(Photo Courtesy of Denver Athletics)

The Denver Pioneers defeated the Providence Friars 14-8 on Thursday night to punch their ticket to the Big East title game.

Denver came out of the gates firing, taking a 5-0 first quarter lead and extending it to 8-1 at the half. The Pioneers found the back of the net six more times in the second half to take home the dominate victory and earn their chance to fight for a Big East title.

Ethan Walker (4G/3A) and Jackson Morrill (3G/4A) led the Pioneers with seven points apiece. TD Ierlan went 6-for-12 at the faceoff dot and Jack Thompson made 11 saves in cage.

Matt Grillo led the Friars with two goals.

Georgetown 14, Villanova 12

The Georgetown Hoyas are heading back to the Big East title game and looking to three-peat after beating Villanova 14-12 in an absolute thriller.

After seeing Villanova jump out to an early 2-1 lead and stay in front nearly the whole contest, the Georgetown Hoyas got two late-game goals from TJ Haley and Nicky Petkevich to take the Hoyas’ first two-goal lead of the game and secure the win.

The Hoyas and Wildcats had been all knotted up at 6 at the half and 8 heading into the final quarter of play. Georgetown’s final two goals were the only consecutive goals scored by either side in the fourth.

With 20 turnovers to their name, Georgetown relied heavily on the faceoff success from James Reilly (17-for-29) and play in cage from Owen McElroy who ended with 17 saves (eight in the second half). McElroy made a game-clinching save with 1:04 in regulation to allow the Hoyas to regain possession and burn the clock.

TJ Haley (1G/4A) and Declan McDermott (3G/1A) led the Hoyas offense.

Keegan Khan had five goals to lead Villanova.

Big East Championship: Denver vs Georgetown (Saturday, 3pm – CBS Sports Network)