#BIGEASTmlax Minute – League Play In Full Swing Saturday
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Although Marquette and Georgetown got an early jump on league play with a 11-10 win for the Golden Eagles last week in Washington, D.C., the rest of the conference dives in on Saturday. Two of the games will be played in the rain at Villanova and St. John’s, while snow is predicted in Denver for this first full day of BIG EAST men’s lacrosse.
Why We Are Watching:
Marquette at Villanova (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Both Marquette (5-2, 1-0) and Villanova (5-4, 0-0)are riding four-game winning streaks heading into the match up. Villanova has not lost since March 4, a 13-10 loss to Delaware. Since then, Villanova has defeated Brown and Bucknell by a 17-15 margin, then-No. 4 Maryland, 13-12 in overtime in College Park and Fairfield, 18-9 last Saturday. Villanova is receiving votes and is ranked No. 20 in the USILA coaches’ poll. Marquette, like Villanova had some early struggles, but also has not lost since March 3, a 12-6 loss to then-No. 12/6 Ohio State. In the streak, Marquette has defeated Detroit Mercy, 8-6, Robert Morris, 14-7, Georgetown, 11-10 and most recently Air Force in midweek action, 7-6 (March 28). Marquette is currently 3-2 all-time against Villanova. The Golden Eagles have won the last three meetings.
Providence at St. John’s (Saturday, 1 p.m., ESPN3)
St. John’s is 15-1 against Providence all-time in a series dating back to 1987. In their last meeting in 2015, SJU defeated PC 17-7. The Red Storm struggled in non-conference play with a 1-7 record, its only win coming on the road at Siena. Contrastingly,, Providence is 6-3 overall and is riding a two-game winning streak which includes a 9-8 OT win over Drexel. PC has played the second-most overtime games in the country this season and is 1-1 in the golden goal period. The Friars have also played four one-goal games (2-2) this season.
Georgetown at Denver (Saturday, 3 p.m., ALT)
Denver (6-2) will be playing its seventh home contest this season, but first since March 12. The Pios are coming off a competitive spring break trip where Denver lost at then-No. 18/17 Ohio State, 16-7, but defeated then-No. 16 Towson 12-11 in Maryland. Georgetown is coming off back-to-back 11-10 losses, (at then-No. 17/18 Loyola and against Marquette) where the Hoyas climbed back just to fall short. Denver is undefeated at 16-0 in BIG EAST play since joining the league in 2014. In Denver, snow is in the forecast for the first time in 2017. The Pioneers average faceoff temperature during their six game home stand in February and March was 54.2 degrees, including three games that saw temps in the 60s.
The BIG EAST is HEADstrong
St. John’s is dedicating Saturday’s game against Providence to the HEADstrong Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that aims to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and families.
Just Outside The Top 20
Denver has remained in the national rankings all year, with four weeks as No. 1 and currently No. 4 in the USILA Coaches Poll, No. 6 in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. this week, four of the six #BIGEASTmlax teams are getting national attention as Villanova entered the coaches’ poll at No. 20 and Marquette and Providence receive votes. Villanova is riding a four game winning streak that includes an overtime win over then-No. 4 Maryland, 13-12. Starting the season, five of the six BIG EAST had at least votes in one of the two major polls. Three teams were ranked: No. 3 Denver, No. 18 Marquette and RV/No. 16 Villanova.
Denver No. 2 In Average Attendance
The Pioneers rank fourth in the country in average attendance (2,587) over six home games this season. No. 1 is Syracuse, which boasts an average attendance of 4,093 in a stadium that holds more than 49,000. Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium holds 2,000.
Play The Best To BE The Best
Denver also ranks fourth in strength of schedule behind Notre Dame, Cleveland State and UMBC. Georgetown and Villanova are also in the top 10, tied for eighth. Marquette is 16th and Providence is 24th. St. John’s ranks 38th. Collectively, the BIG EAST has played 19 games against opponents in the top 20. Six of Denver’s eight games have been against ranked opponents.
BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Schedule
Saturday, April 1, 2017
[RV/RV] MARQUETTE at [20/RV] VILLANOVA at 1 p.m. ET
[RV/RV] PROVIDENCE at ST. JOHN’S (ESPN3) at 1 p.m. ET
GEORGETOWN at [4/6] DENVER (ALT) at 3 p.m. ET