Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team placed a league-high seven former standouts on the Colonial Athletic Association Silver Anniversary team announced recently.

Former Blue Hen standouts Matt Alrich, Chris Collins, Dan Deckelbaum, Jordan Hall, Cam Howard, and Alex Smith (at right) and current UD All-American Curtis Dickson were named to the 25-player team.

As part of its 25th Anniversary celebration in 2009-10, the CAA is recognizing Silver Anniversary teams in 21 championship sports. The teams were selected by a panel of current and former coaches in the conference.

Men’s lacrosse has been a championship sports in the CAA since 2002 and since that time 17 different league players have earned All-American honors.

Delaware’s seven selection tied Hofstra for the most of any of the CAA schools. Towson had five players selected while Drexel and former league member Villanova each had three award recipients.

Alrich, a native of Timonium, Md., was a standout attackman for the Hens in 2000-04 and earned first team All-CAA honors in 2004 and second team recognition in 2003. He led the CAA with 34 goals and 46 points in 2004 and was named to the CAA All-Tournament team. His team-high 35 goals is the eighth highest single season mark in league history. Alrich has played professionally for the last six years and is currently in his first season with the Orlando Titans in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League.

Collins, a native of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., was one of the finest goalkeepers in Blue Hen history in 2001-05 and served as an assistant coach for four years for the Blue Hens before taking a post at Drexel this past fall. He earned honorable mention All-American honors as a senior in 2005 when he led the Blue Hens to a berth in the NCAA Tournament and was also a two-time All-CAA second team selection. He holds Delaware records for goals against average in a season (7.56) and ranks No. 2 all-time for his career (8.63). He also played professionally for several seasons.

Deckelbaum, a midfielder and native of Owings Mills, Md., was a first team All-CAA selection in both 2006 and 2007 and ranked among the top scorers with 27 goals for the Blue Hen team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2007. He finished his career with 77 career goals and also plays professionally.

Dickson, an attackman from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, is one of only two players honored on the team that is currently competing. A senior for this year’s Blue Hen squad, Dickson already ranks among Delaware’s all-time leaders with 100 career goals and is a candidate for the Tewaaraton Trophy as the top player in the country. He earned first team All-CAA honors in 2008 and 2009, was named to the CAA All-Rookie team in 2007, and earned honorable mention All-American honors in 2008. He also was a key member of Delaware’s 2007 NCAA Final Four squad.

Hall, a midfielder from Surrey, British Columbia, was a four-year standout for the Hens in 2004-07 and was a three-time All-CAA selection who was named the CAA Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2005. He earned USILA honorable mention honors in both 2005 and 2007 and finished his career with 85 goals and 54 assists. A starter for Delaware’s 2007 NCAA Final Four squad, he was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 Major Indoor Lacrosse League draft and is currently in his first season with the Orlando Titans. He also is a member of the Canadian World Cup team.

Howard, an attackman from Wilmington, Del., played part of five seasons with the Blue Hens in 2004-08 and is the CAA’s all-time leader in career assists (102) and points (187). He was a three-time All-CAA selection, including earning first team honors in 2005 and 2006. He was the second leading scorer for the 2005 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Smith, a midfielder from Timonium, Md., is recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of college lacrosse for the way he revolutionized the faceoff specialist position. He set numerous school, CAA, and NCAA records as a faceoff specialist, including marks for career faceoffs won (1,027), faceoffs taken (1,484), and groundballs (553). He was a four-time All-CAA selection who earned CAA Rookie of the Year honors in 2004 and CAA Player of the Year laurels in 2007 when he led Delaware to the NCAA Final Four. He was a three-time All-American, including earning second team honors in 2007, has enjoyed an outstanding professional playing career, and is a member of the United States World Cup team.

Delaware, led by 32nd year head coach Bob Shillinglaw, will open its 2010 season Feb. 6 when the Blue Hens travel to Saint Joseph’s.