DENVER – The [7/8] University of Denver men's lacrosse program will open up a three-game stretch away from Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on Sunday when the Pioneers head to [RV/RV] Ohio State. Faceoff on BTN+ on Sunday is set for 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT.
SERIES HISTORY:
Denver holds a 14-12 edge in the series, including a 7-3 record in the last 10 meetings. The Pioneers have won the last two since the COVID-19 pandemic, the cause for the middle of three-consecutive cancelled games between the two programs from 2019-2021. The Pioneers are 4-6 in Columbus, and will play in the Buckeyes new stadium for the first time on Sunday.
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver became the third No. 1 team in the country in as many weeks to drop a game last Sunday when the Pioneers fell to [15/12] Yale by a count of 15-13 at PBLS.
Noah Manning and
JJ Sillstrop had hat tricks to lead the Pioneers on offense.
WILLIAM G. TIERNEY HEAD MEN'S LACROSSE COACH MATT BROWN:
- On April 19, 2023 long-time associate head coach Matt Brown was named the next William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach, following Tierney's retirement announcement to take effect after the 2023 season.
- In his 14 seasons under coach Tierney, Brown served as the offensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Pioneers' offense was consistently ranked within the top -10 in scoring offense, ranking as high as No. 3. Brown helped the Pioneers to make it to the NCAA Tournament 11 times.
- Brown first joined the staff as a volunteer assistant under Jamie Munro in 2007. When Tierney replaced Munro in the summer of 2009, Tierney and his son Trevor hired Matt Brown as the offensive coordinator.
- Outside of NCAA lacrosse, Brown is one of the founders and directors of Denver Elite Lacrosse and directs the Denver Elite Box Lacrosse Program, which is a founding member of the USBOXLA. USBOXLA began the Colorado Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (CCBLL) in the Summer of 2017, which has led to the creation of six leagues nationally.
- Brown serves as the head coach for the Canadian National Lacrosse team, a tenure that started as the offensive coordinator in 2012.
- As a student-athlete, Brown was a four-year starter for the Pioneers from 2002-05. While at DU, Brown played 56 games and accumulated 137 points and 113 goals, fifth on the DU's career goal list.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
- Entering the week, Denver ranked ninth in the country in turnovers per game at 14.17, less than a turnover behind the national leaders.
- If you take out DU's 28 turnovers in the ice-bowl game against Air Force, Denver is averaging 11.4 turnovers per game, which would lead the country by 0.9 turnovers.
- Denver has single-digit turnovers in three games this year, in wins against Johns Hopkins (9), Le Moyne (9) and Cornell (7).
- Prior to this season, Denver's last single-digit turnover game was against St. John's on April 16, 2022 (7).
- The Pioneers last season with multiple single-digit turnover games came in 2019 vs. Providence (7) and Georgetown (8).
- Denver's last season with 3+ single-digit turnover games came in 2018, when Denver had single-digit turnovers in 6 contests, the year before the 80-second shot clock was introduced.
MAN-UP/MAN-DOWN
- Denver entered the week first in the country in man-down defense, stopping teams at a 93.8% clip (15-16).
- The Pios are eighth in man-up offense, converting at 50-percent (13-for-26). Denver's 13 EMO goals are tied for second in the country.
- Denver went 5-for-6 on the man-up vs. Cornell on Feb. 24, its best output on the man-up since scoring five against North Carolina on March 1, 2020.
2024 CAPTAINS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
- The 2024 Denver Pioneers have players from 20 different states.
- Since turning Division I ahead of the 1999 season, the Pioneers have had players from 35 different states.
- The 35 states are: Alabama (1), Arizona (3), California (27), Colorado (100), Connecticut (32), Delaware (1), Florida (5), Georgia (6), Idaho (2), Illinois (10), Indiana (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (2), Maine (2), Maryland (24), Massachusetts (10), Michigan (8), Minnesota (9), Missouri (6), Nevada (3), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (26), New York (21), North Carolina (3), Ohio (22), Oregon (4), Penn (11), Rhode Island (3), Tennessee (3), Texas (10), Utah (1), Vermont (1), Virginia (4), Washington (10).
- Last season's roster added three states to that list this season in Iowa (Provenza), Kansas (Eldred) and Utah (Caldwell).
- The Pios have had 20+ from seven states: Colorado (100), Connecticut (32), California(27), New Jersey(26), Maryland(24), Ohio (22), New York (21).
- Denver's DI student-athletes also cover three provinces of Canada: Alberta (2), B.C. (15) and Ontario (16).
UP NEXT:
Denver will return to Baltimore for the first time since the opening weekend of the season next Sunday when the Pioneers take on [3/4] Duke. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. MT, and the game will be streamed live on Flo Sports.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and DU Men's Lacrosse on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MLAX on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @denvermlax on Instagram
