Delaware to Host No. 4 Hofstra in CAA Opener Saturday at Delaware Stadium; Hens to Honor Past MAC Champion Anniversary Teams, Memory of Individuals
March 18, 2011
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File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse squad faces a big test Saturday when the Blue Hens return to Delaware Stadium to open Colonial Athletic Association play.
The defending CAA champion Blue Hens (4-3) will open defense of that title when they take on No. 4 ranked and undefeated Hofstra (5-0) at 1 p.m at Delaware Stadium. The game is the opener of a doubleheader at Delaware Stadium that will also feature the UD women hosting Temple at 4 p.m.
One ticket is good for both games and can be purchased at the main ticket booth in front of Delaware Stadium beginning at 12 noon. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth 17 and under and seniors 60 and over. UD students with valid identification are admitted free.
At halftime of the men’s game, Delaware will honor members of the 1961, 1970, and 1971 Middle Atlantic Conference champion teams who will be celebrating special anniversaries. Delaware will also continue to honor the memory of program founder and former coach Milt Roberts, 1973 All-American Lee Levis, and former UD student and fan Gary Celeste, who was killed by a stray bullet while attending a Delaware game in 1976.
The game’s Most Valuable Player will receive the Milt Roberts Award following the game and the Hens will also recognize goalkeeper Noah Fossner and midfielder Andrew Rohacik who shared the 24th annual Gary Celeste Scholarship Award for players who demonstrate dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to the program.
The Blue Hen men will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak that has seen Delaware battle tough but drop consecutive contests of 11-9 to Albany and most recently 14-9 to then No. 6 ranked Stony Brook last Saturday. Hofstra is the highest ranked opponent in a regular season game for the Blue Hens since Delaware matched up with fourth-ranked Stony Brook in 2007.
Hofstra is ranked No. 4 nationally in the latest USILA Coaches poll thanks to a 5-0 record that includes wins over Colgate (6-3), Sacred Heart (10-6), Princeton (11-9), Harvard (15-9), and most recently Air Force (11-6) last Saturday.
The series has been marked by consistently exciting games with each of the last five matchups and 9 of the last 11 decided by three goals or less, including Hofstra’s 12-11 win last season at the Big City Classic in New Jersey. Hofstra has won four straight in the series with Delaware looking to down the Pride for the first time since 2007.
Eric Smith leads the Blue Hens in scoring with 12 goals and 11 assists while Sean Finegan has tallied 10 times and Nick Elsmo has contributed seven goals and five assists. Goalkeeper Noah Fossner owns a goals against average of 9.99 and a save percentage of .496. Hofstra is led by the high-scoring trio of Jamie Lincoln (11 goals), Stephen Bentz (10 goals), and Jay Card (nine goals). Goalkeeper Andrew Gvozden has recorded a 6.59 goals against average and a .579 save percentage.
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