Pioneers hope to pick up right where they left off last season after successful 2008 finish

DENVER - University of Denver men’s lacrosse program unveiled its 2009 schedule this week, it was announced by head coach Jamie Munro. The Pioneers will hope to build off of a record season in 2008, facing nine opponents that finished last season ranked in the top 25 in the RPI.

Denver will also face three programs that advanced to the 2008 NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Championships, including Ohio State and Notre Dame. Both the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish fell in the Quarterfinals to finish their seasons 11-6 and 14-3, respectively.

“The 2009 schedule should prove to be our most competitive ever,” Munro said. “Nine of our opponents finished in the RPI top 25. This schedule will give us the chance to reach our team goals while providing an exciting opportunity to compete against the best.”

The Pioneers start the season with an exhibition against Air Force on Feb. 7 and begin the regular season on Feb. 14 on the road against North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels finished last season ranked No. 6 in the RPI standings and No. 9 in the USILA DI Coaches Poll.

Denver remains on the road to face Albany in New York on Feb. 21 before returning home to host Sacred Heart on Feb. 28 and Towson on March 1 in the Face-Off Classic at Denver’s Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

The Pioneers then head to the north east coast for a three-game swing facing Penn (Mar. 6), Brown (Mar. and Bucknell (Mar. 17), three teams that finished within the top-25 last season.

Denver returns home to host two games in four days as Stonybrook (Mar. 21) and Drexel (Mar. 24) will visit the Mille-High City. Drexel finished last season No. 19, just one spot behind Denver in the RPI rankings.

After taking another two-game road swing to the east coast to face Bellarmine (Mar. 29) and Quinnipiac (April 4) the Pioneers will close out the remainder of their regular season at home as they will host four games before heading to Troy, Michigan for the GWLL Championships.

Season tickets for the 2009 Denver Pioneers are currently on sale with ticket packages starting at $62. For season ticket information, please visit DenverPioneers.com or call the Ritchie Center Box Office at (303) 871-2336. Individual game tickets will go on sale in January with adult tickets available for $9 and children tickets for $5.

DAY DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
Sat. Feb. 7 Air Force (exhibition) USAF Academy, Colo. 1:30 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 14 North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. 9 a.m.
Sat. Feb. 21 Albany Albany, N.Y. TBD
FACE-OFF CLASSIC (Denver, Colo.)
Sat. Feb. 28 AirForce vs Towson Denver, Colo. 11 a.m.
Sat. Feb. 28 SACRED HEART Denver, Colo. 1:30 p.m.
Sun. Mar. 1 AirForce vs Sacrea Heart Denver, Colo. 11 a.m.
Sun. Mar. 1 TOWSON Denver, Colo. 1:30 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 6 Penn Philadelphia, Pa. 11 a.m.
Sun. Mar. 8 Brown Providence, R.I. 11 a.m.
Tues. Mar. 17 Bucknell Lewisburg, Pa. TBD
Sat. Mar. 21 STONYBROOK Denver, Colo. TBD
Tues. Mar. 24 DREXEL Denver, Colo. 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Mar. 29 Bellarmine Louisville, Ky. 11 a.m.
Sat. April 4 Quinnipiac Hamden, Conn. TBD
Sat. April 11 NOTRE DAME Denver, Colo. TBD
Fri. April 17 UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT Denver, Colo. 7:30 p.m.
Sun. April 19 OHIO STATE Denver, Colo. 1 p.m.
Sat. April 25 AIR FORCE Denver, Colo.* TBD
Fri.-Sun. May 1-3 GWLL Championship Troy, Mich. TBD

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