University of Delaware Athletics
UD Athletic Dept. Sends Off Men's Soccer Team Heading to NCAA's (Nov. 16, 2011)
11/16/2011 1:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware Athletic Department sent the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Champion men's soccer team off in style on Wednesday, as more than 30 faculty and staff gathered in the Delaware Field House to wish the team good luck one final time.
The Blue Hens (12-5-4 overall) are headed to Charlottesville, Va. to take on Virginia in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. It is the first time since 1970 the Hens will take part in the NCAA Tournament, and just the third time overall.
Delaware earned the CAA's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament after winning three matches in four days, defeating fifth-seeded Northeastern and top-seeded and host James Madison on penalty kicks to advance to the championship match. On Sunday, the Blue Hens did not need overtime against second-seeded Old Dominion, defeating the Monarchs, 2-1, to claim its first conference crown.
Prior to boarding the bus, head coach Ian Hennessy and team captain John Dineen addressed the crowd, thanking the staf and administration for the support through their remarkabale run. The crowd all sported blue and gold "spirit sticks" and formed an alley from the team's locker room to the door heading to the team bus.
The Blue Hens will battle the Cavaliers on Thursday at Klockner Stadium starting at 7 p.m. The winner advances to play UCLA in Los Angeles on Sunday.
