BIG EAST Notes - 3.29.18
BEDN Debut
The BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi will stream its first women’s lacrosse game of the season when No. 8/8 Florida welcomes Connecticut on Saturday at noon ET. The Gators’ Donald R. Dizney Stadium will be the home of the 2018 BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Championship on May 3 and 5, with the top four teams in the standings at season’s end qualifying. Florida is 24-1 all-time in BIG EAST regular-season games, with Connecticut being the lone team to beat the Gators. That loss came in the 2015 regular-season finale on April 18 in Storrs, Conn. Current standouts Grace Nolan of UConn and Shayna Pirreca of Florida both saw action in that contest, with Nolan finishing with three points off two goals and an assist. The two squads met in the 2015 BIG EAST Championship title game two weeks later on that same field, with the Gators winning their first of three consecutive conference crowns.
Weekend Preview
No. 25/RV Denver will play No. 14/15 Colorado this evening at 9 p.m. ET before a busy Saturday slate of five BIG EAST contests. The Pioneers have faced three non-conference opponents that were either ranked or receiving votes this season and are 2-1 in those contests. Denver hosts conference foe Butler on Saturday at 3 p.m. to round out the week. In addition to UConn-Florida, Vanderbilt hosts Villanova also at noon on Saturday, as the Wildcats eye their first win of the BIG EAST season and the Commodores look to rebound after Wednesday night’s setback to Oregon. No. 24/RV Georgetown visits Cincinnati also at noon, with both squads looking to halt two-game skids. A battle for first place takes place in Milwaukee as 2-0 squads -/RV Temple and host Marquette tangle at 3 p.m. MU, TU and Florida are tied atop the BIG EAST standings with 2-0 records, with four teams following at 1-1.
In The Polls
Riding a four-game winning streak, Temple received votes in the
Inside Lacrosse Media Poll for the first time since Feb. 13. The Owls’ four-game streak is bolstered by their stingy defense, which has surrendered single-digit goals in every game during that stretch for a 6.75 average. Florida continued to lead the pack at No. 8/8, falling two spots in each poll after a 1-1 week against nationally ranked competition. Georgetown held its spot at No. 24 in the IWLCA Poll for the second consecutive week and continued to receive votes in the media poll for a fourth consecutive installment. Denver fell two spots in the IWLCA poll to No. 25 despite going 1-0 last week with an impressive win at Connecticut. The Pioneers also received votes in the media poll – Denver has been ranked or receiving votes in the media poll all eight weeks of the season.
Last Night In #BIGEASTwlax
Oregon 17, Vanderbilt 12
Vanderbilt fell behind late in the first half and could not make up the difference Wednesday afternoon against Oregon, losing 17-12 at the VU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. The Commodores (6-4, 1-1 BIG EAST) held four separate one-goal leads in the first 20 minutes, but surrendered a 6-0 run to the Ducks (5-5, 2-3 PAC-12) that started late in the first half and carried into the second frame. Oregon finished that sequence ahead 10-5 with 25 minutes remaining and led the rest of the game. Emily Mathewson led the Commodores with six points off two goals and four assists.
Full Recap
2/3 Maryland 17, 24/RV Georgetown 5
The Hoyas showed a strong effort early, but could not match the Terrapin offense to eventually drop the decision. Natalie Lynch led the way with a pair of goals and an assist for three points for the Blue & Gray. Taylor Gebhardt, Emily Ehle and Morgan Ryan each managed a goal. The Hoyas were outshot, 37-16, and pulled in seven draw controls to Maryland’s 17. Georgetown committed 14 turnovers while forcing nine from the Terps. Junior goalkeeper Haelle Chomo had five saves, while sophomore Micheline DiNardo managed four saves in the cage.
Full Recap
Weekly Schedule/Results
Wednesday
Oregon 17, Vanderbilt 12
2/3 Maryland 17, 24/RV Georgetown 5
Thursday
14/15 Colorado at 25/RV Denver, 9 p.m.
Saturday
UConn at 8/8 Florida, Noon*#
Villanova at Vanderbilt, Noon*
24/RV Georgetown at Cincinnati, Noon*
-/RV Temple at Marquette, 3 p.m.
Butler at 25/RV Denver, 3 p.m.
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
#BEDN