Jimmy Minor and the Big Red will face a familiar opponent on Wednesday in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament.

The selections for the 2009 NCAA Division III men's lacrosse tournament have been made and Denison University has been selected to host the first-round on Wednesday (May 6) against North Coast Athletic Conference rival, Ohio Wesleyan University at 4 p.m at Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.

This is the 17th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Big Red and their fifth consecutive berth.  It will also mark the eighth time Denison and Ohio Wesleyan have squared off in the NCAA postseason. 

The Big Red enter the game with a 12-2 overall record and a 5-0 record in the NCAC.  By finishing their conference schedule unbeaten, DU captured their 11th NCAC Championship.  On April 5, Denison traveled to Delaware and handed the Battling Bishops a 17-9 defeat at Selby Field.  This will be the 85th meeting between the two schools since 1958.

Denison is led in scoring by junior attack Brady Burton (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) who enters the contest with 41 goals on the year.  Sophomore Emmett Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) has scored 34 goals and senior Dan Maude (Wayne, Pa/Haverford), who netted his 100th career goal on Saturday, checks in with 38 points (26g;12a).  The Denison defense has held opponents to under six goals per game and is ranked second in Division III.

Ohio Wesleyan enters the rematch with a 10-4 record and winners of their last five games.  They have not lost since falling to the Big Red on April 5.  Rob Young is their top scorer with 33 goals and 13 assists and Jud Hall has posted a .561 save percentage in goal for the Bishops.

The last time these two teams met in the NCAA Tournament was 2006 and Denison came away with a 10-9 overtime victory thanks to a goal by senior Ted Douglass.  Denison's other win over OWU in the NCAA Tournament came in 1999 on the road to DU's first final four appearance.

The winner of Wednesday's opening round contest will take on Roanoke on Saturday (May 9).  Denison will provide a live internet-only audio broadcast of the opening round game versus Ohio Wesleyan.  That webcast will begin at 3:55 p.m. and can be listened to by clicking here.

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