GRANVILLE, Ohio (May 8, 2022) – For the 26th time in program history and for the sixth time in a row, the Denison University men's lacrosse team will compete in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Denison will carry a 10-game winning streak and a 15-4 overall record into its second-round matchup against Grove City College at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 13, in York, Pennsylvania.

During the regular season, Denison's first season under the leadership of Head Coach Eric Koch, the Big Red went 9-0 against conference opponents to win their 20th NCAC regular-season championship in program history.

The Big Red then earned the North Coast Athletic Conference automatic qualifier to the national tournament after defeating Oberlin College 19-9 in the NCAC Tournament semifinals, followed by a 12-5 win over Kenyon College in the championship game. It was Denison's seventh overall and sixth straight NCAC Tournament title.

This will be Denison's 45th NCAA Tournament game since the program's first appearance in 1982. This will also be the first meeting in the NCAA postseason between Denison and Grove City, however, the two teams did meet for the first time ever earlier this season on March 30 in Pennsylvania. On that day, the Big Red were haunted by a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter for Grove City, which went on to hand Denison its final loss of the regular season by a score of 14-10.

Grove City, like the Big Red, is 15-4 overall, went undefeated in conference play during the regular season, and won its conference tournament championship (Presidents' Athletic Conference). Winners of 13 straight games, Grove City is making its third all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

No. 6 nationally-ranked York (17-2) is the host site for the four-team pod. York has won 15 games in a row, has only lost to teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country at the time, went undefeated in conference action during the regular season, and won its conference tournament championship (Mac Commonwealth).  Southern Virginia (14-4) has won six games in a row, went undefeated in its conference during the regular season, and also won its conference tournament championship (USA South). Denison men's lacrosse has never played against York or Southern Virginia before.

Senior attackman Camden Bowdy leads the Big Red in both goals (51) and assists (40) while junior Ethan Tyack has netted 35 goals and 36 assists and sophomore Luke Fisher has added 34 goals and 28 assists.

Faceoff man Davis Cronin has won 249 of 345 faceoffs (.722 percent) and leads Denison with 123 groundballs.

Junior goalkeeper Archer Darrach is 13-1 on the season with 129 saves (.581 save percentage) and 93 goals allowed (6.84 goals-against average).

In the first meeting this season between Denison and Grove City, Bowdy (3 goals, 2 assists), Fisher (2 goals, 3 assists) and Tyack (2 goals, 3 assists) each scored five points while Tyack also led the team with five groundballs. Grove City's sophomore goalkeeper, Danny Stone, tied Grove City's single-game record by stopping 18 shots. Denison outshot Grove City, 44-37, and held a 28-25 edge in shots on goal while Grove City won 15 of 24 faceoffs in the game.

The NCAA's final regular season regional rankings listed Denison at No. 2 in Region IV and Grove City as the No. 7 squad in Region IV.

The winner of the Denison-Grove City contest will face the winner of the York (Pa.)-Southern Virginia in the third round on Saturday, May 14, at 5 p.m.
 
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