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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Georgetown became the first team to win the conference tournament title three times as the second-seeded Hoyas topped No. 1 seed Denver, 10-9, on Saturday afternoon at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium in the 2021 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship Presented by JEEP.
The two BIG EAST men’s lacrosse titans clashed for the third-consecutive time as Saturday was a rematch of the 2018 and 2019 championships. And in a similar fashion, the Hoyas held on for the win. Denver is ranked seventh nationally, Georgetown is eighth, both teams will await their NCAA championship fate in Sunday night’s selection show at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. Georgetown received the BIG EAST’s automatic qualifier, Denver will hope for an at-large bid.
Only four teams have won the BIG EAST men’s lacrosse championship title. Denver has won twice (2014, 2015), Marquette twice (2016, 2017) and Syracuse (2012, 2013).
This year's Most Outstanding Player, Owen McElroy, made 15 saves in the title game, helping hold the Pioneers to nine goals. He made 17 saves in the 14-12 semifinal win over Villanova on Thursday.
Saturday’s contest featured six ties and three lead changes.
Hoya freshman midfielder Dylan Hess led scoring for Georgetown with three goals, two in the final eight minutes, including the game-winner with four minutes left. His classmate and BIG EAST Freshman of the Year TJ Haley fed Hess for the final score of the game. Haley finished with three points on three assists. Nicky Petkevich also had three points (2G, 1A).
Jackson Morrill led Denver’s offense with four points on two goals and two assists. Ethan Walker got on the scoresheet two more times after a seven-point day on Thursday. Danny Logan picked up a defensive team-high (non-faceoff guys) three ground balls. Jack Thompson finished with 10 saves against 10 goals allowed.
The first quarter ended in a 2-2 tie. At halftime, Denver led 6-4. The Pioneers maintained the lead in the third, going into the final period up 8-6. Georgetown outscored Denver 4-1 in the final stanza for the championship.
The Hoyas tied it at 8-8 with 9:03 left. Hess gave the Hoyas a short-lived 9-8 lead before Denver’s Walker knotted it up at nine. It was Hess again to the rescue, gaining possession after GU timeout and successful clear. Denver won the final faceoff and Walker and Lucas Cotler got off two quick shots, one went wide, one was blocked. McElroy picked up the ground ball and the Hoyas cleared it out, finishing with a shot that Thompson saved for the Pios. Both teams had possession in the final two minutes. The Pioneers even pulled Thompson out of the net for a final attempt to even the score.
2021 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship All-Tournament Team
Matt Grillo, Providence, Jr., A
RJ Romeo, Providence, Grad Student, FOS
Patrick Kennedy, Villanova, RS-Sr., D
Keegan Khan, Villanova, Sr., A
Jackson, Morrill, Denver, Grad Student, A
Colin Squires, Denver, Grad Student, D
Malik Sparrow, Denver, So., LSM
Dylan Hess, Georgetown, Fr., M
Declan McDermott, Georgetown, Jr., M
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, Sr., G
Nicky Petkevich, Georgetown, Grad Student, A/M
2021 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship Most Outstanding Player
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, Sr., G
BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship Presented by JEEP
Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium ~ Providence, R.I.
Semifinals - Thursday, May 6
No. 1 Denver 14, No. 4 Providence 5
No. 2 Georgetown 14, No. 3 Villanova 12
Final – Saturday, May 8
No. 2 Georgetown 10, No. 1 Denver, 9