RICHMOND, Va. – University of Delaware senior midfielder Casey Howard has been named to the preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association field hockey team as selected in a vote by the league’s head coaches.

Howard, who also earned preseason All-Conference laurels last season, was one of 12 players to earn the honor this year. She is also one of only four players to receive the recognition twice.

Last year, Howard paced the team with 13 goals and 29 points while leading the Blue Hens to a 10-9 record. Following the season, she was honored with the UD Alumni Association Team Most Valuable Player Award for the second consecutive year.

Along with earning MVP nods, she also was named to the first-team All-Conference and All-Region squads for her efforts. She finished third in the CAA in points and goals while she ranked second with a 1.53 points-per-game average.

During conference action, she notched five goals, tying for the highest total among CAA performers. One of those scores proved to be the game-winner in a 5-4 overtime victory against Virginia Commonwealth, while she also posted the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Richmond.

Entering her senior season, she currently ranks 17th on the program’s all-time scoring list with 64 career points. During 57 games, she has found the net 29 times and dished out six assists.

Joining Howard on the Preseason All-Conference team were four players from James Madison, two from Old Dominion and Hofstra, and one each from Northeastern, Towson, and Drexel.

Old Dominion’s Katelyn Smither was named the 2008 Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on the All-Conference team by fellow Monarch Loran Hatch. Representing James Madison were Kelsey Cutchins, Melissa Stefaniak, Ashley Walls, and Lauren Walls, while Brit Blankmeyer and Charlia Warner were honored from Hofstra.

Northeastern’s Ashley Bascetta, Towson’s Christina Boarman, and Drexel’s Carolina Gibernau rounded out the team.

Howard and the Hens will kick off their 2008 campaign by participating in the Champions Challenge this weekend in Louisville, Ky. Delaware will battle Michigan State on Saturday before taking on either Louisville or Duke on Sunday.

AGATE:

2008 Preseason All-CAA Field Hockey Team
Ashley Bascetta, Northeastern
Brit Blankmeyer, Hofstra
Christina Boarman, Towson
Kelsey Cutchins, James Madison
Carolina Gibernau, Drexel
Loran Hatch, Old Dominion
Casey Howard, Delaware
Katelyn Smither, Old Dominion
Melissa Stefaniak, James Madison
Ashley Walls, James Madison
Lauren Walls, James Madison
Charlia Warner, Hofstra

2008 Preseason Player of the Year
Katelyn Smither, Old Dominion