Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The No. 16 ranked University of Delaware field hockey team will battle the No. 11 James Madison Dukes on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association playoffs hosted by Drexel at Buckley Field.

The Blue Hens enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 12-5 record, including a 6-2 mark in the CAA. The squad will battle the No. 3 seeded Dukes, who enter the tournament as the two-time defending league champions.

In the regular season, the two squads squared off once with Delaware trumping James Madison, 2-1, in Harrisonburg.

Saturday’s first round will begin with the top-seeded Drexel Dragons facing the No. 4 Hofstra Pride at noon. The winner of that contest will battle the winner of the UD-JMU match for the conference championship on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Admission for the event is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under as well as students of CAA schools can enter for free. Students must present their college ID.

This marks Delaware’s first postseason appearance since 2006 and its fifth since joining the CAA in 2002. The Blue Hens have found success in their previous trips to the tournament, advancing to the championship bout in 2003 before winning the title in 2004.

Delaware’s second-place finish in the regular season conference standings marked its finest since joining the CAA. It was also the highest since the Blue Hens entered the America East Tournament as the No. 2 seed in 1997.

The Blue Hens’ six wins in league play also tied the most by Delaware since the squad went 7-0 in the East Coast Conference in 1985.

Overall, Delaware ranks second in the conference in margin of victory and goals-per-game. On an individual level, Casey Howard stands second in goals and points, while Michelle Drummonds leads the way with seven defensive saves. Missy Woodie also stands sixth in the CAA with eight assists, while goalie Noelle Diana is tied for the top spot with three shutouts.

AGATE:

2009 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament at Drexel

Saturday, November 7
12 Noon: No. 1 Drexel vs. No. 4 Hofstra
2:30 p.m.: No. 2 Delaware vs. No. 3 James Madison

Sunday, November 8
1 p.m.: Drexel/Hofstra Winner vs. Delaware/James Madison Winner