#BIGEASTwlaxNotes - 3.22.17
Early Season Showdown
One of the most intriguing conference matchups will take place in just the second week of the BIG EAST women’s lacrosse schedule as No. 13/13 Denver visits No. 3/3 Florida on Saturday at noon (ET). In addition to both being nationally ranked with matching 7-1 overall records, the Gator-Pioneer tilt is worth the hype as Florida boasts the nation’s top scoring offense at 16.88 goals per game, while Denver has the BIG EAST’s best (seventh nationally) scoring defense, surrendering just 7.75 goals per game. A Gator has garnered BIG EAST Attacker of the Week honors in four of six weeks this season, while a Pioneer has collected BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week accolades four times. Florida and Denver both won their BIG EAST openers last week, along with Vanderbilt, Georgetown and Marquette.
Midweek Matchups
A trio of non-conference games take place on Wednesday, including Vanderbilt at RV/17 Johns Hopkins. The Commodores eye their first win over a ranked opponent and what would be the seventh for a BIG EAST team this season when they travel to Baltimore, Md. Georgetown will also get a shot at a perennial power in NR/RV Loyola (Md.). The nearby and former conference foes have met 18 times previously, with the series split down the middle at 9-9. Villanova visits local rival Lafayette at 7 p.m., to round out the midweek action, with the Wildcats looking to halt a three-game skid. Cincinnati will also host a non-league game this week when the Bearcats welcome Winthrop on Friday.
In The Polls
Florida remained No. 3/3 in the national polls for a fourth consecutive week, coming off yet another 2-0 record which included a 19-12 win over then-No. 5/6 Syracuse. No. 13/13 Denver improved its position for a second consecutive week, climbing one spot in the IWLCA Top 20 and three in the Media Poll. Temple continued to receive votes for a second straight week in the Media Poll.
Weekly Schedule/Results
Wednesday
Vanderbilt at RV/17 Johns Hopkins, 1 p.m.
Villanova at Lafayette, 7 p.m.
Georgetown at NR/RV Loyola (Md.), 7 p.m.
Friday
Winthrop at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Saturday
13/13 Denver at 3/3 Florida, Noon*
Georgetown at Connecticut, 1 p.m.*
Marquette at NR/RV Temple, 1 p.m.*
Butler at Vanderbilt, 2 p.m.*
Sunday
Cincinnati at Villanova, Noon*