NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse squad, which advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association championship game a year ago and came within one goal of an NCAA Tournament berth, announced a challenging 2010 schedule Monday.

The Blue Hens, who posted their third straight winning season in 2009 with a 10-8 mark for head coach Kim Ciarrocca, will embark on a 16-game schedule that includes nine home games and 12 opponents who posted a .500 or better record a year ago.

Highlighting the schedule are contests against a pair of 2009 NCAA Tournament participants in Vanderbilt (10-7 record last year) and CAA champion Towson (13-6). The Hens will host the Commodores March 28 at Rullo Stadium and will travel to Towson April 3 to open CAA regular season action.

The remainder of the CAA schedule will include home games against George Mason (7-9) on Apr. 9, James Madison (3-11) on Apr. 11, and Drexel (8-8) on Apr. 25 with road games at Towson, at William & Mary (8-7) on Apr. 16, at Old Dominion (11-5) on Apr. 18, and at Hofstra (9-6) on Apr. 23.

In addition to Vanderbilt, the Hens will host non-league opponents Lehigh (11-6) on Feb. 27, Rutgers (7-9) on March 6, Penn State (8-6) on March 13, UMBC (9-8) on March 21, and Oregon (12-5) on March 25.

Non-league road games includes contests at Saint Joseph’s (11-6) on March 3, Loyola (10-6) on March 9, and Temple (4-12) on March 17.

Lehigh, Saint Joseph’s, Penn State, and Oregon each advanced to its league tournament semifinals or further a year ago.

Delaware will return six of its top seven scorers from a year ago led by two-time All-CAA midfielder Emily Schaknowski (at right), who scored 20 goals a year ago, and CAA All-Rookie pick Stephanie Allen (22 goals).

AGATE:

2010 University of Delaware Women’s Lacrosse Schedule:

February 27, vs. Lehigh, 1 p.m.

March 3, at Saint Joseph’s, 4 p.m.; 6, vs. Rutgers, 3 p.m.; 9, at Loyola, 4 p.m.; 13, vs. Penn State, 12 noon.; 17, at Temple, 3 p.m.; 21, vs. UMBC, 1 p.m.; 25, vs. Oregon, 4 p.m.; 28, vs. Vanderbilt, 1 p.m.

April 3, at *Towson, 5 p.m.; 9, vs. *George Mason, 7 p.m.; 11, vs. *James Madison, 1 p.m.; 16, at *William & Mary, 4 p.m.; 18, at *Old Dominion; 23, at *Hofstra, 4 p.m.; 25, vs. *Drexel, 1 p.m.

May 6-8, Colonial Athletic Association Championships (at Highest Seed), tba

*=Colonial Athletic Association Games