Head coach Joe Amplo celebrates senior day with the largest senior class in D1, Marquette's first group of four-year seniors.
#BIGEASTmlax Minute - Denver, Marquette, Villanova Record W’s
NEW YORK – Denver and Marquette have wrapped up two of the four spots in the BIG EAST Championships, both undefeated in league play so far this season. Villanova earned its first league win and ended a three-game slide with decisive second half against Georgetown, 16-4. Marquette maintained its early lead to hold on to an 8-7 over Providence, while Denver defeated St. John’s 17-10.
With two weekends left for four of the six teams, the current standings have Denver (3-0 BIG EAST) and Marquette (4-0 BIG EAST) tied in first place. Villanova and Providence tied for third at 1-2, Georgetown fifth at 1-3, followed by St. John’s at 0-3.
Marquette is one game ahead of Denver with just the Pioneers left on their league slate. Denver will play Providence next weekend in Rhode Island before hosting the Golden Eagles on April 30. At 4-0, the Golden Eagles have locked up either a No. 1 or 2 seed in the May 5 BIG EAST Semifinals in Denver. With a win by the Pioneers at Providence on Saturday, the Denver-Marquette game will be a showdown for the regular season title.
In the Top 20
Denver has moved up to No. 2 in the Inside Lacrosse poll and is one of three teams receiving votes for the top spot along with Brown and Notre Dame, who is the current No. 1. Denver has eight votes, while Brown has six. Notre Dame has 15. Marquette has moved up to No. 15 and Villanova moved up one to No. 18.
Ruling the RPI
The BIG EAST once again has three teams in the top 10 of the RPI Standings: Denver (4), Villanova (9) and Marquette (10).
Tuesday Top 3 Challenge for the Friars
Providence will play at No. 3 Brown on Tuesday for a final tune-up before hosting No. 2 Denver on Saturday.
Saturday Recap
[3/3] Denver 17, St. John’s 10 (Box Score)
For the second week in a row, the Pioneers were faced with snowy conditions this time at home hosting St. John’s. Denver sophomore Trevor Baptiste won 20 of his 25 faceoff attempts, and picked up a career high 20 ground balls in the Pioneer 17-10 victory. Pioneer junior Connor Cannizzaro led Denver with five goals, while junior Tyler Pace dished out four helpers on the day. Senior captain Jack Bobzien tallied his third hat trick of the season and added a pair of assists, while freshman Colton Jackson completed the hat trick trio with the first three-goal game of his young career. With the win, Denver is 3-0 in league play, 10-1 overall. The Red Storm, led by Eric DeJohn, who tied Cannizzaro for a game-high five goals, fell to 0-3 in BIG EAST action, 1-11 overall. On the unofficial BIG EAST honor roll for the weekend is the Denver grounds crew.
[18/19] Villanova 16, Georgetown 4 (Box Score)
Tied 4-4 at the half, the Wildcats scored 12 goals to the Hoyas none in the third and fourth periods to gain their first BIG EAST win of the season. The Wildcats are tied with Providence for third in the league standings at 1-2, 7-4 overall. The win for Villanova ended a three-game losing streak. Georgetown fell to 1-3 in BIG EAST play, 2-10 overall. Wildcats Jack Curran and Johnny Gallaway had hat tricks in the win. Curran scored the first two goals of the second half, then assisted the next three. Villanova scored seven goals in the third period.
[19/17] Marquette 8, Providence 7 (Box Score)
Marquette sent off its first group of four-year players in program history Saturday afternoon with an 8-7 victory over Providence on Senior Day. The Golden Eagles (9-2, 4-0 BIG EAST) jumped out to a 7-0 lead and had to hold off a furious Providence rally as the Friars outscored Marquette 7-1 over the final 31 minutes of play. Providence scored the only four goals of the final period, two by Keenan Assaraf who had the most goals for the Friars. Marquette had three players score two: Ryan McNamara, Kyran Clarke and Grant Preisler.
Weekend Results:
Saturday, April 16
[3/3] DENVER 17, ST. JOHN’S 10
[18/19] VILLANOVA 16, GEORGETOWN 4
[19/17] MARQUETTE 8, PROVIDENCE 7
Upcoming
Tuesday, April 18
PROVIDENCE at No. 3 Brown at 7 p.m.