The University of Denver men’s lacrosse team (1-2) returns to action this week, hosting the Ninth Annual DU Face-Off Classic, Sponsored by UBS, at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The Pioneers welcome Penn, Lehigh and Air Force for the two-day event.
Fans can follow the action live via Pioneer Vision and Live Stats at www.DenverPioneers.com.
BROADCAST INFO
Fans can also catch the action live on Pioneer Vision by visiting www.DenverPioneers.com. Subscription packages are available on an annual and monthly basis. The Denver Annual Package is just $59.95 and is good for the entire 2009-10 season, while the Denver Monthly Package is available for $8.95 a month. Fans can follow along via Live Stats on www.DenverPioneers.com, as well as the in-game blog on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DU_Pioneers.
SCOUTING PENN
The Penn Quakers come into the Mile-High City sporting an 0-2 mark on the 2010 season. The Quakers started the season, dropping a 16-11 decision at No. 8 Duke and then followed it with a 14-9 loss to No. 20 Lafayette. Dan Savage and Rob McMullen lead the way for Penn with four goals apiece, while Corey Winkoff is leading the assist duties with six helpers. Face-off man Justin Lynch has been 55.8 percent successful on face-offs this season and has also scooped up 17 ground balls. Goalie Chris Casey has seen the most action between the pipes for the Quakers, logging over 100 minutes of action for a 15.57 GAA and a 43.5 save percentage.
SCOUTING LEHIGH
Prior to their match-up with the Air Force Falcons, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks opened the season with a 7-6 win over Satin Joseph’s and then followed it with losses to No. 4 North Carolina (17-5, L) and Navy (8-3, L). Adam Johnston leads the scoring duties for the Mountain Hawks with five goals, while David DiMaria and Roman Lao-Grosney have both registered three goals each. Face-off man Will Scudder has won 60.8 percent of his attempts and has also secured five ground balls. Goalie Dan Carr is boasting a 10.18 GAA and a 62.5 save percentage in 165 minutes of action.
PIONEER CHECK-IN
After dropping its first two games of the season, Denver snagged its first win under head coach Bill Tierney as it defeated the No. 20 Albany Great Danes over the weekend. Sophomore Alex Demopoulos (Canton, Conn.) led the Pioneers with three goals and three assists, earning ECAC Co-Offensive POW honors. Demopoulos leads the Pioneers this season with nine goals, while also dishing out four assists. Senior Charley Dickenson (Dallas, Texas) leads the team with seven assists, bringing his career total to 56 assists and moving him into fourth all-time in the Pioneer record books.
PIONEERS IN THE RANKINGS
The Pioneers jumped into the top-20 of the LaxNews.com rankings this week after defeating No. 20 Albany 17-13 to give head coach Bill Tierney his first win as a Pioneer. Denver enters the rankings as No. 20 behind the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Syracuse continues to lead the nation with a 2-0 start to the season, while Virginia is ranked No. 2 after defeating both of its opponents.
DEMOPOULOS HONORED
Sophomore Alex Demopoulos was tabbed the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week as he led the Pioneers in their second week of the season, tallying three goals and recording three assists to finish with six points as Denver defeated No. 20 Albany at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The attackman had six shots, placing five on goal, and also scooped up five ground balls in his third start of the season. Demopoulos shared the award with Loyola’s Matt Langan and was the second Pioneer in consecutive weeks to earn a weekly honor.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
The only active Pioneer in the record books, senior Charley Dickenson ranks fourth all-time on the career-assists list with 56 assists and is just 11 assists away from securing the top spot. Daren Dickson (1990-93) currently holds the top spot with 66 assists. Dickenson also entered the career-points list at No. 11 with 85 career points. Todd Dickson (1990-93) leads the way with 199 points.
laxbuzz
Michael Duenes, Defenseman – Airforce and Evan Guerrero , Defenseman – Lehigh are St. Margaret’s Episcopal Alumni.
This may be the first time Orange County natives have faced off against each other in Division 1 Lacrosse action.