DENVER – The [RV/-] University of Denver men's lacrosse program will begin its BIG EAST Conference road slate on Saturday afternoon when the Pioneers take on Villanova. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
Denver holds an 18-6 edge in the series, and is 7-3 in the last 10 matchups between the two programs. Villanova has won the last two, an overtime game last March at Peter Barton and a 10-9 win in the 2024 BIG EAST Semifinal at Villanova. Prior to the 2024 postseason, Denver had won six of the last seven and 16 of the last 18. FULL HISTORY
 
ON THIS DATE
Denver is 3-1 on April 4 in its Division I history.
Denver defeated Villanova 9-8 in overtime on April 4, 2014, courtesy of a Jeremy Noble overtime winner.
 
DENVER'S MAN-UP D IN LAST THREE SEASONS
In 40 games since the start of the 2024 season, Denver has allowed just 18 man-up goals on opponents 93 opportunities for a man-down kill-percentage of 80.6%.
The total is second for the fewest man-down goals in the country since the start of 2024 (Maryland - 17).
Denver's penalty kill rate is the highest in the country over that span (80.6).
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.
 
MAN-UP HELPERS
Junior Daniel Clark leads the Pioneers with six man-up assists this season, to bring his career total to 13.
Clark ranks ninth in program history in career man-up assists (13). Ethan Walker has the most in program history with 27 in 70 career games.
Clark's six man-up assists in 2026 ties for the 15th most in program history (season and career leaders on page 25). Tyler Pace holds the program record with 13 en-route to the national title in 2015.
Clark has multiple man-up assists in a game twice this season (vs. Michigan, vs. Syracuse), tying for the fourth-most multi man-up assists games in a single season. Pace had four multi man-up assist games in 2015.
 
DOUBLE DIGIT GOALS
Denver has scored double-digit goals 224 times since Matt Brown joined the staff full time in 2008. Denver is 187-37 in those games.
 
BONUS LACROSSE
Denver is 20-17 in overtime in its Division I history, including 15-10 since Matt Brown became a full-time member of the staff in 2008.
DU is 9-3 in its last 12 overtime games.
Denver dropped its last overtime game to Villanova on March 29, 2025 by a count of 10-9. 
 
#PROPIOS - NLL
Brendan Bomberry scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter to lead Halifax to an 8-6 win over Philadelphia last weekend.
Tyler Pace had 7 points and Alex Simmons had six to highlight week 18 for the #ProPios.
 
UP NEXT: Denver returns home next Saturday for another BIG EAST test against St. John's. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ 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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