The last time Denver traveled to Villanova for an important Big East game in April, the conditions weren’t ideal. It snowed horizontally throughout the game in 2016, making visibility a challenge for both teams.
Denver came out with the 12-11 victory thanks to a game-winning goal from Connor Cannizzaro.
This year, Villanova made sure not to repeat history. With the matchup originally scheduled for Saturday — when snow is expected in the Mid-Atlantic — the school rescheduled it for Friday at 7 p.m. The Wildcats made sure they avoided the snow, but can they come out on top this time around?
Villanova has certainly made the most of this season. It started 5-0 with wins over Yale, Penn State and Hofstra and has since knocked off contenders like Penn and Marquette. Led by Christian Cuccinello, Keegan Khan and Danny Seibel on offense, the Wildcats now sit at 8-2.
NO. 4 DENVER AT NO. 8 VILLANOVA
WHEN: Friday, April 6, 7 p.m.
WATCH: Big East Digital Network
But this program has had hot starts before. In 2016, Villanova was 6-1, but lost four of seven games and bowed out of the Big East tournament. In 2015, it was 5-1 before losing seven of eight games.
The meeting with Denver represents a chance to take command of the Big East — and to also pick up a quality win in the chance that an at-large bid opens up come May. In the first edition of our Bracketology, Villanova sits at the No. 6 seed, while Denver comes in unseeded.
Bill Tierney’s team will enter Philadelphia looking to jump into the driver’s seat of a competitive Big East that also includes quality teams like Georgetown and Marquette. His team’s identity revolves around Trevor Baptiste, who sits second in the nation with a 75.5 faceoff win percentage.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they sit 34th in Division I with a 48.4 faceoff win percentage. Last season, Baptiste won 23 of 28 faceoffs against a Villanova unit of Jake and Joey Froccaro and Connor Kirst.
Kirst is just 4-for-11 this season faceoffs, while Luke Palmadesso (51.1 percent) and Dan Fisher (48.4) have shared the bulk of the work at the faceoff x.
If the faceoffs go as expected, the focus will shift to a Denver offense that lacks some of the firepower of year’s past. Over the last four seasons, the Pioneers have averaged approximately 13 goals per game. This season, that number sits at 11.22.
Stars like Ethan Walker (30G, 13A) and Austin French (10G, 19A) will need to make their presence known against a Villanova defense that is not unbeatable but has held opponents under 10 goals five times this season.
And while the offense’s production has decreased since last season, Denver’s defense remains as formidable as always. It ranks eighth in Division I, allowing just 8.33 goals per game.
The outcome of this game could go a long way in deciding who gets the automatic bid from the Big East — and ultimately, which team’s fate could be in the selection committee's hands.