DU men’s lacrosse (2-0)  hosted its second straight game at Peter Barton Stadium to open the season. After a slow start, Denver owned the final three quarters and coasted to a 10-2 victory over the Falcons.

Unlike the Cleveland State score fest, it was a defensive first quarter. Both goalies made early game stops on grade-A shots. With 1:25 left in the first frame, a cutting Watt Muir found the back of the net, 1-0. The first quarter ended frozen at that score.

AFA opened the second quarter with a quick strike, 1-1. After a long scoreless period, DU’s Marek Tzagournis scored an unassisted tally, 2-1, at the ten-minute mark. Shortly thereafter, Denver’s Watt Muir worked inside and beat goalie Matt Deedy, 3-1. Denver struck again with a quick goal-front snipe by Chase Bruno with three minutes remaining. The Pioneers struck again, this time in traffic as Cody Malawsky took a feed from Marek Tzagournis, 5-1 as DU started to roll against the Falcons. As time wound down, DU called time and worked a last second scoring play and Luke Shinofield delivered a strike, 6-1.

Denver held AFA off the board early behind goalie Grayson Manning and a stout defense. After a long scoreless stretch, Cody Malawsky and Seamus Faulkner scored Pioneer goals during the last three minutes of the third quarter, 8-1.

The fourth quarter was low-scoring as DU stifled any chance of a Falcon comeback. AFA scored at the 10 minute mark, 8-2. Over the next 10 minutes, DU dusted the Academy with targets by Watt Muir, his third, and Joe Taraboletti.

Denver forced 18 turnovers but committed 16 miscues of their own. Denver’s defense looked stout and Grayson Manning was outstanding in-goal.

Next up is a road-trip to Utah against the Utes next Saturday at 12:00 pm MT.