Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. – University of Delaware field hockey standout Casey Howard has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week after an impressive performance during the Blue Hens’ first conference action of the season over the weekend.

During the team’s two games against Virginia Commonwealth and No. 14 James Madison, Howard blasted two goals to lead the team to a pair of victories. Guided by her performance, the Blue Hens began conference action with a 2-0 mark for the first time since 2006.

Against the Rams, Delaware’s senior forward knotted the game at one early in the first half before the squad completed the comeback in overtime to post a 3-2 victory over VCU.

Two days later, Howard provided the go-ahead goal in a 2-1 upset victory over No. 14 James Madison. Her tally helped the Hens snap James Madison’s 16-game winning streak against conference opponents that dated back to the 2007 season.

Overall, Howard has now posted 12 goals on the season, which is tied for the top total in the CAA. She has also tacked on three assists for a total of 27 points. That also ranks second in the league.

During the 2009 campaign, seven of Howard’s goals, including both last week, have either tied the game or given Delaware the lead. Of those, four proved to be game-winners.

A two-time first-team All-Region selection, Howard has 41 goals in her career, which stands as the seventh-highest total in program history. She is just one shy of tying Missy Meharg for sixth place and five behind Carol Miller’s third-place total.

Howard is the second straight Blue Hen to earn Player of the Week accolades after junior back Missy Woodie shared the honor last week. For Howard, it is the first weekly conference honor of her career.

Along with Howard, the league also honored Northeastern’s Crystal Poland as the Rookie of the Week.

The Delaware field hockey team will return to action on Friday when the team hosts Old Dominion at 7 p.m.