After a shortened 2020 season, the U.S. Lacrosse Magazine has rated both of Denver’s lacrosse teams in the Top 25. The men’s team rated no. 6, and the women’s team rated no. 12.
The men’s team finished the 2020 season with a 4-2 record. The only losses were to powerhouses University of North Carolina and Duke, and the team recorded two major wins over Notre Dame and Air Force. Notable returners for the 2021 season include senior attackman Jack Hannah (Milford, Ohio), sophomore attackman JJ Sillstrop (Encinitas, Calif.), junior midfielder Alex Simmons (Smithville, Ont.) and midfielder Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ont.). Walker returns for a fifth year due to the new NCAA rule that allows spring athletes who graduated in 2020 to return for another year.
Also adding to the offense are two fifth year transfers from Yale, attackman Jackson Morrill (Baltimore, Md.) and midfielder Lucas Cotler (Syosset, N.Y.). Morrill is Yale’s second-leading all-time scorer, and both players had a role in winning the 2018 National Championship and being runner-up in 2019.
The biggest question for Head Coach Bill Tierney and the team going into the 2021 season is: who will be the preferred starting goalie? Three different ones started in the 2020 season.
The women’s team ended their season 7-1 while outscoring their opponents a combined 54-23 in their last three games against Fresno State, Fairfield and Coastal Carolina. However, they did not face many difficult teams with their only significant win being over Stanford. Their one loss was in a one-goal game to Vanderbilt.
The team retains senior attackers Quintin Hoch-Bullen (Orillia, Ont.), Bea Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and Eliza Radochonski (Englewood, Colo.), who combined for 74 goals and 31 assists last season. Defensively, there are more concerns. The defense was ranked 13th last season. Although defender Molly Little (Tiverton, R.I.) returns for a fifth year, defensive stalwarts Laura Milleker (Severna Park, Md.), Eliza Hacke (Devon, Pa.) and goalie Carson Gregg (Severna Park, Md.) all graduated.
While the finalized rosters and schedules are not out yet, both teams being this highly ranked in the preseason show they have the potential to do well this season and go far into the playoffs.
