Denver Beats No. 19 UMBC, 13-8

Denver Beats No. 19 UMBC, 13-8

Joey Murray named Face-Off Classic Most Valuable Player

DENVER – Michael Goltra (Washington, N.C.) had two goals and a pair of assists, as the No. 20 University of Denver Pioneers knocked off No. 19 UMBC 13-8 in the final game of the 2007 Pioneer Face-Off Classic at Peter Barton Stadium on Sunday.

Denver (3-2) spread the scoring around, as Goltra and Jon Paulson (Fleminton, N.J.) each had two goals, the only Pioneers with more than one.

Joey Murray (Denver) picked up where he left off Saturday by sparking a 5-0 Pioneer run to begin the game. Brad Patterson (Allentown, Pa.), Brett Koll (Fort Collins, Colo.), John Dickenson (Dallas) and Brad Richardson (Langley, British Columbia) also scored in the first period.

UMBC’s Andy Gallagher scored twice to put the Retrievers (2-1) on the board.

Ilija Gajic (Burnaby, British Columbia) and Paulson answered to push DU’s lead back to five, as the Pioneers headed to the locker room with a 7-2 lead.

Gallagher closed the gap with two more goals in the first 3:06 in the third period.

Goltra added another for the Pioneers, but UMBC answered with two more, cutting DU’s lead to just two heading into the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, the Pioneers outscored the Retrievers 5-2 to ice the victory.

Murray was the unanimous selection for the 2007 Pioneer Face-Off Classic’s Most Valuable Player, as well as heading the All-Tournament Team:

2007 Pioneer Face-Off Classic All-Tournament Team

ATTACK

Joey Murray – Denver
Drew Westervelt – UMBC
Andy Gallagher – UMBC
MIDFIELD
Griffin Nevitt – Air Force
Eric Heidenberger - Villanova
Michael Goltra –Denver
DEFENSE
Dillon Roy – Denver
David Hahn - Denver
Safi Najdawi - Villanova
GOALIE
Eddie DiDonato – Villanova
LONG STICK MIDFIELDER
Dan Gnazzo – Air Force
MVP
Joey Murray – Denver
The Pioneers will play Stony Brook at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on Saturday, Mar. 10 at 1:30 p.m. MT.