LEXINGTON, Va.--  The eighth-ranked Denison men's lacrosse team opened the 2020 season with a 17-11 victory over No. 13 Washington and Lee.

In just his second career start, senior Brant Pittman scored a career-high six goals while senior attackman Peter Pittroff tallied seven points on four goals and three assists.

The Big Red took an early 3-0 lead and managed to maintain at least a two-goal lead throughout the contest.  A 3-0 run over a three-minute span midway through the second quarter opened up an 8-3 lead for Denison.  At halftime, Denison led 9-5 but the Generals pieced together a three-goal run halfway through the third quarter to make it an 11-9 game.  With 4:41 to play in the third, Pittman scored his sixth goal of the game and with four seconds left, Camden Bowdy connected on a pass from Ethan Tyack.

A man-up goal by W&L's Jack Ware with 6:48 to play in the fourth made the score 14-11 but the Big Red closed out the game strong with goals from Doug Godine, Tyack and Pittroff to set the final at 17-11.

Reeves McKenney was outstanding in goal for the Big Red. He finished with 16 saves while facing 27 shots in 60 minutes of action.  All-American LSM Chris Broderick pled Denison with seven ground balls while fellow All-American defenseman Sam Dyson scooped up six.  Joe Rochte had two caused turnovers and Hunter Golian finished with nine faceoff wins while facing one of the nation's top FOGO's in Jack Hodgson.

Following Pittman and Pittroff in scoring were Godine (2 goals, 2 assists), Tyack (1 goal, 1 assist), Tucker Root (1 goal), Will Kenney (1 goal), Josiah Wilson (1 goal), and Bowdy (1 goal).  Pittroff's seven points moved him into second place on Denison's career points list. He passed Andy John '84 who ended his career with 256 points.  Pittroff needs 26 points to pass Liam Rooney '17 as the program's all-time leader in points.

Washington and Lee was led in scoring by Ben Mulholland who finished with two goals and two assists.  Matt Lanigan got the start and played the first half in goal. He allowed nine goals while posting four saves. He was relieved by Jack Taylor who allowed eight goals while saving six.

Denison will travel to No. 14 St. John Fisher in Rochester, New York on Tuesday (Feb. 25) for a 4 p.m. faceoff. The Big Red's home opener will be on Sunday, March 1 against Roanoke at 1 p.m.