University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Projected to Finish Fifth in CAA; Place Five on Preseason All-CAA Team
8/17/2017 1:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RICHMOND, Va. -- The University of Delaware men's soccer program was projected to finish fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association this season in a vote of the league coaches, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
The defending CAA champion Blue Hens, who have appeared in five of the last six CAA Tournament finals and appeared in three NCAA Tournaments over that span, also had five players selected to the CAA Preseason all-conference team.
Junior midfielder Robert Gillin (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), redshirt junior goalie Todd Morton (West Chester, Pa./Henderson), senior captain and defender Thibault Philippe (Saint Brieuc, France/Lycee Notre-dame Guigamp), sophomore midfielder Fede Prieto (Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain/IES Carmen Conde), and junior captain and defender John Schroeder (Houston, Tex./Philadelphia Union Academy) were all selected.
Ian HennessyThe young Blue Hens will look to replace impact players Guillermo Delgado and Thomas de Villardi, who were selected 27th (Chicago Fire) and 42nd (Minnesota United), respectively in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Delgado, a four-time All-American and the 2016 CAA Player of the Year, capped his career as the all-time UD leader in goals (49) and points (117).
William & Mary was projected to win the conference (61 points, five first place votes) while Hofstra was chosen second (52, 3). UNCW (49, 1) and Elon (45) were selected third and fourth. Delaware (40) was selected fifth while James Madison and College of Charleston shared sixth, recording 23 points each. Northeastern (20) and Drexel (11) rounded out the nine-team poll.
Antonio Bustamante of William & Mary was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Delaware opens the season on Monday, Aug. 28 at home against Bryant. Kickoff from Grant Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
MEDIA INFORMATION: Contact Andrew Stern | Anwstern@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-6519 | Cell: 914-589-9666
