#BIGEASTmlax Minute – Two Weeks Left
BIG EAST Men's Lacrosse Update (4.20.19)
NEW YORK – There are two weeks left in the 2019 BIG EAST men’s lacrosse regular season. With last week’s results, the current standings have three teams tied at 2-1; Denver, Villanova and Providence. The Pioneers and Friars will face off head-to-head on Saturday at 2 p.m. while the Wildcats host St. John’s. Georgetown and Marquette have non-league byes this Saturday with Marquette playing No. 3 Duke in the Battle of Bethpage at Bethpage High School on Long Island in New York. Georgetown plays against N.J.I.T. at the campus of Rutgers-Newark. The Golden Eagles and Hoyas are tied at 2-2 in the league standings. St. John’s is 0-3.
Why We’re Watching:
St. John’s at No. 20/rv Villanova ; Saturday at 1 p.m. ET
Villanova and St. John’s meet on Saturday for the 21st meeting all-time between these two teams. Villanova has been victorious in their last four meetings. Last year in Queens, the Wildcats won 10-8. Last time SJU visited VU, Villanova won 18-3. The Red Storm recorded the game-winning goal in extra time in their last victory over Villanova on April 19, 2014, winning 11-10. The Wildcats (7-5, 2-1 BIG EAST) had a four-game winning streak cut short last weekend in a 16-13 loss at Georgetown. St. John’s (4-8, 0-3) is looking for the first BIG EAST win of 2019, and the first since 2016. Seven of St. John’s games this year have been decided by four goals or less. Villanova is 3-1 at home. It is senior day at Villanova. Villanova is led in scoring by sophomore attackman Corey McManus with 26 goals and nine assists while freshman Matt Campbell has 25 goals. St. John’s is led by senior midfielder Declan Swartwood with 34 points (26G, 8A) and junior attacker Joe Madsen with 33 points (26G, 7A). Both rookie goalies for Villanova and St. John’s have been impressive. Wildcat Will Vitton has played over 530 minutes between the posts and has a .512 save percentage and 11.63 goal against average. SJU’s Brody Agres has 138 saves, .488 save percentage and 12.46 goals allowed average in 698 minutes.
Providence at No. 12/13 Denver; Saturday at 2 p.m. ET
Tied at 2-1 in the conference, Denver or Providence could qualify for a BIG EAST tournament berth with a win at Denver today. There are 32 potential scenarios for the end of the season with two league weekends left and Marquette and Georgetown with non-conference bye weekends. Denver (7-4) rebounded with a 15-12 victory over St. John’s last weekend, after losing to Villanova 12-11 the weekend prior at home. Providence played spoiler to a potentially early playoff berth for Marquette last Saturday with a decisive 15-8 victory. Providence jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. The Friars (6-7) however lost 9-7 in midweek action to Brown. Brown has an RPI of 31. Denver holds a 9-0 series record against Providence. Last season, Denver defeated Providence 13-6 in Rhode Island. Nick Hatzipetrakos leads the Friar offensive with 41 points (35G, 6A). Close behind is Brendan Kearns with 39 points (24G, 15A). For Denver, Ethan Walker is the point-leader with 39 (29G, 10A).
Marquette vs. No. 3 Duke; Saturday at 11 a.m. ET
The Battle for Bethpage pits Marquette (6-6) against No. 3 Duke (10-3). Marquette head coach Joe Amplo played for Duke head coach John Danowski at Hofstra and worked under him there as an assistant coach following graduation. MU is winless against Duke in six previous meetings and has been outscored 98-33 over the course of the series. An average Duke win of 16-6. MU’s closest game against the Blue Devils was a 11-7 loss to then-No. 4 Duke on April 22, 2017. Fellow BIG EAST team Denver lost to Duke in Durham, 10-9 on Feb. 16.
No. 19/18 Georgetown vs. N.J.I.T.; Saturday at 12 p.m. ET
Georgetown (9-4) is looking for its 10th win of the year to reach double digits for the 15th time in program history. N.J.I.T. is 2-11 on the year with wins over Monmouth and Hampton. Georgetown is coming off a 1-1 week against a pair of nationally-ranked opponents. The Hoyas dropped a 16-14 midweek decision at No. 2/2 Loyola Maryland in Baltimore before rebounding with a 16-13 win over No. 16/14 Villanova on the Hilltop on Sunday. Georgetown and N.J.I.T. will play on the campus of Rutgers Newark.
#BIGEASTmlax Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, April 20
[3/3] Duke vs. MARQUETTE, 11 a.m.
[19/18] GEORGETOWN at N.J.I.T, 12 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at [20/rv] VILLANOVA, 1 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at [12/13] DENVER, 2 p.m.
All times listed are Eastern