University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Head West to California, Seek First Win in Battle Against Michigan
2/27/2016 7:09:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The University of Delaware men's lacrosse squad will be seeking its first win of the season Saturday night and the Blue Hens have travelled 3,000 miles to accomplish that goal.
The Blue Hens (0-3), who have started the season with setbacks to Bucknell, Mt. St. Mary's, and No. 16 Navy, will make their first-ever appearance in the state of California as Delaware takes on the University of Michigan in the inaugural Orange County Winter Invitational at Orange Coast College. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. Eastern time).
Delaware, coming off a tough 5-1 setback at Navy last Sunday, is looking to avoid its first 0-4 start since 1986 when the team battled back from a rough beginning to capture the East Coast Conference title.
Michigan, a member of the Big Ten Conference and playing its fifth season of collegiate varsity lacrosse, brings in a mark of 1-2 following a season-opening 20-10 setback to then No. 6 North Carolina back on Feb. 6, a 9-8 win over Colgate, and a 12-10 loss at Penn in Philadelphia last Saturday. Michigan was scheduled to take on Detroit Wednesday night but that contest was canceled due to weather.
The game marks the third meeting between these two teams with Delaware coming out on top in both contests. The Blue Hens defeated Michigan, then a first-year program, 11-7 in 2012 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The teams met again in 2013 with Delaware coming away with a 12-5 victory at Delaware Stadium.
The Blue Hens are led offensively by Paul Major (3 goals-3 assists), Steve DeLargy (3-1), and Chris Colaneri (2-2) while freshman Austin Haynes has been the top defender with team-leading totals of 11 groundballs and five caused turnovers. Goalkeeper Parker Ferrigan, a first-year transfer from Syracuse, was outstanding in the loss to Navy as he allowed just five goals and posted 10 saves.
The Wolverines are in their fifth season as a varsity program and have improved their win totals each season from just one victory in both 2012 and 2013 to five victories each of the past two seasons. As a team, Michigan ranks No. 14 in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (12.33) and No. 23 in shot percentage (.315) this spring.
Michigan is led by the high-scoring duo of Kyle Jackson (11-1) and Ian King (5-7) while goalkeeper Gerald Logan has posted a 12.00 goals against average and .483 save percentage. Brad Lott has won 55 percent of his faceoffs. King has scored a point in 24 straight games since 2014 while Jackson's 11 goals rank No. 4 nationally.
The game will be broadcast on a live webstream at www.maxlaxoc.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
