Blue Hens Selected No. 1 in CAA in Inside Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
December 16, 2010
Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell
On Main Page - Junior midfielder Dan Cooney
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BALTIMORE - After winning its second Colonial Athletic Association title, the University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team has been selected to finish first in the league, according to a preseason coaches’ poll conducted by InsideLacrosse.com. Senior Pat Dowling (at right) was also named to the preseason all-conference team.
Under head coach Bob Shillinglaw, who will begin his 33rd season at the helm of the program, Delaware finished 2010 with a 10-7 overall record. Shillinglaw guided the program to its second CAA title, and 13th conference record since 1979, reaching the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Delaware, which earned the leagues automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA tournament, led the coaches voting, followed by Hofstra in second and Towson, last season’s runner-up to the Hens, in third. Massachusetts was selected fourth followed by Drexel. Penn State and conference newcomer Saint Joseph’s finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Despite picking up the top spot in the poll, Dowling was the only Blue Hen to be named to the preseason all-conference squad. Last season, Dowling was named second team All-CAA after anchoring a defense that allowed just over 10 goals per game while the team logged 1,030 minutes of play, the most in the conference. Dowling caused eight turnovers, helping the Hens rank third in league in total caused turnovers with 111.
Hofstra led the All-Conference team with four, attackmen Jay Card andJamie Lincoln, midfielder Brad Loizeaux and longstick midfielder Adam Mojca. Drexel landed three with midfielder Kevin Stockel, defenseman Dana Wilber and goalie Mark Manos. Matthrew Mackrides on attack and Danny Henneghan represented Penn State while Towson landed shortstick defensive midfielder Pete Mezzanotte and defender Marc Ingerman. Massachusetts had one selection, midfielder Anthony Biscardi.
Delaware, which finished No. 15 in the final national rankings last season and is No. 24 in the preseason polls, also returns all-conference netminder Noah Fossner, whose 30 saves in the conference playoffs helped tab him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Fossner earned second team All-CAA honors after putting together a 187-save season, bringing his career total a Delaware ninth-best 373.
Joining Dowling and Fossner on the defensive side will be sophomore Connor Fitzgerald, who earned a place on the CAA’s All-Rookie team a year ago after grabbing 18 groundballs and causing seven turnovers.
Returning to the faceoff X for the Hens is junior Dan Cooney, who won 129 of his 236 attempts (.547 percent) last season and was named to the All-Tournament team, while also hovering a team-best 65 groundballs, ranking third in conference with a per game average of 3.82.
Delaware begins its title defense on Saturday, Feb. 5 when the Hens host Detroit Mercy College in Delaware Stadium. The opening draw is slated for 1 p.m. and is the first of a five-game home stand for Delaware.
Agate:
Inside Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1) Delaware; 2) Hofstra; 3) Towson; 4) Massachusetts; 5) Drexel; 6) Penn State; 7) Saint Joseph’s
Coaches’ Preseason All-Conference
Attack – Jay Card (Hofstra), Matthew Mackrides (Penn State), Jamie Lincoln (Hofstra); Midfield – Brad Loizeaux (Hofstra), Kevin Stockel (Drexel), Anthony Biscardi (Massachusetts); Faceoff – Danny Henneghan (Penn State); Shortstick Defensive Midfield – Pete Mezzanotte (Towson); Longstick Midfield – Adam Mojca (Hofstra); Defense - Pat Dowling (Delaware), Marc Ingerman (Towson), Dana Wilber (Drexel); Goalie – Mark Manos (Drexel)
