DENVER – The [15/14] University of Denver men's lacrosse program will hit the road for the first time in the 2025 campaign on Saturday when the Pioneers make the short trip down I-25 to the Air Force Academy. Saturday's clash at Falcon Stadium is set for 12 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
DI SERIES HISTORY:
Denver holds a 25-3 edge in the series, having won 16 of the last 17 meetings between the only two programs in the state of Colorado. Air Force's only win in that stretch came in the last meeting in the Springs when the Falcons knocked off the 18
th-ranked Pioneers 12-10. Denver is 11-2 overall at the Academy.
FULL HISTORY
LAST TIME OUT:
Mic Kelly had a had trick and Kelly and
Cody Malawsky had four-point games but a second-half 5-1 run led Hopkins past the Pios 13-10 in the season opener at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium last Saturday.
FULL RECAP
ON THIS DATE
- Saturday marks Denver's third game on February 8 in its program history, with all three coming against the Air Force Falcons.
- Denver beat Air Force 14-8 in the Springs on Feb. 8, 2014, and beat the Falcons again on Feb. 8, 2020 13-7 at the Academy.
- JJ Sillstrop became the first DU freshman to score five goals in his collegiate debut in the 2020 season opener on Feb. 8.
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.
2025 SCHEDULE
- Denver was ranked 10th in the 2025 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media Poll.
- The Pioneers schedule includes six teams ranked in the preseason top-20 and three additional teams that received votes in the poll.
- Denver's opponents in the poll include No. 3 Cornell (A), No. 7 Duke (N), No. 8 Johns Hopkins (H), No. 9 Yale (A), No. 11 Georgetown (A) and No. 19 Ohio State (H).
- The Pios games against teams that received votes in the initial poll are Villanova (H), Providence (H) and Utah (H).
2025 CAPTAINS
- William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Matt Brown named four captains for his second season in charge in 2025.
- Jack Tortolani is the only multi-year captain in the quartet after also being named a captain to last year's Championship-Weekend qualifying 2024 squad.
- Tortolani is joined this season by close defenseman Jimmy Freehill, SSDM Casey Wilson and midfielder Joshua Carlson.
- Tortolani played and started in all 17 games in Denver's first midfield a year ago, totaling 15 points on seven goals and eight assists.
- Carlson played in all 17 games as well, starting 16 in the midfield where he put up 18 goals to go with nine assists for 27 points.
- Wilson had 6 points (4-2) in transition to go with 35 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers on the defensive end.
- Freehill played and started in all 17 games on Denver's close defense, often drawing the opponents top attackman while picking up 37 ground balls and forcing 22 turnovers.
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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