Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -  Senior captain Casey Howard and junior standouts Michelle Drummonds and Missy Woodie all were named to the first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association squad in a vote by the league head coaches, the CAA announced at its annual awards banquet held on Friday night.

With the three selections, Delaware tied Drexel for the most first-team honorees in the CAA. It also marked the most first-team All-Conference picks for the Blue Hens since also receiving three in 2004.

In 2009, Howard (Camden, Del. / Caesar Rodney) has pieced together one of the finest campaigns in Blue Hen history. She enters the CAA Tournament having already broken the single-season program records for goals and points. Her 22 goals and 49 points both topped the previous marks set by Michelle Rosenbaum in 1988.

Howard, who was named the National Player of the Week on September 30, also ranks second in the conference averaging 1.29-goals and 2.88 points-per-game. Her six game-winning goals are also the second-most in the CAA.

Overall, Howard now stands third all-time in career goals and points at Delaware. Her 51 goals are just one shy of tying Julie Grandell for second-place on the career list, while her 113 points are just 14 shy of the all-time record.

Not to be outdone, Drummonds (Elkton, Md. / Elkton) has also helped rewrite the record books with her outstanding junior campaign. In 2009, the team’s standout back has posted a league-high seven defensive saves. Her total is not only a new single-season record, but it also is one more than the entire team recorded during the previous four years combined.

While anchoring Delaware’s strong defensive unit, Drummonds has also contributed on the offensive side of the ball. A starter in all 17 games, she’s recorded five points after posting two goals and an assist. In a 10-2 victory over Brown, she became the first Blue Hen in five years to notch a goal, assist, and defensive save in the same game.

In her career, Drummonds has appeared in 51 career games with 41 starts. A CAA All-Rookie selection in 2007, she has nine goals, eight defensive saves, and one assist during her three-year career.

Woodie (Fredericksburg, Va. / Chancellor) has also been an excellent asset for the Blue Hens after putting together another strong season at Delaware. This year, she leads the team and ranks sixth in the CAA with eight assists. That total is the highest by a Hen since Erica LaBar had 11 in 2004.

As a focal point on one of the top penalty-corner combinations in the conference, Woodie has teamed with Casey Howard and Rae Everson to convert six penalty corners. She also posted one goal during the year, notching the game-winner against Temple.

In three seasons at Delaware, Woodie has started 53 of her 54 career games. During that time, she has tallied 18 points after recording 14 assists and two goals. An All-Rookie selection in 2007, she also earned second-team All-Conference honors as a sophomore last season.

In addition to the three Blue Hens, the conference honored Drexel’s Christina Mastropaolo as the Player of the Year, while her fellow Dragon teammate Sofia Sanguinetti was selected as the top defensive player. Northeastern’s Crystal Poland was also named the CAA Rookie of the Year and Drexel’s Denise Zelenak rounded out the award-winners, garnering Coach of the Year honors.

Delaware will open up play in the CAA Tournament tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. when the team takes on James Madison at Drexel’s Buckley Field.

AGATE:

Player of the Year: Christina Mastropaolo, Drexel
Defensive Player of the Year: Sofia Sanguinetti, Drexel
Rookie of the Year: Crystal Poland, Northeastern
Coach of the Year: Denise Zelenak, Drexel

First Team: Susan Ciufo, Drexel; Kelsey Cutchins, James Madison; Wesley Drew, William & Mary; Dolores de Rooij, James Madison; Michelle Drummonds, Delaware; Carolina Gibernau, Drexel; Casey Howard, Delaware; Genna Kovar, Hofstra; Christina Mastropaolo, Drexel; Crystal Poland, Northeastern; Missy Woodie, Delaware.

Second Team: Kaela Barker, Northeastern; Christina Boarman, Towson; Kelly Driscoll, Old Dominion; Tara King, James Madison; Vivienne Konijnendijk, James Madison; Amy-Lee Levey, Hofstra; Jenna Phillips, Drexel; Sofia Sanguinetti, Drexel; Kelsey Scherrer, VCU; Marle van Dessel; Hanna Warren, Old Dominion; Leah Zamesnik, William & Mary.

All-Rookie Team: Maria Caro, William & Mary; Jamie Dowling, Towson; Amanda Fleischut, Drexel; Micaela Gallagher, Hofstra; Nicola Graham, Northeastern; Julie Hodge, Old Dominion; Vivienne Konijnendijk, James Madison; Jenna Phillips, Drexel; Crystal Poland, Northeastern; Kelsey Scherrer, VCU.