#BIGEASTmlax Minute – All Six Teams In Action
NEW YORK – The second full weekend of BIG EAST men’s lacrosse features the season opener for BIG EAST Tournament champion Marquette, and a top 15 match up with No. 14 Duke visiting top-ranked Denver. The Pioneers moved up to the No. 1 spot in both the USILA Coaches and Inside Lacrosse media polls. Marquette was No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse media poll as the BIG EAST bookended the ranking.
Three of the six games this weekend will be streamed/televised nationally. No. 20 Marquette’s season-opener at Jacksonville will be on ESPN3, Georgetown’s match up against No. 4/4 Notre Dame in Texas will air on ESPNU. Denver’s home game against No. 14/15 Duke will air on Altitude Sports and Entertainment at 2 p.m. ET.
The Pioneers (1-0) are looking to extend their win streak to two games with their second-straight game against a ranked opponent. Three players recorded hat tricks in their 14-6 win over No. 19/17 Air Force. Duke is making its first trip to Denver since 2003. It is just the eighth meeting between these two national powerhouses. Duke is 2-1 on the early season, including a loss to common foe Air Force.
No. 20 Marquette opens on the road at Jacksonville at noon returning seven of 10 starters. Jacksonville (0-1) owns a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series.
Also at noon, No. 8/8 Yale visits Villanova the first meeting between these two teams. The Wildcats are 0-1, but it will be the first test of the season for Yale.
At 1 p.m. Providence (1-1) travels to Bryant for a cross town rivalry that started in 1980. The teams have met 10 times with Bryant leading the series 6-4, including last year’s 12-10 win.
Georgetown plays its second game this week as the Hoyas meet former BIG EAST rival Notre Dame in the ninth annual Patriot Cup at the Ford Center at the Star. St. John’s hosts local-rival Stony Brook on Sunday for the 10th time. The Seawolves have a 5-4 series advantage after winning last year’s meeting 14-6.
#BEmlax Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 18
[RV/20] MARQUETTE at Jacksonville (ESPN3)at 12 p.m.
[8/8] Yale at VILLANOVA at 12 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at Bryant at 1 p.m.
[4/4] Notre Dame vs. GEORGETOWN (ESPNU) at 2 p.m.
[14/15] Duke at [1/1] DENVER (ALT) at 2 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 9
Stony Brook at ST. JOHN’S at 1 p.m.