In a game between two of the most offensively productive teams in the NCAA, Brown flew out to Denver to be tested by the Pioneers. While the Pio’s punched their ticket to the NCAA Elite Eight, Brown was another victim of Denver’s prominence falling 15-9.
Despite a six point goal differential, the game was very close statistically. Denver’s Trevor Baptiste won more face offs, but not by as many as he normally would. Whereas he’s usually unstoppable, Brown’s Will Gural held Baptiste to only 12 wins while he took away 16 of the 28 draws.
DU outshot Brown by the end of the game, but only by ten shots. DU lost the ground ball stats to the Bears snagging 24 while the Bears ate up 30 ground balls.
However, the Pioneers were saved by their usual superheroes, and Ryan LaPlante made 16 saves in the game, but 13 were in the first half. Connor Cannizzaro scored five goals to lead the team on the day, and Wes Berg (Tewaarton finalist) added a goal and two assists to the day.
Zach Miller and Tyler Pace were the other two big-time scorers on the day following Cannizzaro. Each had 2 goals and Pace had three assists while Miller also had one.
Just as mentioned in the preview of this game, DU showcased their abilities to be an offense of efficiency and effectiveness. Though they scored the majority of their goals in the first half (five goals per quarter, ten on the half), most of those goals were unassisted. In the second half, when Brown began to show signs of a comeback, the Pioneers kicked into teamwork gear and started assisting each other to put the final hammers on the Bears.
Even the Brown Bears (see what I did there?) had their efforts showcased, they just weren’t enough to overcome seasoned Pio’s. Tim Jacob (2 goals), Dylan Molloy (3 goals), Brendan Caputo (1 goal), Henry Blynn (1 goal) and Kylor Belistri (2 goals) all banked goals in the game.
Brown’s goaltender Jack Kelly made nine saves but that obviously wasn’t enough.
The Denver Pioneers head on to quarterfinals, which is a ‘home advantage’ for them. They’re not playing at DU, but they’ll at least be in Denver. The games will take place Saturday May 16 at Mile High Stadium.
