DENVER, Colo. - Men's Lacrosse will take on the No. 1 Georgetown Hoyas in a repeat of the 2024 BIG EAST Championship, which produced a thrilling overtime contest at Villanova Stadium.
Villanova defeated Providence College 11-8, and Georgetown took down Marquette by a score of 19-8 in the BIG EAST Semifinal matchups on Thursday. This game will be a matchup between the top two seeds and regular season co-champions.
The Wildcats are 0-4 all time in the BIG EAST Championship and look to make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2018. This will be their second time facing off against the Hoyas in the title game, as they did so in 2022, and 2024.
LAST TIME OUT
Matt Licata and Luke Raymond matched each other with three goals and two assists each, combining for 10 of the Wildcats' season-high 24 points.
Jake Melchionni caused three turnovers for the third time thus far in conference action and recorded a goal in his third game in a row.
Scot Mackie recorded a career-high nine ground balls in the outing, keeping the possession on Villanova's side in the close contest.
Netminder Denis Fargione had 12 saves, including four in the third quarter, while holding the Friars scoreless.
Villanova had 11 different goal scorers in the game, the first time that has taken place since April 15, 2023.
Colin Michener scored twice on extra-man opportunities, moving him into the top 10 nationally with seven goals on man-up possessions this season.
GETTING A LOOK AT GEORGETOWN
On Thursday, Georgetown defeated the No. 4 seed Marquette Golden Eagles in their semifinal matchup by a score of 19-8.
Georgetown's Fulton Bayman and Lucas Dudemaine combined for 12 of the team's 29 points in the contest, scoring three and four goals, respectively. Bayman tallied a career-high five assists.
In the last faceoff between these two teams, freshman Jack Ransom scored a BIG EAST regular season record nine goals, securing the Hoyas' 11th straight victory over VU.
The Hoyas' freshman defender, Robert Plath, leads the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game at 1.86, ranking just above Melchionni's 1.69.
BIG EAST Goalie of the Year Anderson Moore saved seven shots and only allowed six goals in the contest against Marquette.
At the center "X" projects to be a repeat matchup of Tyler Sandoval and George Glomb teaming up against Ross Prince and Wilson Van Buren.
The two Georgetown FOGOs went 14-25 against the Golden Eagles, while the 'Cats went 21-33 against Providence, with both Wildcats winning at least 10 faceoffs.
UP NEXT
The winner of the contest will clinch the BIG EAST Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It would be Villanova's first appearance in the tournament since 2018.
SOCIAL
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