Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team will close out its fall practice schedule next Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Hens host NCAA Division I powers Princeton, Loyola, and Bucknell in the UD Fall Tournament exhibition.

All games are free and open to the public and will be played on the two UD Turf Practice Fields located behind Delaware Field House and adjacent to Delaware Stadium.

Delaware will play Princeton and Loyola will take on Bucknell at 12 noon in the first round of games followed by the Blue Hens taking on Bucknell and Princeton playing Loyola in the second round of games at 2:15.

The exhibition games will consist of four quarters of 25 minutes with a running clock.

Delaware, led by head coach Bob Shillinglaw, is coming off a 5-10 record a year ago. The Hens are led by two of the most dynamic players in the Colonial Athletic Association in senior All-American attackman Curtis Dickson and senior All-CAA midfielder Martin Cahill (at right) and one of the league’s premiere defenders in Pat Dowling.

Princeton, winners of six national titles, posted a record of 15-4 a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last six years. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals last year before falling to Cornell.

Bucknell, annually one of the top teams in the Patriot League, went 9-7 a year ago and lost in the league championship game. The Bison have posted three straight winning seasons.

Loyola, a former member of the ECAC, has produced four straight .500 or better seasons and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 before falling to Albany in the first round.

The Blue Hens will resume pre-season practice in January with the 2010 opener set for Feb. 6 at Saint Joseph’s.