The Pioneer lacrosse team needed one win to make it to the NCAA Tournament. The only team that stood in its way to making it to its first-ever tournament appearance was conference rival No. 17 Fairfield.

Unfortunately, the No. 12 Pioneers couldn’t quite make it over the hump, as they fell to the Stags 9-8 last Saturday.

The day started out slow as the Stags were able to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Pioneers were held scoreless for the first quarter for only the third time this season. Fairfield controlled the entire quarter of play, by capitalizing on a slashing penalty from senior Darren Sasaki-Scanlon.

The second quarter opened with a goal from senior Scott Davidson as he finally put the Pioneers on the board. The Stags answered back quickly and put the game at 3-1. Denver took the Stags’ lead down to one as sophomore attack man Ryan Zordani scored with 1:47 left in the second period.

Fairfield still held the advantage, however, as the teams went into the locker room with the Stags on top, 3-2.

Fairfield opened the third quarter with a quick goal, but the Pioneers went on a three goal run with goals tallied by Zordani, Davidson, and senior Greer Hanlon.

The Pioneers went up by one goal, 5-4, but another penalty on the Pioneers gave the Stags an opportunity to tie. Minutes later Fairfield scored again and took the lead, 6-5 with just two minutes left in the third quarter. Davidson answered the two goal run by the Stags by scoring his third of the game and tied the game at six with just 13:02 left in the fourth quarter.

The Stags fought back as they scored another man advantage goal after a Pioneer penalty. The Pioneers never gave up as they scored two more goals, from Greer and senior Matt Brown, and took the lead 8-7.

However, Fairfield proved to be too much as they scored two more goals in the fourth quarter and won the game 9-8.

The Stags earned their way to the NCAA Tournament, ending Denver’s season with a record of 9-5 and a share of the Great Western Lacrosse League’s Championship title.

After completing his first season with the Pioneers, freshman Brett Koll can’t believe it is all over.

“This is the worst feeling I have ever had after any game in my entire career, I was shocked,” said Koll. “I still can not believe our season was over.”

The Pioneers will lose nine seniors next year, but are still looking forward to another successful season.

“You cannot replace the group of seniors that we had this year, they were such great people and players,” said Koll.

He added, “But we have plenty of guys that will step up and contribute next year. I think we just have to get better at winning close games.”