If ever a defeat served as a springboard, Denver could point to a 9-5 loss to then-No. 1 Boston College on March 9 — a game called after three quarters due to unusually frigid temperatures.

The Pioneers’ perennially strong defense limited the explosive Eagles to just two goals in the first quarter and blanked them during a blustery, blunder-filled third quarter.

Ranked No. 11 in the latest Nike/USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20, Denver defeated then-No. 8 Michigan 9-8 four days later and resumed their stingy ways Friday, smothering Drexel in a 10-4 victory in San Diego.

Denver trailed 2-1 after the first quarter but scored five unanswered goals, providing more than enough cushion for the No. 1 scoring defense in Division I. An NCAA tournament contender just last year, the Dragons were outclassed, committing 23 turnovers. Sammie Morton accounted for four of the Pioneers’ 14 caused turnovers.

Denver (9-1) has allowed just one opponent to reach double figures this season.

Also Friday:

• Sam McGee scored four goals and Grace Donnelly made her ninth save with 42 seconds left to lift Colorado to a 17-16 upset of No. 18 Stanford — the Buffaloes’ first win over the Cardinal since 2018.

• Kelsey Huff scored six goals, including a jaw-dropping blast from distance and interior behind-the-back finish, to lead No. 19 USC To a 17-10 win over Arizona State.

  KELSEY. HUFF.
  
  Just a casual six-spot for the @USCTrojansLax midfielder in a 17-10 win over Arizona State today. pic.twitter.com/W3CxqE6TSw

  — USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) March 26, 2022

• No. 10 Princeton postponed its game at Columbia “due to non-COVID-19 related health and wellness considerations” within the program, the school announced. The game was rescheduled for April 27.

HOW THE TOP 20 FARED

No. 11 Denver defeated Drexel 10-4
No. 17 Richmond defeated La Salle 14-8
Colorado defeated No. 18 Stanford 17-16
No. 19 USC defeated Arizona State 17-10

FULL SCOREBOARD

Cincinnati 16, Butler 12
Colorado 17, No. 18 Stanford 16
Davidson 15, George Washington 10
No. 11 Denver 10, Drexel 4
Jacksonville 22, Furman 4
Mercer 20, Presbyterian 3
Oregon 12, Cal 9
No. 17 Richmond 14, La Salle 8
Saint Joseph’s 11, Duquesne 7
UMass 22, St. Bonaventure 4
No. 19 USC 17, Arizona State 10
Virginia Commonwealth 21, George Mason 11

No. 10 Princeton at Columbia – Postponed to April 27