Date: May 7, 2000

NEWARK, DE -- For the first time since 1984, the University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament.

The Blue Hens (13-4), whose hopes for an NCAA bid were dampened after a 12-9 loss to Hofstra in the America East semifinals last Wednesday, were brightened when it was announced Sunday evening that Delaware will travel to Loyola (14-4) for a first round NCAA game this Thursday, May 11 in Baltimore.

Co-captain Christy Buck

The game time will be 4 p.m. at Loyola’s Curley Field with live radio coverage provided by University of Delaware student station WVUD FM 91.3 with Brian Smith and Dustin Bixby calling the action. Tickets can be purchased at the gate the day of the game. The Delaware-Loyola winner will advance to the quarterfinals next Sunday, May 14 at No. 4 seed North Carolina (12-5) in Chapel Hill.

The rest of the 12-team field will include Syracuse (12-3) travelling to Georgetown (11-4) with the winner taking on top seed and defending champion Maryland (18-1) Sunday; America East champion Boston University (15-3) travelling to Virginia (12-5) with the winner playing at No. 3 seed James Madison (12-4); and Dartmouth (11-4) travelling to Duke (10-5) with the winner playing at No. 2 seed Princeton.

The semifinals and finals will be played May 19-21 at the College of New Jersey in Ewing Township, NJ.

Delaware will be making its seventh national tournament appearance but first since 1984 when the Hens placed third by winning the NCAA consolation game. Delaware won national titles in 1981 and 1982 under head coach Janet Smith when the team played as part of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and in 1983 in NCAA Division I.

“We played well all year until that Hofstra game,” said seventh-year Delaware head coach Denise Wescott, whose teams just barely missed NCAA bids the last three seasons. “But I thought we won enough big games this season that I had faith that we would get in (the tournament). We played Loyola very tough last time and we are excited about going down to play them. They are fast and physical. We will need to do a better job of keeping them out of the crease. We feel very good about our chances.”

Delaware is led by leading scorers Megan Fortunato (30 goals, 25 assists) and Sarah Edwards (41 goals, 13 assists), senior midfielder Christy Buck (23g, 7a), and defenders Claire Marrazzo and Katy Hahn.

Loyola, which defeated Delaware 9-8 back on April 22 in Baltimore, is led by Stacey Morlang (58 goals, 16 assists), Krissy Warnock (34g, 13a), Jen Testrake (25g, 7a), and goalkeeper Tricia Dabrowski (6.67 goals allowed, .635 save percentage).

Loyola leads the all-time series 15-7 and the Hens have not defeated the Greyhounds since 1985.