University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Trio Named Preseason All-CAA Men's Soccer Selections; Hens No. 2 in Coaches Poll
8/18/2016 12:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CAA Release
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Delaware was picked to finish second in the CAA standings in 2016 while three Blue Hens earned Preseason All-CAA accolades in a vote of the league's nine head coaches, as announced by the conference Thursday.
Seniors Guillermo Delgado (Tres Cantos, Spain/Jose Luis Sampedro) and Thomas de Villardi (Vincennes, France/Lycee Notre-dame Guingamp) joined junior Thibault Philippe (Saint Brieuc, France/Lycee Notre-dame Guingamp) as Preseason All-CAA honorees.
Ian Hennessy, who is in his 11th season at the helm of the Hens. “As a group, we understand their importance and their value relative to end of the season awards, but we are thankful and respectful for how the other coaches view our program at the University of Delaware.”UD garnered 55 points and one first place vote while the reigning CAA champion Hofstra Pride was predicted to capture the title once again this season. Elon followed Delaware in third with 48 points and UNCW came in fourth with 39 points. William & Mary rounded out the top-five with 35 points and was trailed by College of Charleston (28), James Madison (23), Northeastern (20) and Drexel (12).
The Blue Hens are coming off a season in which they went 10-7-4 overall and 5-2-1 in CAA play while appearing in their third straight CAA Tournament title game. Delaware is the lone school to have made trips to the CAA Championship final in four of the last five years.
Last year, Delgado became UD's first three-time All-American after posting 24 points and 10 goals. The forward is currently second in program history with 85 career points and 37 goals and was named earlier this month to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Both de Villardi (2g, 9a) and Philippe (3g) joined Delgado on the All-CAA First Team a year ago.
Hofstra senior midfielder Joseph Holland was picked as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year.
Delaware kicks off the 2016 campaign with an August 26 contest at Bucknell before returning home to host Fordham on August 28 at Stuart & Suzanne Grant Stadium.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Maggie Hayon | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 920-912-6635
