Marquette Wins #BIGEASTmlax Championship Title With 10-9 Thriller Over Denver
BOX SCORE | MARQUETTE QUOTES | DENVER QUOTES | ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MARQUETTE PRESS CONFERENCE | DENVER PRESS CONFERENCE
DENVER – It was the second time in seven days the top two teams in the BIG EAST met for a shot at a league title at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium in Denver, but this time the outcome was flipped. Second-seeded Marquette upset No. 1 seed and the top team in the country Denver 10-9 in the title game of the BIG EAST Championship Presented by Jeep.
With the largest senior class in the country (19), the Golden Eagles, who just started their men’s lacrosse program in 2012, scored six unanswered goals in the third period as they rallied back from a 7-3 halftime deficit.
"I can't put that into words, what that makes me feel like,” remarked Marquette head coach Joe Amplo after the win. “That's why I coach, to be around young men like this. Those kids have made me such a better person, let alone a better coach. To have him say that in front of this group, there's nothing that I can say that quantify that for me and make it anymore special then what he said and how I feel."
With the win, Marquette becomes just the third team to win the BIG EAST Championship, joining back-to-back champions Denver (2014, 2015) and Syracuse (2013, 2012). Marquette was ranked No. 19 in both national polls and will receive the league’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.
The victory is Marquette’s first in five meetings against Denver and also snapped the Pioneers’ NCAA-best 22-game home winning streak at Peter Barton Stadium. It is also only the second victory ever for a Marquette team in any sport over the nation’s number one team. The only other MU team to beat the country’s No. 1 was the 2003 men’s basketball team led by Dwyane Wade over Kentucky in the NCAA Elite Eight.
“We know that they [Denver] are the gold standard. They are the gold standard in our sport,” continued Amplo. “Coach Tierney, there are times during the game that I will look over on the sidelines and can't believe I'm coaching a team against him. It is just so humbling to compete against that man and his staff. To have the opportunity to beat the defending national champions in this environment is probably the most humbling feeling I can have."
Sophomore midfielder Tanner Thomson had four goals and an assist for Marquette (11-4). Goalie Cole Blazer, also a sophomore, had nine saves, 19 for the tournament. Tournament Most Outstanding Player Liam Byrnes picked up six ground balls and caused a pair of turnovers in the victory and played a big role in helping sophomore Zachary Melillo win 12-of-23 faceoffs (52.2 percent) against Denver sophomore and BIG EAST Co-Midfielder of the Year Trevor Baptiste.
For Denver (13-2), freshman Colton Jackson had a hat trick to lead the Pioneers.
Marquette scored seven-straight goals from the second period through the end of the third; the most a team has scored in a row against Denver this year. Denver’s nine goals tied a season low for the Pioneers.
The game started then stopped as weather in the area led to a 36-minute lightning delay. The day’s first goal was scored with 12:01 left in the first by Thomson and was immediately followed by a lightning strike, causing play to be delayed. Denver scored the next three goals, two from Jackson and another from midfielder Jack Bobzien, after play resumed and led 7-3 at the half.
After being shut out in the third, Denver’s Zach Miller scored back-to-back goals in the first three minutes knotting the game at 9-9.
The game was tied for almost seven minutes before Andy DeMichiei, who again wore teammate Kyle Whitlow’s No. 6 jersey, scored what would be the game-winner with 5:55 left in the game.
Melillo won the faceoff with the ground ball pick up, but Denver eventually cleared the ball out of their zone after a save by freshman goalie Alex Ready. Tyler Pace, who had two assists on the day, made a shot attempt that went high. Denver’s Jack Bobzien, who had a goal and assist, picked up the ball, but was stripped by Marquette’s Nicholas Eufrasio to give Marquette the final possession as the Golden Eagles cleared the ball with 1:36 to play.
Marquette and Denver, the No. 1 team in country in both NCAA recognized polls and had an RPI ranking of two entering Saturday’s game, will await their fates Sunday night during the NCAA selection show which starts at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Selection Show will feature an interview with Denver head coach Bill Tierney.
2016 Men’s Lacrosse Championship All-Tournament Team
Will Mazzone, Providence, Sr., Attack
Michael Perrettine, Providence, Sr., Midfielder
John Moderski, Villanova, Sr. Defense
Joey Frocccaro, Villanova, Fr., Midfielder/FO
Tyler Pace, Denver, Jr., M
Jack Bobzien, Denver, Sr., A
Zach Miller, Denver, Jr., M
Tanner Thomson, Marquette, So., M
Zachary Melillo, Marquette, So., M/FO
Liam Byrnes, Marquette, Grad., D
Cole Blazer, Marquette, So., GK
Most Outstanding Player
Liam Byrnes, Marquette, Grad., D
11-member All-Tournament team selected by a committee, 10 at-large selections and a goalkeeper.