University of Delaware Athletics
Five Blue Hens Earn All-CAA Accolades
5/2/2018 3:05:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
RICHMOND, Va.– University of Delaware Lacrosse is back.
Not only are the Blue Hens back in the CAA Tournament for the first time since 2014, but the players that got them there are earning recognition as well.
On Wednesday afternoon, five Blue Hens were honored on All-CAA teams with Charlie Kitchen, Dean DiSimone and Austin Haynes all being named to the first team, while Matt DeLuca and Will Hirschmann received second team accolades.
It's the first time since 2015 that Delaware had a student-athlete represented on the All-CAA First Team and just the second time since 2008 that the Blue Hens had three or more All-CAA first team honorees.
The three first teamers and five total honorees equal program best for the Blue Hens.
“The recognition of our student-athletes by our peers is a great honor for Delaware Lacrosse,” head coach Ben DeLuca said. “It is a tribute to the investment and hard work each of these young men have put into our program, as well as a reflection of their teammates' efforts throughout the entire season.”
Kitchen led the CAA in goals and points, finishing the regular season with 35 goals and 14 assists. The 35 goals are the most by a Blue Hen since Nick Diachenko in 2013. He had five hat tricks on the year, four of which were four goals or more. In CAA play, Kitchen ramped it up, tallying three hat tricks in five conference games for a total of 17 goals, four more than any other player in the league.
DiSimone and Hirschmann led one of the most potent midfield units in the country, combining for 68 goals and 96 points from the starting midfield. DiSimone finished with 23 goals and 11 assists, both career highs, while Hirschmann ranked second on the team in goals with 25 and assists with 13.
Haynes was assigned the opposing team's best player each week and was up to the task, ranking in the top-15 in the country in caused turnovers per game with 1.69, while also grabbing 29 ground balls, the third most on the team.
In goal, DeLuca was a stud all year long, finishing with double-digit saves in 10 of 13 games this season. He led the CAA in that category and ranked second in save percentage at .524. He played all but 2:30 in net this spring for the Blue Hens.
Delaware now sets its sight on second-seeded Towson in the CAA Semifinals on Thursday night. Game time on LSN in Amherst, Mass. Is set for 7:30 p.m.
