Denver’s 8-3 Saturday loss to Georgetown cost the Pioneers a home playoff game in the First Round of the NCAA playoffs. Denver (12-3, 5-0) was nearly guaranteed a home first round game if they would have won the Big EAST Championship title game. Denver was on the RPI bubble but strength of schedule, both out-of-conference and in-conference, further hurt their home field hopes. That, combined with DU’s league championship finals loss probably popped the home-field bubble in the minds of the selection committee.
Most Pioneer fans are less worried about the Pioneers going on the road to play Notre Dame (9-5, 1-3) and more concerned about consistency. Does DU has the necessary offensive firepower and goalkeeping this season to win two games in a row to advance to Memorial Day weekend. Notre Dame is certainly beatable this season but so is Denver – so expect this to be a tight contest.
Bill Tierney's Selection Show reaction: pic.twitter.com/YlHGjlhdVt
— LetsGoDU (@LetsGoDU) May 7, 2018
Trevor Baptiste's reaction after the Pioneers find out they're heading to South Bend: pic.twitter.com/HrWXW8pP71
— LetsGoDU (@LetsGoDU) May 7, 2018
The NCAA first Round match is scheduled for May 13th 12:15 pm MT in South bend, Indiana. Then, the winner is likely to face Albany, a team that has battled for the top spot all season.
The fill tournament bracket is shown below:
This DU team is struggling right now. A win at Notre Dame would restore some confidence that this team deserves to be top eight.
This DU team is struggling right now. A win at Notre Dame would restore some confidence that this team deserves to be top eight.
Since we are on the road, ND is not a bad draw. WE can win if we up our play a bit. No college lax team this year is “the team to beat”.
Since we are on the road, ND is not a bad draw. WE can win if we up our play a bit. No college lax team this year is “the team to beat”.