The Denver Pioneers are back in Colorado, but they aren't back home yet at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. On Saturday afternoon, the Pioneers head to Colorado Springs, CO, to play the Air Force Falcons (3-3) at Falcon Stadium.
The Pioneers enter this contest having lost their last two games in overtime, triple overtime to Notre Dame and single overtime to Cornell. At 4-3 overall, the Pioneers will need a win on Saturday to stop from falling far down in the rankings. With the out-of-conference schedule mostly finished (there is a Mile High Classic game against Duke at the end of April), the Pioneers play their first ECAC game since losing the season opener against the Ohio St. Buckeyes.
Mark Matthews enters this game with the Pioneers' lead in goals (20) and points (30). Chase Carraro has continued his strong play during face-offs, winnings 64 percent of his battles. Goalie Jamie Faus is expected out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, giving way to either Troy Orzech or Ryan LaPlante.
The Pioneers will need to watch out for Air Force's Mike Crampton and his 15 goals and Keith Dryer's 26 points (nine goals). Austin Fox allows 11.02 goals per game, which bodes well for Denver's continued success against the Academy.
The ball drops at 1:00 p.m. MT and Air Force will have live video, which can be found here.
For more updates on the Denver Pioneers lacrosse team keep it tuned into SB Nation Denver. For more on college lacrosse head over to College Crosse.