GLEN ALLEN, VA -- The University of Delaware field hockey team moved up three spots to No. 14 in the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll after receiving 292 points in a vote by the member coaches.

The Blue Hens (6-0) entered last week ranked No. 17 in the country before beating Rutgers, 4-0, and Bucknell, 4-2. The three-spot jump was the highest among any of the top-20 teams.

The No. 14 ranking ties the highest by the Hens since they were No. 11 in 2003. They were last ranked No. 14 at the end of the 2004 campaign.

Delaware is headed by co-captain Casey Howard, who leads the team with five goals and 11 points. Sophomore Tori Karsten is second on the team with 10 points and four goals after tallying three scores last week.

Goalie Nikki Rhoades leads the Colonial Athletic Association with a 0.39 goals against average, while co-captain Amanda Warrington (at right) is second in the league with four assists.

North Carolina claimed the top spot with 913 points and 23 first place votes. Maryland, last week’s No. 1, earned more first place votes (24) than the Tar Heels did but finished two points shy of first place.

Fellow Colonial Athletic Association members James Madison and Old Dominion also earned spots in the top-20, finishing No. 8 and No. 13 respectively. William & Mary and Hofstra were among fourteen teams that also received votes.

The Hens return to action tomorrow at 6 p.m. when they face Monmouth at Rullo Stadium.

AGATE:

2007 STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (September 11): 1. North Carolina (23 first-place votes), 913 points; 2. Maryland (24 first-place votes), 911; 3. Connecticut, 832; 4. Iowa, 790; 5. Wake Forest, 710; 6. Michigan State, 673; 7. Penn State, 632; 8. James Madison, 574; 9. American, 480; 10. Duke, 456; 11. Boston College, 345; 12. Ohio, 344; 13. Old Dominion, 330; 14. Delaware, 292; 15. Michigan, 252; 16. Louisville, 233; 17. Virginia, 230; 18. Albany, 189; 19. Stanford, 182; 20. Boston, 160.