Denver is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2017 after a thrilling 10-8 victory over Syracuse in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
“That was a heck of a game. I’m really proud of our men in the locker room and the way they competed,” coach Matt Brown said. “It wasn’t pretty at times, but we got it done. I thought we were disciplined but tough today.”
Leading the charge for the Pioneers was Michael Lampert with two goals and an assist. Alec Stathakis rebounded from a rough start to win 12 of 22 face-offs, and Malcolm Kleban made 10 crucial saves. Cody Malawsky, JJ Sillstrop, and Ty Hussey each contributed two goals.
For Syracuse, Sam English led with two goals and two assists, while Michael Leo added three goals. Owen Hiltz had a goal and an assist, and Will Mark made nine saves. John Mullen won 7 of 13 face-offs.
A key matchup saw Denver defenseman Jack DiBenedetto successfully shut down Joey Spallina, holding him scoreless and causing three turnovers.
The game pivoted during a 10-minute stretch from the end of the first half through the early third quarter, where Denver scored five unanswered goals, turning a tie into an 8-3 lead. Despite a late surge from Syracuse, Denver held firm, with Spallina's missed shot hitting the crossbar and Jake Stevens missing with just 42 seconds remaining.
Denver's efficiency showed as they scored on 25% of their possessions, while Syracuse managed 23.5%. The Pioneers' relentless energy and physical play were evident in their 10 caused turnovers and numerous trail checks. Short-stick midfielder Dan Anderson led with three key takeaways, including a standout play against Spallina.
“The first half was tremendous,” Syracuse coach Gary Gait said postgame. “They had so many trail checks and hustle plays. Even though we won the face-offs, they turned it over due to those hustle plays. They came out on fire, gritty and tough. We had good looks but couldn’t convert.”
Two critical plays were reviewed by officials. Malawsky's goal in the third quarter was upheld after it appeared the ball might not have crossed the line. Later, Lampert's buzzer-beater goal was confirmed after review.
Gait acknowledged that the on-field calls likely stood due to a lack of conclusive evidence to overturn them.
Denver's physicality was a talking point postgame. The team credited their intense practices for their endurance. Additional motivation came from an incident involving Leo, who delivered a butt-end to Denver’s Jimmy Freehill. Though no penalty was called, DiBenedetto and Adam Hangland challenged the Syracuse bench, and the incident fueled Denver's resolve.
“Oh yeah,” DiBenedetto said postgame. “The emphasis all week was on physicality. If they give you something, give it right back. Don’t let them out-physical you. Our guys were phenomenal at that. We stood together. No one took any punches, and if you got knocked down, you stood right back up.”
Looking ahead, Denver will face Notre Dame in Philadelphia. This matchup isn’t just a rematch of the 2015 Semifinals, but also a poignant revisit for seniors who saw their freshman season cut short in 2020. The teams haven't met since.
“They’re a handful," Brown said. “They’re talented, organized, and the defending champs for a reason. We’ve watched them throughout the year, and there’s a reason they’re at the top. We’ve got a lot to prepare for.”
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