The Pioneers fell to No. 2 Albany 15-13 in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals, ending their 2018 season 13-4. This loss marks the end of Denver’s seventh quarterfinal appearance in the past eight years, reaching Championship weekend five times in the last seven years.
Although Albany reached an early lead, sophomore attackman Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) was the first scorer for Denver, scoring an unassisted goal at 4:32. He was followed by senior Colton McCaffrey (Parker, Colo.), assisted by senior Zach Runberg (Centennial, Colo.) at 1:59. The score at the end of the first quarter was 4-2.
In the second quarter, Denver started scoring early and went on a 3-0 run, taking the lead in the game for the first and only time. Freshman Ted Sullivan (Tucson, Ariz.) scored at 12:22 off an assist from Runberg to get things started for the Pioneers. He was followed by senior Joe Reid (Petaluma, Calif.), who scored an unassisted goal at 10:38. Junior Colton Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored at 9:37 with an assist from Sullivan to give Denver its first and only lead of the game. Albany scored three times in the second quarter to bring the score to 7-5 at the end of the first half.
In the third quarter, Albany scored first, but the Pioneers responded with a goal from senior face-off specialist Trevor Baptiste (Denville, N.J.), assisted by Runberg. Jackson scored at 11:01, assisted by senior Connor Donahue (Groton, Mass.). Although Albany scored again to make the score 9-7, Denver responded with two more goals to tie the game. Reid and junior Nate Marano (Tustin, Calif.) both scored unassisted goals at 5:51 and 3:55 respectively to tie the game at 9-9. However, Albany scored twice before the end of the quarter to bring the score to 11-9.
In the last quarter, Denver continued to try to even the score. At 11:42, Jackson scored with an assist from Marano. The duo combined at 8:46 to bring the score to 11-2. Albany responded with two goals, bringing the score to 14-11. At 0:51, Reid had an unassisted goal, followed by a goal from McCaffery at 0:38, assisted by sophomore Danny Logan (Upper Arlington, Ohio). The rally came too late, and the final score was 15-13.
Jackson tied his career-high goals for the third time in three years, scoring four goals throughout the game. Baptiste, and Albany face-off specialist TD Ierlan came into the game as the top-two face-off specialists in the nation, splitting up the face-offs 15-15. Reid scored his third career hat trick.
This game was the last career game for the seniors—Donahue, Grant Gravitt (Las Vegas, Nev.), Reid, Nick Phillips (Denver, Colo.), Matt Jones (Denver, Colo.), Runberg, McCaffrey, Jeremy Bosher (Kamloops, B.C.), Sean Mayle (San Carlos, Calif.), Baptiste and redshirt senior Connor Flynn (Charlotte, N.C.)—who were members of the 2015 NCAA Lacrosse Championship team. Baptiste and Mayle were both selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft. Baptiste was the first face-off specialist selected as the first pick, heading to the Boston Cannons. Mayle is headed to the Chesapeake Bayhawks.
