took things into his own hands and rattled in his third goal of the game to make it a one-goal game, 9-8.

 
However, time was Utah's enemy at the end with Denver winning the ensuing faceoff and never relinquished possession to hand the Utes the 9-8 loss.
 
Bradbury led Utah with 5 points (3g, 2a) thanks to a hat trick while Hyde finished with two goals. Johns finished with 16 saves. Brams was great in faceoffs for Utah, winning 12-of-20 against a pair of Pioneers.
 
HOLMAN POSTGAME
 
The Utes now head home and prepare for next week's road trip to Louisville, Ky., to take on Bellarmine on Saturday, Feb. 6. Faceoff is slated for 10 a.m. (MT) in the third meeting between the two programs which Utah leads 2-0.
 
ODDS & ENDS

  • The last Ute to record a hat trick was Colin Burke at Mount St. Mary's (3/7/20)
  • Last GK to record 16 saves in a game was Liam Donnelly at Mount St. Mary's (4/6/19)
  • The 8 penalties ties for the most in program history (Lehigh, 2/8/20)
  • Utah is now 0-2 all-time against Denver, both coming on the road
  • Saturday's game was 1-of-2 NCAA Division I games played that day

 

###

Related News & Videos