Denver Travels East to Face Duke in High-Stakes Showdown
The University of Denver men’s lacrosse team travels east this Sunday to face Duke in Durham. Denver is ranked No. 14 while Duke holds the No. 6 spot. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. MT, and the contest will stream on ACC Network Xtra.
Series background
Duke leads the all-time series 12-7. The Blue Devils are 8-1 against Denver in Durham. Duke had won seven straight meetings before last season’s neutral-site upset.
Denver beat Duke 13-6 in Dallas on March 22, 2025. Noah Manning recorded a game-high eight points in that victory.
Recent form and context
Denver fell 13-12 to Syracuse on Monday at Peter Barton. The Pioneers mounted a fourth-quarter rally but came up short on the final possession.
This trip is Denver’s first eastern seaboard game of the 2026 season. The team travels east aiming to build momentum after the Syracuse loss.
March 22 history
Denver is 4-0 on March 22 in its Division I history. The program has beaten Rutgers, Stony Brook, Wagner, and Duke on that date. This marks the second straight season Denver meets Duke on March 22.
Reset numbers and trends
Reset play has varied across recent seasons. In 2021 Denver scored 42 goals off resets from 92 chances while opponents scored 17.
Denver held a 23-18 edge in 2022 and an 18-8 advantage in 2023. The 2024 season featured a 24-11 reset margin, including 18-6 in wins.
In 2025 both teams totaled 17 goals off resets. Through 2026, Denver is 4-for-21 on reset chances while opponents are 3-for-30. In February, Utah was 0-for-8 on resets during Denver’s one-goal win.
Unlucky bounces
Denver opponents have hit the pipes more often over the last eight seasons. The margin stands at 198 posts for opponents versus 140 for Denver. In 2026 opponents have hit 26 posts compared to Denver’s seven.
Performance versus ranked teams
Denver’s Division I record versus USILA Top-20 teams is 80-96. The program is 32-29 at home against ranked opponents. Against Top-5 teams Denver is 14-30.
The last Top-5 victory came in the 2024 NCAA Quarterfinals against No. 4 Syracuse. Notable top-10 road wins include an overtime triumph at Johns Hopkins in 2024 and a March 20, 2022 win at No. 7 Ohio State.
Man-up defense
Since the start of 2024, Denver has allowed only 18 man-up goals on 90 opportunities. That yields a man-down kill percentage of 80.0 percent.
That total ranks second fewest in the country over the span, with Maryland first. Denver’s 80.0 percent penalty-kill rate is the nation’s best for the period.
In 2025 the program ranked 11th in man-up kill percentage at 75.0 percent. In a 7-3 win over Georgetown on April 12, 2025, Denver killed all four penalties and forced two shot-clock violations while shorthanded.
What’s next
After the Duke game, Denver returns home to open Big East play next Saturday. The Pioneers will host nationally ranked Georgetown at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
That matchup begins at 1 p.m. MT and will stream live on ESPN+. Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale at Filmogaz.com. Visit Filmogaz.com for full coverage of Denver’s NCAA Division I sports.
As the Pioneers travels east for this high-stakes showdown, expect a physical game and strategic battles on both ends of the field.
