Xavier University Athletics
Sunday, March 23
Cincinnati, Ohio
11 a.m.
Xavier University
vs
Denver
Musketeers Open Conference Play with No. 24 Denver
03.21.25 | Women's Lacrosse
Xavier is seeking its first berth to the BIG EAST Tournament this year.
CINCINNATI - The Xavier women's lacrosse team is set to host No. 24 Denver on Sunday morning in the BIG EAST opener. First draw is set for 11:00 a.m. at Corcoran Field.
The Musketeers are currently 1-7 ahead of the start of conference play while the nationally ranked Pioneers enter the weekend with a 5-4 record.
MARCH 23 | 11:00 AM
BIG EAST Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Sr., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Riley Daly, UConn, Sr., D
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Abby Beran, UConn, So., D*
Riley Daly, UConn, Sr., D*
Rayea Davis, UConn, R-Jr., A*
Lauren Black, Denver, Sr., A
Emelia Bohi, Denver, Sr., GK
Caroline Colimore, Denver, Sr., M*
Ryan Dineen, Denver, Jr., A
Megan Klingenberg, Denver, Jr., D
Lily Athanas, Georgetown, Sr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, Jr., A
Maley Starr, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Sr., A*
Tess Osburn, Marquette, Jr., A
Mary Moore, Villanova, So., M*
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, Sr., A*
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova, Sr., D
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, So., DS*
*denotes unanimous selection
^ extra player added due to tie in voting
The Musketeers are currently 1-7 ahead of the start of conference play while the nationally ranked Pioneers enter the weekend with a 5-4 record.
game information
MARCH 23 | 11:00 AM
- Xavier Musketeers (1-6, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Denver Pioneers (5-4, 0-0 BIG EAST)
- Watch - bit.ly/3Fznmdk
- Live Stats - bit.ly/4bQn1iD
last time out
- Lola Mancuso led the team with three goals for her 18th career hat trick against Louisville on Thursday night.
- Jada Brandon recorded a season-high six saves in her 45 minutes in goal.
- Megan Droney contributed a goal and an assist.
- Morgan Handzel had three draw controls and one caused turnover.
about the musketeers
- Lola Mancuso has scored in all eight games this season, recording a hat trick in her last three straight outings.
- Morgan Handzel became the all-time draw control leader just seven games into her rookie season, currently with 70 on the season. She ranks 13th in the nation with 8.75 draw controls per game.
- The Musketeers rank 21st in the NCAA with a .576 draw control percentage and 23rd for 15.62 draws per game.
- Xavier averages 19.00 ground balls per game, good for 14th in the country and the most of any BIG EAST team.
- Mancuso's 3.50 goals per game ranks 21st in the nation and 2nd among BIG EAST players.
- Teegan Lannon was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and Morgan Handzel was named the Freshman of the Week after the Musketeers' 1-1 opening weekend at home.
scouting the pioneers
- The Pioneers are currently ranked No. 24 in the latest IWLCA poll and are coming off of a loss to No. 18 Stony Brook.
- Denver was picked to finish first in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll after their fourth consecutive BIG EAST Championship title last season.
- Attackers Lauren Black and Ryan Dineen, midfielder Caroline Colimore, defender Megan Klingenberg and goalkeeper Emelia Bohi were all named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
- The Pioneers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season before falling to eventual runner-up Northwestern.
- This will be just the second meeting between Xavier and Denver after last season's game was canceled. The Pioneers won the 2023 match up 23-6 at Corcoran Field.
- Lauren Black leads the team with 27 goals and Olivia Ripple follows with 20. Raegan Wilson balances the attack with 13 goals and 17 assists.
- Megan Klingenberg has 18 ground balls and Sarah Pokorny rounds out the defense with 19 caused turnovers.
2025 schedule
- The Musketeers were picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST preseason poll.
- Xavier will face Duke, Bucknell, South Florida and Gardner-Webb for the first time in program history.
- The Musketeers will face opponents from six conferences outside of the BIG EAST.
- Xavier faces two teams who reached the NCAA Tournament last season, including Duke and BIG EAST foe Denver.
- Denver was ranked No. 23 in the IWLCA Preseason Poll while Duke checked in at No. 25.
- XU opens the home slate on March 13 against Gardner-Webb.
- BIG EAST play begins on March 23 when Xavier hosts reigning champion Denver at Corcoran Field.
- Xavier will travel to Butler on April 26 for the final game of BIG EAST regular season play.
- The 2025 BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Tournament will be hosted by Villanova from May 1-3, welcoming the top four teams in the final standings.
big east preseason poll
BIG EAST Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
- Denver (5) 35 pts
- UConn (1) 31
- Villanova (1) 24
- Georgetown 22
- Marquette 18
- Butler 11
- Xavier 6
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Sr., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Riley Daly, UConn, Sr., D
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Abby Beran, UConn, So., D*
Riley Daly, UConn, Sr., D*
Rayea Davis, UConn, R-Jr., A*
Lauren Black, Denver, Sr., A
Emelia Bohi, Denver, Sr., GK
Caroline Colimore, Denver, Sr., M*
Ryan Dineen, Denver, Jr., A
Megan Klingenberg, Denver, Jr., D
Lily Athanas, Georgetown, Sr., D
Gracie Driggs, Georgetown, Jr., A
Maley Starr, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Meg Bireley, Marquette, Sr., A*
Tess Osburn, Marquette, Jr., A
Mary Moore, Villanova, So., M*
Sydney Pappas, Villanova, Sr., A*
Maddy Stoddard, Villanova, Sr., D
Emma Verhoest, Villanova, So., DS*
*denotes unanimous selection
^ extra player added due to tie in voting
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseHIGHLIGHTS | Lacrosse at Butler
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HIGHLIGHTS | Lacrosse vs Villanova
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