Five Things to Know: Men’s Lacrosse Heads West for Games Versus Denver, Air Force

Game 4
Canisius at No. 14/16 Denver (2-1)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 27
Location: Denver, Colo. | Peter Barton Stadium
Time: 1 p.m. (EST)
Video Stream: Denverpioneers.com
Live Stats: Denverpioneers.com

Game 5
Canisius (1-2) at Air Force (0-3)
Date: Monday, Feb. 28
Location: USAFA, Colo. | Falcon Stadium
Time: 1 p.m. (EST)
Video Stream: Youtube.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com

Social Media: Twitter | Instagram
Game Notes: Canisius | Air Force | Denver

1) Opening Faceoff
The Canisius men's lacrosse team completes its season-opening road swing as it travels to Colorado for a pair of non-conference contests against No. 14/16 Denver and Air Force.

The Golden Griffins open the two-game trip Sunday with a 1 p.m. (EST) matchup versus the nationally-ranked Pioneers in Denver before closing out their visit Monday with a 1 p.m. (EST) matinee against the Falcons at the United States Air Force Academy.

2) Series Notes
Sunday's matchup serves as the fifth contest between Canisius and Denver, all of which have occurred since the 2010 season. The Pioneers have won all four contests between the programs, all of which have taken place in the Mile High City. The teams last met during the 2017 season, with the then No. 1-ranked Pioneers posting a 12-0 victory in a game played as part of the Pioneer Faceoff Classic.

Monday's game marks the eighth meeting between Canisius and Air Force. The teams are meeting for the third time in the last four seasons as the teams squared off at the Demske Sports Complex in 2019 and at the Cadet Lacrosse Stadium in 2020. Air Force leads the all-time series, 6-1, having won each of the past four meetings. The Griffs lone win came in a 7-6 triumph over the Falcons on the road during the 2014 season.

3) Miyashita Returns to his Coaching Roots
Canisius head coach Mark Miyashita is making a return to where his coaching career began this weekend. Miyashita got his start on the sidelines as the head coach at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colo., where he founded the lacrosse program when the school first opened in 2006.

A two-time Douglas County Lacrosse League Coach of the Year selection, Miyashita led Castle Rock to its first league title in 2012. He coached multiple All-American and All-League players while also placing numerous players with various college programs at the Division I, II and III levels. He was also active at the club level, working with Xcelerate Lacrosse and the Denver Elite Lacrosse Club while in the region.

4) Canisius Versus Ranked Opponents
The Griffs will get their second crack at defeating a nationally-ranked opponent this week when they square off against No. 16 Denver on Sunday. Canisius fell in their first matchup with a nationally-ranked school this season, suffering a 23-10 setback at No. 17 Michigan on Tuesday.

Under Miyashita, the Griffs enter Sunday's contest with a 1-2 record when taking on a nationally-ranked opponent. Canisius upset then-No. 19 Colgate, 8-6, at home on March 16, 2019 and suffered a 19-11 defeat at then-No. 1 Albany on March, 20, 2018.

5) Kelly Already Making an Impact
Redshirt freshman attackman Colin Kelly has had little issue adjusting to the college game as he has racked up a team-high 13 points (11g, 2a) in the Griffs' first three games of the season. A two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week selection, Kelly has recorded a hat trick in all three games played this season, becoming the first Canisius player to tally three or more goals in each of the first three games of a season since Tim Spaulding notched four straight hat tricks to open the 2001 campaign.

For all the latest updates on Canisius men's lacrosse, be sure to follow @GriffsMLax on Twitter and Instagram.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Colin Kelly: A; 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#15 Colin Kelly
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Freshman
: A

Players Mentioned

#15 Colin Kelly

Players Mentioned

#15 Colin Kelly