GREAT FALLS, Mont. – For the second straight year, University of Providence lacrosse will be in the PNCLL Division II playoffs. The Argo still have one game to play in the regular season, but the playoff spot is guaranteed at this point. Playoff seeding isn't, and that is what's at stake for UP in a Senior Day home game against Central Washington University.

With a current record of 4-8 (3-1), the Argos sit in second place in the PNCLL North behind the University of Montana (10-3, 4-0). Neither of the two teams beneath UP in the standings (Western Washington and Gonzaga, both at 2-2) can beat them out for the 2-seed, but a stunningly impressive weekend from Central Washington has the potential to give the Wildcats that spot instead.

CWU currently sits in fifth out of the North's six teams with a conference record of 1-2, but their last two opponents are Montana and UP. If the Wildcats manage to sweep the weekend, they could end up in a three-way tie for second with the Argos and the winner of the upcoming game between Gonzaga and Western Washington. Were that to be the case, goal differential in games played between the two teams would be the tiebreaker. UP's wins over WWU and the Zags were only by 1 goal.

If CWU loses to either the Griz or the Argos, UP's second place spot would be a lock. Even in the event UP loses and ends up tied with Gonzaga or Western Washington, the Argos hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The last time the Argos faced the Wildcats, the game went UP's way win a 12-9 win. Current UP senior Josh Smith was too much for CWU to handle, scoring 6 goals in the game on 12 shots. CSU's leading scorer in the game, Deric Nelson is no longer on the Wildcat team.

While a weekend sweep for CWU would cause playoff havoc, it's unlikely. So far the team's only win in the PNCLL is against winless Puget Sound. That was a slim 8-7 win for Central Washington. In contrast, the Argos beat Puget Sound 16-2.

The Argos have hit a stride recently, winning three of its past four games, including a 12-6 upset of (21) Colorado-Denver. Part of that success has been an increasingly balanced offense. At least six different players have scored goals in each of the team's last two games, and while Smith is still consistently leading the team in goals, the team has been less reliant on him alone.

The game will also be Senior Day for the Argos, with seniors Josh Smith, Jordan Daugherty, Rick Cook, and Colton Thompson all playing the last home game of their collegiate career.