No. 18 Denver's 12-4 victory over No. 6 Loyola was significant in that it netted the Pioneers the Eastern College Athletic Conference regular-season championship and the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
The win also means that Denver (11-4) will serve as the host for the inaugural ECAC Tournament next season. The winner of the conference tournament, which begins next year, will earn the automatic qualifier.
The Pioneers and No. 20 Army (10-5) became the first teams to punch their tickets to the NCAA Tournament. The Black Knights knocked off Navy, 11-8, in the Patriot League Tournament final to earn that conference's automatic qualifier.