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.

Other games highlighting the weekend include:

• No. 2 Maryland at No. 16 Penn State
  Sunday, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network
  
  The Big Ten nightcap features one of the steadiest teams in the nation in Maryland, and a Penn State team that started the year in the top 20, fell out and rebounded as conference play commences. Both teams are on three-game winning streaks and sit at 1-0 in the Big Ten. Maryland cruised by a quality Michigan team last week, and Penn State shut down Ohio State thanks to a huge game by Colby Kneese. There are no breaks in the Big Ten this year, and this game could prove big for a Penn State team that faces Johns Hopkins and Rutgers in following weeks. Both the Terps and Nittany Lions sit in the top 20 in scoring defense and faceoff percentage.

• No. 3 Duke at No. 11 Notre Dame
  Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPNU
  
  A pivotal matchup in ACC play, with both teams coming off a loss to Syracuse. The Blue Devils and Irish sit at 1-1, which means they’ll likely be battling for second place in the conference tournament. Duke has two losses separated by four-game winning streaks, while Notre Dame has dropped two of three games. With Justin Guterding leading the way, the Blue Devils boast the No. 3 offense in Division I. It will be up against a solid Irish defense allowing 9.13 goals per game. The Notre Dame offense has struggled this season, sitting 40th in Divison with 9.75 goals per game. It has only broken 10 goals in one of its past four games.

• No. 18 Harvard at No. 13 Cornell
  Saturday, 1 p.m., Ivy League Network
  
  Can Harvard keep pace with Yale in the Ivy League? Or will a talented Cornell team pull into a tie for second place in the conference? In a league that seldom, as of late, sees three teams qualify for the NCAA tournament, this matchup could be pivotal when May comes along. Adding to the intrigue, two of the top offenses will meet in what should be a high-octane game. Cornell is second in Division I, scoring 15.33 goals per game. Sophomore Jeff Teat is third in the country with 5.89 points per game. Harvard sits 14th in scoring offense, led by Morgan Cheek (12th in points per game) and Kyle Anderson (6th in goals per game).

• Hampton at Cleveland State
  Saturday, 1 p.m.
  
  Cleveland State will be hosting Community Day before the game in conjunction with US Lacrosse’s Lacrosse Communities Project. Over 200 area youth will be attendance, including many that took part in the lacrosse academy run by Cleveland State players at Urban Community School on Cleveland’s West Side.

MORE GAMES ON OUR RADAR

All times are listed in ET. For a full list of broadcast games, please visit our US Lacrosse TV listing page, presented by Nationwide.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6

7 p.m.

Drexel at Towson (Lax Sports Network)
No. 1 Albany at UMBC (America East TV)
UMass at Delaware (BlueHens.com)
Fairfield at Hofstra (Pride Productions)

SATURDAY, MARCH 31

12 p.m. 

Ohio State at Johns Hopkins (ESPNU)

1 p.m.

No. 10 Loyola at No. 15 Lehigh (CBS Sports Network)
Marquette at St. John’s (ESPN3)
No. 5 Yale at Dartmouth (Ivy League Network)

1:30 p.m.

Brown at No. 19 Penn (Ivy League Network)

3 p.m.

Providence at No. 20 Georgetown (Fox College Sports Atlantic)

3:15 p.m.

Army at Boston U (CBS Sports Network)

5:30 p.m.

Colgate at Navy (CBS Sports Network)

6 p.m.

No. 12 Virginia at North Carolina (ESPN3)

7 p.m.

Mount St. Mary’s at No. 14 Bucknell (Patriot League Network)

SUNDAY, APRIL 8

12 p.m.

No. 17 Michigan at No. 9 Rutgers (ESPNU)