University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Chosen Eighth in CAA Pre-Season Coaches Poll (August 9, 2013)
8/9/2013 3:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CAA Release
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Delaware men's soccer team has been selected to finish eighth overall in the Colonial Athletic Association this season according to the league's head coaches. Last season Delaware finished ninth in league standings registering a 2-5-3 CAA record.
The Blue Hens, who reported to pre-season this week, will prepare for their season-opener on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Monmouth. A member of the Northeast Conference (NEC) Monmouth has made a post-season tournament appearance for the past eight years, claiming the NEC title on four occasions. Delaware will participate in one pre-season scrimmage against Wilmington University on Aug. 20.
Defending CAA Tournament Champion Northeastern was chosen to repeat as league champions receiving three first-place votes and 44 overall points. Last season's regular-season Champion Drexel (three first-place votes) was selected to finish second overall with James Madison (one first-place vote) wrapping up the third-place spot. CAA Tournament runner-up Hofstra (one first-place vote) was picked to finish fourth followed by UNCW, William & Mary and CAA-newcomer College of Charleston.
Head Coach Ian Hennessy enters his eighth season with the Blue Hens. “We were picked to finish eleventh in the pre-season coaches poll in 2011 and went on to win our first CAA Championship. We then defeated UVA before a close loss at UCLA in the NCAA tournament, so all this poll does for our players is to provide that extra motivation to prove folk wrong,” Hennessy said.
Delaware returns its five leading scorers from the 2012 season and All-CAA second team selection Tobias Muller. The Hens welcome back forwards Joe Dipre, Roberto Gimenez and Vincent Mediate. This trio of forwards combined to score seven goals and registered 20 points last year. Senior defender Mark Garrity, who tallied three goals in 2012, returns to Delaware along with senior midfielder Vincent Mediate who scored two goals last season.
Traditionally regarded as one of the top men's soccer conferences in the nation, the CAA had three teams selected for the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in 2012 and four teams in 2011.
AGATE:
2013 CAA MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Northeastern (3 first-place votes) - 44
2. Drexel (3 first-place votes) - 41
3. James Madison (1 first-place vote) - 36
4. Hofstra (1 first-place vote) - 35
5. UNCW - 22
6. William and Mary - 20
7. College of Charleston - 16
8. Delaware - 10
