DENVER – The [14/14] University of Denver men's lacrosse program returns home on Saturday afternoon when the Pioneers welcome Rocky Mountain foe Utah to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on Midco Sports Plus.
DI SERIES HISTORY:
Denver has won all five of the previous meetings between the two programs, including the three previous games played at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The two teams played back-to-back one-goal games in the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Pios edging the Utes 9-8 (2021/home) and 14-13 (2022/Away).
FULL HISTORY
LAST TIME OUT:
Malcolm Kleban made five first quarter saves to give Denver a 4-3 lead at the end of 15 minutes to play before a 5-1 Pioneers run in the second quarter separated the two teams in a 14-8 win for Denver at Air Force last Saturday.
FULL RECAP
ON THIS DATE
- Denver is 0-2 all-time on the day after Valentine's Day.
- Both losses came at the hands of Duke, a 15-13 loss at PBLS in 2020 and a 14-10 setback in Durham in 2014.
DEFENDING THE LACROSSE CAPITAL OF THE WEST
- 125-27 since Peter Barton was built in 2005
- 62 sellouts, including five in 2014, 2015 and 2018, eight in 2016 and 10 in 2017.
- Denver has finished in the top-10 in the country in average attendance in each of the last 9 seasons (excluding 2021 due to COVID-19).
- The Pios have finished in the top-5 three times, fourth in the shortened 2020 season, fifth in the 2015 National Championship season and fifth in the 2023 campaign.
- Denver has had at least one sellout in every season since 2011 (14 straight).
- Denver vs. Yale on March 10, 2024, drew 3,037, the second-biggest crowd in the history of PBLS. Denver vs. Cornell on February 24, 2024 drew 3,025, now the third-biggest crowd.
- Denver and Michigan in the 2024 NCAA First Round drew 2,965, the fifth largest crowd in the stadium's history, and the stadium's largest for an NCAA Tournament game.
1ST LINE MIDFIELD SHINES AT AIR FORCE
- In a 14-8 win over Air Force, Denver's starting offensive midfield of Jack Tortolani, Mic Kelly and Joshua Carlson combined for 10 points.
- The 6 goals from the 1st line o-mids were DU's most since the first midfield scored six at Utah on Feb. 17, 2024.
- The 10 points from the 1st line were DU's most since the first midfield line produced 12 points in a 15-14 win at Marquette on April 28, 2023.
MATT BROWN IN SECOND SEASON IN CHARGE OF ALMA MATER
- 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 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 under Tierney.
- Brown first joined the staff as a volunteer assistant under Jamie Munro in 2007. When Tierney replaced Munro before 2010, 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, and after being passed by JJ Sillstrop in the NCAA First Round on May 11, 2024 sits sixth on the career goals chart.
- In his first year as the head coach, Brown led the Pioneers to a 13-4 campaign and the program's first trip to Championship Weekend since 2017.
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers will close a stretch of three-straight games in the state of Colorado to open the 2025 season next Saturday when Denver welcomes Utah to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast live on Midco Sports Plus.
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