Kept in the game by a career-best effort from freshman goalkeeper Grace Cincebox, the University at Albany women’s lacrosse team put a scare into unbeaten Denver on Sunday at Peter Barton Stadium.
However, the Great Danes couldn’t muster enough offense against the Pioneers’ nation-best defense to pull off an upset for the second time in three days.
Fifth-seeded Denver held off UAlbany 8-6 in a NCAA Tournament second-round match.
America East champion UAlbany, which stunned Virginia with a comeback win on Friday, ended its season with a 13-7record. Denver (21-0) moves on to play No. 4 North Carolina in the quarterfinals.
The Pioneers entered the game tops in Division I in scoring defense at 5.9 goals per match.
“(Denver’s defense) is really strong,” UAlbany head coach Katie Thomson said. “It’s what we expected and what we’ve seen. They really do limit opportunities, kind of limit clean shots when you get into the eight-meter (arc). But I do think we were pushing our offense against them and getting some good looks. So we’re really proud of our effort today.”
Cincebox finished with a career-high 14 saves.
“Honestly, the preparation for this game, yesterday’s practice really helped and watching a lot of scout on Denver and just working with my coaches and teammates,” Cincebox said. “It really was a combination helped me succeed today.”
UAlbany took a 5-4 lead when Grace McCauley scored on an assist from Katie Pascale with 11 minutes left in the third period.
But Denver answered with four straight goals. Lauren Black put the Pioneers ahead for good at 6-5 on a free-position shot with 3:37 to play in the third quarter.
The Pioneers scored again as time expired in the third period. UAlbany defenseman Mallori Kitts threw a pass in her own end that was picked off by Denver’s Sloane…
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