DENVER – The University of Denver men's lacrosse program will open its 2026 campaign on Saturday afternoon when the Pioneers take on Cleveland State at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. MT, and the game will be streamed on Midco Sports Plus and ESPN Denver 1600.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Denver is a perfect 4-0 against Cleveland State with all four meetings being played at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The teams met from 2017-20, and have not met since the COVID-19 pandemic. FULL HISTORY
 
MATT BROWN IN THIRD 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 first trip to Championship Weekend since 2017.   

 
2026 CAPTAINS

• William G. Tierney Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Matt Brown named four captains for his third season in charge in 2026.
• Russell Overly, Chris Caldwell, Cody Malawsky and Joe Taraboletti were named to the team's leadership roles this season.
• Overly entered his redshirt junior season having played in 29 games and starting eight of those at close defense. The long pole picked up 29 GBs and 14 CTs entering the season.
• Caldwell entered his redshirt junior campaign having played in 27 contests on the defensive end of the ball, picking up 49 GBS and forcing 23 turnovers entering the season.
• Malawsky entered his redshirt junior campaign with 64 points on 40 goals and 24 assists in 29 career games.
• Taraboletti is the only captain in his final season of eligibility, and entered 2026 having made 26 appearances and posting 10 points on six goals and four assists.

 
DENVER'S 2026 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Denver was listed as receiving votes in this year's Inside Lacrosse Preseason Media Poll.
• After playing Cleveland State and Air Force, Denver will take on eight-straight opponents that were in the preseason media poll.
• Denver will have home games against preseason No. 3 Syracuse (March 16), No. 4 Cornell (Feb. 21), No. 5 Georgetown (March 28) and No. 20 Michigan (Feb. 28)
• The Pioneers will play road games at preseason No. 10 Ohio State (March 12), No. 11 Duke (March 22), RV Villanova (April 4) and RV Utah (Feb. 14).

 
ON THIS DATE

• Denver will play its second regular season game in the month of January on Saturday.
• The only other game in January came on January 30, 2021 (COVID season), a game Denver won 9-8 over Utah at PBLS.
• Ethan Walker led the Pioneers with a hat trick and an assist.

 
#PROPIOS - NLL

• Denver had 14 #ProPios named to National Lacrosse League opening day rosters in November.
• Last week, Alex Simmons had a 10-point night in his return to the Mile High City on four goals and six assists.
• Denver had six of its former players combine for 29 points in week 9 of the NLL season.

 
DENVER'S MAN-UP D IN LAST TWO SEASONS

• In 30 games since the start of the 2024 season, Denver has allowed just 15 man-up goals on opponents 73 opportunities for a man-down kill-percentage of 79.5%.
• The total is the fewest man-down goals in the country since the start of 2024.
• Denver's penalty kill rate is also the highest in the country over that span (79.5).
• In 2025 alone, Denver ranked 11th in man-up kill percentage at 75.0%.
• In Denver's 7-3 win over Georgetown on April 12, 2025 the Pios man-down unit killed off four of four penalties, and forced two shot clock violations while a man down.

 
DEFENDING THE LACROSSE CAPITAL OF THE WEST

• 128-30 since Peter Barton was built in 2005
• 63 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 10 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.

 
MALAWSKY NAMED TO BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM

• Cody Malawsky was named to the 2026 BIG EAST Preseason Team.
• Malawsky was named to the 2025 Tewaaraton Award Watch List and the BIG EAST Second Team a season ago.
• Malawsky started in 12 games last year, totaling 32 points for the second consecutive year on 18 goals and 14 assists.

 
UP NEXT: Denver will continue the campaign next Saturday when the Pioneers welcome Air Force to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Opening faceoff on February 7 is set for 1 p.m. MT on Midco Sports Plus and 104.3 The Fan HD3.
 
TICKETS: Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now, and can be purchased here.
 
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