I think the game will be very close and tough.
Some Denver call outs for key players/positions for the tournament.
https://www.collegecrosse.com/2021/5/12 ... tournament
The Most Important Players of the NCAA Tournament
Who are the players who will have the biggest impact on their team’s fortunes this May? We take a look at a few below
By Jake Nazar@jake_nazar May 12, 2021, 8:00am EDT
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The Denver Midfield
This should really read “The Denver Midfield aside from Jack Hannah.” You know what you’re getting from the massive midfielder from Milford, Ohio. 2nd on the team in goals with 34, he’s a First Team All-American and the best offensive midfielder in the entire country. He can dodge past any shortie with ease and even against tough poles. And his unique blend of size with slippery hands and good stick skills makes him hard to defend even when defended well off the dodge or in tight spaces. The question for Denver is….what do the rest of the midfielders do? In the Pios’ last two games against Georgetown, their only two losses since February, their remaining first midfielders Lucas Cotler and Ted Sullivan combined for 3 goals. The second midfield of Riley Curtis, Schuyler Blair, and Ellis Geis had just 2 goals. That’s 5 goals from Denver’s five midfielders outside of Jack Hannah. With Alex Simmons emergence as a dodging and passing option at the attack (31 goals, 21 assists, 52 points) as opposed to the more one dimensional JJ Sillstrop, you know have to pole the Pios entire attack unit of Jackson Morrill, Ethan Walker, and Simmons. Hannah will get a pole as well. That means when the first midfield is on, Cotler and Sullivan are getting shorties. When the 2nd midfield is on, someone is getting a pole. A real disadvantage for Denver. Someone from those five midfielders beyond Hannah needs to prove they can punish a short stick matchup and open up space for the shooters like Walker on the wing or Hannah with his big shot up top. This is why Denver struggled so much on offense in their final two meetings against an elite defense like Georgetown’s. And the road to Hartford is paved with elite defenses for the Pios. Loyola? Top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Duke? Same. If they get there? Maryland or Notre Dame more likely than not, Top 5. There are elite defenses who will feel comfortable with matchups against Denver, unless Cotler or Sullivan or the 2nd midfield take off and become consistently threatening dodging presences, at which this Denver offense could be as deadly as anyone. But as of yet, we haven’t seen it.
https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/ ... yer-/57895
Staff Debate: Who Will be the First Round's Breakout Player?
Wednesday May 12th, 2021 10:30am
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Matt Kinnear (@MattKinnear)
Jack Thompson, G, Denver — For whatever reason, Thompson’s flown under the radar throughout the year. “I think he’s one of the best out there. I’d rather him be great and unheralded than be heralded and not so good,” Bill Tierney said to me earlier in the year. He stole the Pioneers’ most recent game against Villanova — you could argue he is responsible for the Wildcats not making the NCAA Tournament. That was the best single-game goalie performance from a Pioneer since 2003. What’s great about him is that his saves are timely; he doesn’t always put up gaudy numbers like that day, but he’ll make the big save to preserve a one-goal lead at the end of the game.
