DENVER – The University of Denver women's lacrosse team is set to open the 2019 campaign on the road against Stanford on Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. MT. This marks as the second-consecutive season the Pioneers face the Cardinals for their inaugural game.
The Pioneers were selected first in the BIG EAST 2019 Preseason Poll, with five student-athletes (
Maddie Baum,
Quintin Hoch-Bullen,
Julia Feiss,
Molly Little and
Kennedy Milburn) being selected to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. Milburn was also named the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Denver wrapped up the 2018 season with a 13-7 (6-3 BIG EAST) record and its third trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers defeated High Point in the first round 19-10, then fell to Maryland in the second round 4-15. The Crimson and Gold averaged 11.9 goals per game, 23.44 shots on goal per game, and 17.2 ground balls per game on the year, finishing third overall in the BIG EAST standings.
Last year Baum led the Pioneers with 108 draw controls on the season, a program record. Feiss returns as the team's leading goal-scorer (45) as well as Hoch-Bullen who returns as the leading points-getter (49). Senior
Kendra Lanuza also comes back for her senior season, having recorded a team-high 28 assists in the 2018 campaign.
Stanford enters 2019 coming off a 15-5 (8-2 Pac-12) record in the 2018 season, having clinched the Pac-12's first-ever tournament title. With the conference championship under their belt, the Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in program history. Last season Stanford averaged 15.15 goals per game, 25.75 shots on goal per game and 21.55 ground balls per game.
Kelsey Murray led Stanford in the 2018 season, totaling 50 goals, 39 assists and 89 points on the year. Losing Murray to graduation, the Cardinals will look to sophomore Ali Baiocco (48 goals last season) to step into a leadership role.
PIONEER MOVEMENT:
Fans interested in making a donation to the women's lacrosse program can do so by
clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
