VILLANOVA, Pa. The Villanova Wildcats (11-5, 3-3 BE) clinched the #4 seed and are set to take on the Denver Pioneers who clinched the #1 seed from an undefeated 17-0 season. With a 12-5 win over Marquette, Denver has secured themselves as regular-season champions for the fourth year in a row. Villanova is back in the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2021 thanks to head coach Jill Batcheller who led the team through a record-breaking season. 

The Wildcats will be seeking their first postseason victory while the Pioneers are 7-3 all-time in the tournament, winning the title in 2021 and 2022. While Denver is the only undefeated team left in the country, Villanova has broken records all year long such as most wins in a season in program history. Both teams carry standout players offensively and defensively. Denver's Julia Gilbert and Villanova's Sydney Pappas were both named 2023 BIG EAST Co-Attackers of the Year. Gilbert earned 51 points from 44 goals and 7 assists while Pappas earned 63 points from 52 goals and 11 assists. Denver's Emelia Bohi, Ellie Curry, Gilbert, Trinity McPherson, and Sam Thacker were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team as well as Villanova's Caroline Curnal and Pappas. Denver's Lauren Black, Ryan Dineen, Bryn McCaughey and Abby Jenkins were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team as well as Villanova's Sami Carey, Mary Kate Conniff, and Olivia Conquest. 

Both teams have players that are nationally ranked. Curnal is currently fifth in the nation in draw controls per game with 9.19 while Denver's Thacker is fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game with 2.65. Denver's goalie Bohi ranks first with a goals against average of 5.99.

The BIG EAST Championship will be hosted by UConn at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on May 5th and May 7th. The Wildcats are slated to take on the Pioneers May 5th at 4:00 p.m. while the #2 seed Marquette (15-2, 5-1 BE) plays the #3 seed UConn (11-5, 4-2 BE) at 1:00 p.m. 

It will be a strong battle between the Pioneers and the Wildcats this Friday, May 5th, at 4:00 p.m. 

For more information on the 2023 BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Championship, visit Championship Central.
 
BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Championship
Presented by JEEP
Semifinals – May 5 – BEDN
No. 2 seed Marquette vs. No. 3 seed UConn, 1 p.m.
No. 1 seed Denver vs. No. 4 seed Villanova, 4 p.m.
Final – May 7 – FS2
Semifinal winners, 12 p.m.
All times Eastern
All games played at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium – Storrs, Conn.