Denver did not expect goalie Grayson Manning to get his first college lacrosse action in a full-blown blizzard against a Utah team that continues to fight for a spot in the Top 25. The Pioneers called upon the true freshman during the first quarter as approximately three inches of snow covered the field in less than three hours.
He finished with 17 saves!
Denver started the afternoon with Malcolm Kleban in net as flurries started to fall but the redshirt senior gave up three early goals. The No. 14-ranked team very quickly fell behind 3-0 so head coach Matt Brown decided to make a switch and called upon Manning.
As the younger brother of Pios star Noah Manning, Grayson is very familiar with high-stakes college lacrosse. However, he was unexpectedly thrown into the game as a true freshman during a snowstorm.
Grayson Manning was not rattled by the unusual circumstances and stood on his head.
Grayson Manning makes his eighth save since coming on early in the first quarter. Pios kill off the penalty, clear and take a timeout. #GoPios pic.twitter.com/g6V0wwicg7
— Denver Men’s Lacrosse (@DU_MLAX) February 15, 2025
The No. 65-ranked freshman in the country allowed five goals to the Utes but he finished with 17 saves.
17 saves for the freshman Grayson Manning!#GoPios pic.twitter.com/Nz0yA86q2W
— Denver Men’s Lacrosse (@DU_MLAX) February 15, 2025
Denver came back from the early deficit, behind its freshman goalie, to beat Utah 10-8. The Pioneers poured onto the snowy field as soon as the clock hit zero and ran straight to Manning. Rightfully so!
𝗦𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆
— Denver Men’s Lacrosse (@DU_MLAX) February 15, 2025
Coming off the bench to make 16 saves (76.2%), you bet we're going to go get our goalie after a win in the snow!#GoPios pic.twitter.com/e70QzPOkHu
College lacrosse is technically considered to be a spring sport but its season starts in February. Places like Denver are still very much in the middle of winter, as we saw on Saturday. Who doesn’t love a snow game?
For a true freshman goalie to come off of the bench and shut down a team that will likely sneak into the Top 25 at some point this season was an incredible story. To do so in a monster snowstorm was also incredible scenes. The Pioneers are legitimate national title contenders!