Denver rallies past Johns Hopkins for 13-12 overtime victory

The 15th-ranked Denver men's lacrosse team scored two goals in the final 44 seconds of regulation to force overtime, then scored the game-winner just over two minutes into the extra period as the Pioneers slipped past sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins, 13-12, at Homewood Field on Saturday afternoon.

Johns Hopkins led 11-7 entering the fourth quarter after Jacob Angelus scored an unassisted goal with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter; neither team scored over the final seven minutes of the third, and the Blue Jays lead remained four goals with just over just over eight minutes remaining in regulation. See complete box score

The Pioneers (1-0) struck for two goals in a three-minute span to cut their deficit in half, but Hopkins (0-1) pushed the margin back to three at 12-9 when Johnathan Peshko rifled home his second goal of the day.

From there, it was all JJ Sillstrop as he scored the final four goals of the game for the Pioneers to fuel the victory. His unassisted goal at the 3:29 mark made it 12-10 and that score held until the final minute, when he scored twice to force overtime, with the equalizer coming as time expired in regulation. Denver withstood a Blue Jays possession in the extra period, then Sillstrop scored the game-winner with a laser from seven yards out to the left of Blue Jays goalie Chayse Ierlan.

JJ SILLSTROP CALLS GAME IN OVERTIME ‼️🚨

Sillstrop scored the last FOUR goals of the game for @DU_MLAX to lead the comeback over Hopkins

(via ESPN+) pic.twitter.com/K5CdUHZ3xw

— TLN 🥍 (@LacrosseNetwork) February 3, 2024

Angelus paced the Blue Jays attack with three goals and three assists; the hat trick was the fourth of his career. Freshman Hunter Chauvette also had three goals in his Hopkins debut.

Johns Hopkins returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Towson at 4 p.m. at Homewood Field. The game will air live on ESPNU.