At the half: UAlbany leads Denver 7-5

UAlbany’s NCAA quarterfinal game against Denver couldn’t have started any better. So much was made all week about the matchup between TD Ierlan and Trevor Baptiste at the faceoff dot and it was the Great Danes’ sophomore who took control at the start.

Ierlan won the first four faceoffs from the senior Tewaaraton Award finalist and that translated to a 3-0 run and a 4-1 lead to start the game. Irelan won five of seven first quarter faceoffs and it was 4-2 UAlbany going to the second quarter.

That second goal for Denver was the start of four straight for the Pioneers for a 5-4 lead. From there, UAlbany ripped off three goals including a buzzer-beater from Tehoka Nanticoke. The ball left Nanticoke’s stick a tenth of a second before time expired and it’s 7-5 UAlbany at the half.