Last Wednesday, DU men’s lacrosse made the trip to Villanova, Pa. to face the Villanova Wildcats for the third time this season. In Denver’s final game of the regular season, 5 goals from graduate student attackman Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) gave DU the win and the team’s seventh-consecutive Big East and 14th Division I regular-season title.

Showing stark similarities to the two teams’ first matchups of the season in Denver, the first quarter was neck-and-neck with a strong offensive from both sides. Senior midfielder Jack Hannah (Milford, Ohio) opened the scoring less than a minute into the game before the Wildcats scored back-to-back goals with just over half of the quarter left, making it 2-1. 

DU was able to respond with a pair of goals of their own. Goals from Walker and junior midfielder Sam Dwinell (Dedham, Mass.) briefly gave Denver the lead before Villanova got two more in the back of the net. A goal from graduate student midfielder Lucas Cotler (Syosset, N.Y.) closed out the quarter to make the game a 4-4 draw.

The second quarter was also equally matched with one goal from each team. Hannah’s 31st of the season was answered by Villanova’s Matt Cambell to keep the game even.

Denver saw a slight slip at the beginning of the second half, with the Wildcats scoring two goals despite just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. With 3:28 remaining, Walker’s second tally of the day put DU back within one.

DU’s two goals at the beginning of the fourth quarter put them back on top before the Wildcat’s Keegan Khan scored his 21st goal of the season and tied it up to make it an 8-8 game. DU’s first two-goal lead of the day shortly followed. It was made up of back-to-back tallies from Walker and Hannah, respectively. The Wildcats’ two quick goals in the final 1:05 sent the game into overtime.

Just a minute in, Cotler’s pass found Walker, who controlled the ball, spun around and dove to score and win the game.

Sophomore goaltender Jack Thompson (Castle Rock, Colo.) anchored the DU defense all afternoon. His 20 saves of the game marked the first time a DU goalie had accomplished such a feat since 2003.

Up next, DU will play in the 2021 Big East Men’s Lacrosse Championship against the Providence Friars, with the semifinal match taking place on Thursday, May 6, in Providence, R.I.