Six players scored multiple goals for the No. 14 Georgetown University men’s lacrosse team as they dismantled the No. 13 University of Denver Pioneers 17-5 to open up Big East conference play with a bang.
In complete contrast with last weekend’s close loss to No. 5 Syracuse University, the Hoyas seized the game by the scruff of its neck in the second period, during which they outscored the Pioneers 7-2.
Denver (4-5, 0-1 Big East) handed Georgetown (4-4, 1-0 Big East) its only conference defeat last year in a low-scoring 7-3 game March 25, 2025. Despite this, the Hoyas have won 6 of their past 8 matchups against the Pioneers since April 2021.
While Denver competes in the Summit League for most other sports, its men’s lacrosse team joined the Big East for the 2014 season, before its women’s team followed suit for the 2017 season. The Pioneers have often been one of the Hoyas’ fiercest rivals for Big East lacrosse supremacy. In the past 12 years, only Georgetown and Denver have won the Big East men’s lacrosse title.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, scoring the game’s first goal five minutes into the opening period. The Hoyas responded quickly, as junior attacker Liam Connor emerged from behind the net and scored over a defender less than a minute later to tie the game at 1.
Midway through the first period, graduate attacker Rory Connor connected with junior midfielder Jack Schubert, whose bounced shot gave Georgetown its first lead. With 2:26 remaining, Denver midfielder Chase Bruno tied the game at 2-2.
Sophomore attacker Jack Ransom retook the lead for the Hoyas with just under two minutes remaining, before Schubert scored his second of the game to close out the first period with Georgetown up 4-2.
Just 41 seconds into the second period, first-year midfielder Jake Bickel ripped a shot past Denver goalkeeper Grayson Manning. Less than a minute and a half later, the Pioneers responded with a goal of their own to keep the game close at 5-3.
Back-to-back goals from first-year midfielder Natty Mason and senior midfielder Joe Cesare put Georgetown up 7-3, but Denver attacker Chris Merageas scored at 8:38 to cut the deficit to 3 goals.
The Hoyas put the game out of Denver’s hands as the half wound down. Rory Connor scored his first of the game at 7:49 to kick off Georgetown’s scoring streak and then followed up with his second goal of the game just 48 seconds later. Ransom’s second of the day pushed the Hoyas into the double digits, before sophomore midfielder Kevin Miller converted off a pass from Cesare to put Georgetown up 11-4 over Denver heading into halftime.
The Hoyas continued to dominate in the third period, adding 3 goals while holding the Pioneers to 0. Miller scored twice, at 10:29 and 8:42, earning his second hat trick of the season. With just over four minutes left in the period, Cesare caught a pass from Liam Connor and scored to put Georgetown up 14-4 and close out another dominant period.
Miller starred for the Hoyas as well. He scored his fourth of the game a little over 2 minutes into the final period, sneaking a shot past the Denver goalkeeper. Mason scored his second goal of the game off a feed from Cesare just three minutes later to give the Hoyas a 16-4 lead, tying their season-high in goals.
Only 40 seconds after Mason’s goal, Miller’s team-best fifth goal of the game put Georgetown up 17-4 and set a new high for team goals in a game this season. The Pioneers got a consolation goal with just over a minute remaining in the game, but the Hoyas came out comfortable 17-5 victors in their first game of Big East play.
This was Georgetown’s most dominant game of the season, and the Hoyas received key contributions from up and down the roster. The Connor brothers continued their offensive dominance and combined for 8 points while Miller exploded for 5 goals. Mason and Bickel continued their strong first year campaigns, each recording yet another multi-point game.
Georgetown continues Big East play next week at Providence College (4-7, 0-1 Big East) in Providence, R.I., on April 4.
