PREVIEW: [5/9] Denver Takes on [3/4] Duke in Baltimore Sunday

Sunday, March 24

Severn, Md. (Archbishop Spalding H.S.)

12 p.m. MT

University of Denver

Duke

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PREVIEW: [5/9] Denver Takes on [3/4] Duke in Baltimore Sunday

3/21/2024 1:18:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

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The Pioneers close out non-conference play with top-5 neutral site battle

By: Niko Blankenship

DENVER – The [5/9] University of Denver men's lacrosse program will close out non-conference play on Sunday when the Pioneers take on [3/4] Duke at Whittles Field in Severn, Maryland. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. ET/12 p.m. MT, and will be broadcast live on FloSports.

SERIES HISTORY:
Duke holds an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series, winning each of the last six meetings between the two programs. Prior to Duke's current streak in the series, Denver had won six of eight meetings between 2011 and 2017. Sunday marks the sixth meeting with both teams ranked in the top-5. Duke has won three of the five previous such meetings. Denver holds a 4-1 advantage in neutral site meetings in the series.

LAST TIME OUT:
Malcolm Kleban stopped 13 shots and Alec Stathakis controlled possessions at the faceoff stripe in Denver's 9-6 win over Ohio State in Columbus last Sunday.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

Entering the week, Denver ranked 17th in the country in turnovers per game at 14.71.
If you take out DU's 28 turnovers in the ice-bowl game against Air Force, Denver is averaging 12.5 turnovers per game, which would lead the country by 0.83 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 second in the country in man-down defense, stopping teams at a 88.9% clip (16-18).
The Pios are eighth in man-up offense, converting at 50-percent (13-for-26). Denver's 13 EMO goals are tied for sixth 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.
The Pioneers didn't have a man-up opportunity on March 17 at Ohio State.

2024 CAPTAINS

William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Matt Brown named seven captains for the 2024 season.
Four returning captains are back in leadership positions in Adam Hangland, Jack DiBenedetto, Alec Stathakis and Jake Edinger.
The quartet are joined by JJ Sillstrop, Jack Tortolani and Michael Lampert to round out Brown's first 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).

BACK IN THE TOP-5

The Pioneers got back in the top-5 of the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll on Feb., 19, Denver's first appearance in the top-5 since April 5, 2021.
On Feb. 26, Denver was ranked in the top-4 of both polls for the first time since April 30, 2018.
On March 4, 2024, Denver moved back into the No. 1 spot nationally for the first time since March 13, 2017.
Denver rejoined the USILA top-5 on March 18, making it 3-of-4 weeks in the top-5.

UP NEXT:
Denver will open BIG EAST play on the road next Saturday when the Pioneers travel to Villanova. Opening faceoff on FloSports is set for 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT.

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