University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Women's Soccer Picked No. 6 in CAA Preseason Poll; Zelenky Earns All-CAA Notice
8/12/2016 2:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RICHMOND, Va. -- The University of Delaware women's soccer team, seeking its fifth Colonial Athletic Association Tournament appearance in the last six seasons, found itself in the No. 6 spot in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll announced Friday by the league office.
In addition to the No. 6 ranking, high-scoring Blue Hen senior Natalie Zelenky (at left) was selected 
to the preseason All-CAA team in a vote of the league's 10 head coaches.
William & Mary, which shared the league title a year ago and was one of a league-record four teams to advance to the NCAA Tournament, was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 76 points and six first place votes, just edging past James Madison, which picked up 73 points and two first place votes.
Hofstra (two first place votes) was third followed by Northeastern, UNCW, Delaware, Drexel, Elon, Towson, and College of Charleston.
Scott Grzenda, the only coach in school history. “We relish the opportunity to compete in the best mid-major conference in the country and to showcase our team and University at the highest level.”Delaware returns its top eight scorers and starting goalkeeper from a team that went 8-9-2 a year ago, finished sixth in league play with a 3-4-2 mark, and advanced to the CAA Tournament before falling to UNCW. The Hens also advanced to the CAA Tournament in 2011 (semifinals), 2012, and 2013. The team has won seven or more games in 16 of the last 17 seasons, including six straight.
Zelenky, a senior honor student from Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Mechanicsburg Area HS), was the lone Blue Hen selected to the preseason All-CAA team and was one of three forwards listed. She has earned All-CAA honors each of her three collegiate seasons, including third team All-CAA honors each of the past two seasons. She also earned NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region honors a year ago when she ranked among the top scorers in the CAA with 11 goals and 2 assists.
An honor student and CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee as a pre-vet and animal biosciences major with a minor in equine science, Zelenky ranks No. 9 all-time at UD in career goals (19) and No. 11 in career points (45) and could become just the fourth player in UD history with 30 career goals if she matches her 2015 output.
“It's a great honor to have Natalie selected to the preseason all-CAA team,” said Grzenda. “She is a team leader, a fantastic soccer player, and also a tremendous student and ambassador for women's soccer and the University of Delaware.”
Delaware will kickoff the season with road games at Villanova on Aug. 19, at Syracuse on Aug. 21, and at Georgetown on Aug. 25 before the home opener on Aug. 28 vs. Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
