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DU Lacrosse Team Shocked In First Round Of NCCA Tourney By Towson

DENVER (CBS4) - It's tough to repeat as national champions in any sport, and the Denver Pioneers lacrosse team found that out the hard way Sunday afternoon as the defending champs were bounced from the NCAA tournament in the first round.

The No. 2 Pioneers fell 10-9 to No. 15 Towson at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium in Denver.

The Tigers took the lead early and never gave it up. Towson led by three with just over a minute to play, but DU had one last rally in them. Senior Connor Cannizzaro made it a two-goal game after a score in the waning moments of the game. Then with 13 seconds left Zach Miller went low to bring the Pioneers to within one.

Things got really interesting when DU won the ensuing faceoff but they were never able to get a shot off and there will be no championship for the Pioneers this year.

Bill Tierney
DU lacrosse head coach Bill Tierney after the Pioneers loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (credit: CBS)

"We had the ball, we had our chances. I thought we showed a lot of heart and a lot of grit -- 40 (seconds) left, down three and almost pulling that thing out," DU head coach Bill Tierney said. "It's a game of plays and a game of runs and we just didn't make enough of either."

DU finished the season with two consecutive home losses -- to Marquette in the Big East Tournament and then to Towson.

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