Denver will also begin competition as one of the newest members of The BIG EAST, leaving the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The Pioneers are coming off their second NCAA Semifinal appearance in three seasons under legendary head coach Bill Tierney.
“The 2014 season will once again, allow our players the opportunity to play one of the most formidable schedules in the country, while permitting our fans the chance to see the Pioneers against top-flight Division I talent,” Tierney said. “Our Frontier Airlines Face-Off Classic will feature double-headers with Air Force and Denver competing against Marist and Canisius, and we still keep Notre Dame, Penn State, Penn, and 2013 NCAA Champion Duke, on our schedule. “
Denver begins the 2014 season at the Air Force Academy on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Pioneers then travel to Durham, N.C., to face the defending National Champions Duke on Feb. 15.
DU returns home to host the Frontier Airlines Face-off Classic February 22-23. Air Force and Canisius kick-off the tournament at 11 a.m. MT, followed by Denver against Marist at 1:30 p.m. MT. Air Force and Marist face-off on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. MT The Pioneers will close the tournament at 1:30 p.m. MT against Canisius.
The Pioneers travel to Philadelphia on March 1 to take on Penn at 12 p.m. MT, and then Notre Dame on the road on March 8. Penn finished the season ranked No. 18, while the Fighting Irish finished No. 6. Denver comes back to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium to host Penn State on March 10 at 7 p.m. MT, a team that finished 2013 ranked No. 11.
Denver continues at home to play Ohio State, March 15 at 1 p.m. MT and then opens conference play against Rutgers on March 22 at 1 p.m. MT. The Buckeyes completed their 2013 campaign ranked No. 8 in the nation. The Pioneers hit the road again to take on Georgetown in Washington, D.C., on March 29 at 9 a.m. MT. They will continue on the road at Villanova on April 5 at 5 p.m. MT, before returning home to face St. John’s on the 12th.
“Moving into The BIG EAST Conference aligns us with many new, challenging opponents,” Tierney. “Georgetown, Villanova, St. Johns, Rutgers, Providence and Marquette will all be formidable additions to our schedule. Although we will miss our ECAC rivalry games with Loyola and Fairfield, we are maintaining our games vs. Ohio State and Air Force, as non-conference match-ups.”
DU will play at Providence on April 19 at 11 a.m. MT and then return home for its final home game of the season on April 26 against Marquette.
The Big East Conference Tournament will be hosted in at Villanova in Villanova, Pa. on May 1-3. The NCAA first and second rounds will be located at various host sites May 10-18, while the semifinals and championship will be in Baltimore, Md. May 24-26.
The Pioneers played in a series of fall games in preparation for the spring season. On Oct. 12, Denver traveled to Buffalo, N.Y., to play the Canadian National Team. Denver then returned home to host the annual Alumni Game and the Fifth Annual Colorado Lacrosse Showcase between the Pioneers and Denver Outlaws.
“We have already had two great contests this fall against the Canadian National Team and the Denver Outlaws,” Tierney stated. “These events have been a great aid in helping to prepare our team for the upcoming season. Young men come to Denver to compete against the best, and look forward to this challenge, as well as the opportunity to take part in the Big East Tournament and our fifth straight NCAA Tournament in May.”
DU will participate in two scrimmages as well. The first will be at No. 5 North Carolina on January 25. The Pioneers will then close out their practice schedule on February 1 against Colorado State at Pete Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
