Kitchen, Kurtz Earn Top Honors; Seven Blue Hens Recognized

NEWARK, Del. - It was clear from the start that this season was going to be one to remember for the University of Delaware men's lacrosse program.

After posting their highest regular season win total since 2006, the Blue Hens had the highest total of student-athletes ever honored on All-CAA teams.

Junior Charlie Kitchen became the first Blue Hen to earn CAA Offensive Player of the Year accolades since Curtis Dickson in 2010, while freshman Tye Kurtz was named CAA Rookie of the Year, marking the first time a Delaware player earned the award since Alex Smith in 2004.

Kitchen also earned First Team All-CAA honors and was joined by Dean DiSimone and Austin Haynes. It was the second year in a row that the trio earned first team recognition.

Named to the second team were Alex Brunner, Thomas Aloe and Matt DeLuca, while Tye Kurtz was named to the All-Rookie team.

Kitchen finished the regular season ranked fourth in the conference in goals (35) and assists (25). It's his second year in a row with 35 goals and his highest mark for assists in a single season. He also saw himself jump to 13^thall-time in points at UD (153). He also set a new school record scoring a goal in 31 straight games entering this weekend's CAA Tournament.

Kurtz, who churned out one of the best freshman campaigns in Delaware history, broke the record for most goals in a single game by a freshman at UD with seven against Fairfield. He is also tied for second in goals in a season by a UD freshman with 31 and is just two points away from breaking the single season record by a UD freshman (49).

DiSimone ranked third on the team in goals (24), fourth in assists (11) and fourth in points (35). He had six hat tricks during the year, including two in CAA play.

Haynes held it down for the Blue Hens on defense ranking second on the team and eighth in the conference in groundballs (42). The senior also ranked first on the team and third in the conference in caused turnovers with 22 during the regular season.

DeLuca followed up his second team selection in 2018 with another this season. The junior ranked second in Goals Against Average in the conference (9.28) and Save Pct. (.596). He led the conference in Saves Per Game (13.57). Playing all but 6:07 during the season, he posted his best record between the pipes (10-4).

Brunner made a big impact on the defensive end grabbing 21 groundballs and forcing 10 turnovers. Aloe also made his mark on the defensive side of the midfield scooping up 15 groundballs and causing seven turnovers.

Delaware will now turn its attention to second-seeded Towson in a rematch of last year's CAA Semifinals matchup on Thursday night. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Amherst, Mass.

University of Delaware Athletics

Kitchen, Kurtz Earn Top Honors; Seven Blue Hens Recognized

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Alex Brunner

Matt DeLuca

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