Defending BIG EAST champion and current regular season conference champion, University of Denver women’s lacrosse (13-3, 6-0), is set to take on Marquette (9-6, 3-3) on Thursday, April 30th at Peter Barton Stadium. The game is the first of two semifinal conference tournament games. Game time is set for 4:00 pm MT.  The Georgetown vs. UConn game immediately follows this game.

Head coach Liza Kelly guided her team to an undefeated BIG EAST regular season and DU’s seventh-consecutive regular season title in the conference. DU struggled against several top seeded teams in nonconference play, recently losing to Colorado. However, the Pioneers appear to be gaining momentum in conference play, outscoring their last two conference opponents 30-6.

Denver has outscored its opponents 226 to 109 and attempted more 100 more shots than its opponents. They have out-scored their opponents with the women-up advantage 40 to 17. DU leads in draw controls 204 to 151 and has forced 262 turnovers to its own 228 turnovers. Olivia Ripple is the key offensive weapon for DU with 59 goals and 13 assists (72 points). Ripple is the seventh leading scorer in the nation.  Caroline Keil collected 48 goals and 12 assists (60 points). Eva Thomsen-Marr leads the team with 22 assists and tallied 37 goals (59 points). Denver’s Hot Pink Defense is second in the nation, behind Colorado, allowing a scant 6.81 goals per game. Denver is led in goal by Lexi Gwaku. DU is fifth nationally in save percentage (.509) while Marquette is 105th  (.384), maybe DU’s biggest advantage against the Golden Eagles.

Twenty-nine  teams make the women’s lacrosse NCAA tournament so #17 Denver appears to be safe. However, sweeping the BIG EAST Tournament would likely improve seeding.

The winners from Thurday’s two tilts will clash in the finals on Saturday, May 12th at 1:00 pm MT. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA lacrosse tournament.