DENVER FINDING ITS STRIDE
Don’t sleep on Denver (again). The Pios — last year’s welcome surprise guest in the Final Four — had a trio of early losses to Michigan, Maryland and Northwestern. Those don’t seem too shabby in hindsight, with all three currently in the top four. Will Denver be there in the end? The Pioneers’ win on a late goal from Jane Earley kicked off a three-game winning streak.
This season, teams have had better luck against the defense — sort of (the team goals-against average of 8.33 is still in the top 10 nationally). But Denver’s offense is taking shape. It’s no longer the Julia Gilbert (25 G, 5 A) show. Yale transfer Olivia Penoyer (15 G, 19 A) has used her lacrosse IQ to feed and take it herself. Lauren Black (14 G, 8 A, 15 DC) has also filled the stat sheet.
Denver should run the table in the Big East, which comprises the bulk of its remaining slate. The biggest challenges are an April 3 date with fringe-Top 20 Colorado and one on April 22 against Yale.
IS THE PAC-12 STANFORD’S TO LOSE?
At the risk of overreacting to USC’s loss to unranked Dartmouth, the Trojans won’t be a shoo-in for the sunsetting league’s title. Colorado has seen success, but Stanford is the hot team, especially following a recent win over the Buffs.
The program is bouncing back after an “off” year (the Cardinal went 7-2 in conference play and missed the NCAA tournament). Stanford played Denver tough in a 10-6 loss. Its other two losses are of the one-goal variety to Yale and Virginia, which were back in February.
Even without Ashley Humphrey at X, the Cardinal have been able to deploy a balanced attack with Aliya Polisky (25 G, 10 A), Sarah Jacques (19 G, 11 A), Jordyn Case (23 G, 6 A) and Jay Browne (16 G, 13 A) at or near the 30-point mark. And Annabel Frist (98 DC) has been masterful in the circle.
The Cardinal are on our radar — and a recent add to our Top 20 — in the second half.