UConn and Denver Set to Play in BIG EAST Women’s Lacrosse Championship Rematch
Women’s Lacrosse Championship presented by JEEP concludes Saturday at noon ET when No. 1 seed Denver plays No. 2 seed Connecticut at Corcoran Field on the campus of Xavier University. Saturday’s final will be a rematch of last year’s title game. In Thursday’s semifinals, the Pioneers defeated No. 4 seed Villanova 19-7, while the Huskies outlasted No. 3 seed Georgetown 13-11. The winner of the BIG EAST Championship receives the league’s automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Championship.
Denver is making its seventh consecutive title game appearance and seeking its fourth straight BIG EAST title. The Pioneers have a 10-3 (.769) all-time record in the BIG EAST Championship, with all their appearances coming under current head coach Liza Kelly.
UConn is making its fourth overall final appearance and its third in the last four years. The Huskies are seeking their first BIG EAST Championship title. UConn has a 4-7 (.364) all-time record in the conference postseason, with all its appearances coming under current head coach Katie Woods.
The two teams have met in the title game in three of the last four seasons, also matching up in 2023 and 2021. Denver took last year’s championship game 11-6 over the Huskies. Current Pioneer attacker Julia Gilbert had a game-high four goals in the contest, while current goalkeeper Emelia Bohi finished with 13 saves. For UConn, current attacker Kate Shaffer added two goals, while current goalkeeper Landyn White recorded 19 saves.
Denver bested the Huskies 18-9 in this year’s regular season matchup between the two teams on March 24 at home. The Pios were led by Gilbert, Olivia Penoyer and Lauren Black, who each scored three goals. For UConn, Shaffer scored a game-high five goals, while White totaled a season-high 18 saves.
Three major award winners will be on the field this Saturday. For Denver, BIG EAST Attacker of the Year Julia Gilbert and Defensive Player of the Year Trinity McPherson will be in action. Gilbert has tallied 53 goals this season, including five scores in the team’s semifinal win on Thursday. McPherson has totaled 33 caused turnovers and 36 ground balls this season, helping limit Villanova to just seven goals in the semifinals. For the Huskies, BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Landyn White will take the field. White has made 162 saves this season and has a save percentage of .495.