University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Men's Lacrosse Picked First in CAA Preseason Poll; Grant Named CAA Preseason Player of the Year to Lead Cohort of Six Blue Hens Honored
1/31/2023 2:00:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
RICHMOND, Va. – After hoisting the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship trophy in May, the Delaware men's lacrosse team was picked first in the 2023 CAA Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll, the league announced on Tuesday.
Delaware received seven of the eight votes and 49 points in the preseason poll.
In addition, Owen Grant was voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year to lead a group of six Blue Hens that received recognition.
Grant is the reigning two-time CAA defensive player of the year. He holds the program record for most caused turnovers in a season (35) and in a career (87). USA Magazine and Inside Lacrosse selected him as a preseason second-team All-American. In September, he was selected third overall by the Vancouver Warriors in the 2022 National Lacrosse League. Grant was also selected to the preseason All-CAA team.
Joining Grant on the CAA Men's Lacrosse Preseason Team is Mike Robinson, JP Ward, Clay Miller, and Matt Kilkeary. Tye Kurtz was named a Preseason Honorable Mention
Robinson the Blue Hens, and the conference, in goals with 53. The senior from Peterborough, Ontario was recognized as a preseason All-American honorable mention by USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Last season, he joined the 100-goal club, and has 113 total goals in his career with the Blue Hens.
JP Ward, a junior from Owing Mills, Md. led the Blue Hens, and the conference, in points with 72. In the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, Ward scored the game-winning goal to defeat No. 2 Georgetown. Last season, Ward was a first-team All-CAA honoree and a member of the CAA Tournament team. He is 22 points away from entering the 100-point club.
Miller is a senior from Mechanicsburg, Pa. He finished the 2022 season with 28 goals and 12 assists. Miller recorded a career-high five goals against St. Joe's back on Feb. 15. He is 22 points away from entering the 100-point club.
Kilkeary is the lone goalkeeper to make the All-CAA preseason team. The Lake Sherwood, Calif. graduate student appeared in 16 games and made 12 starts. He collected 146 saves, had a .530 save percentage, and allowed 10.33 goals per game, the lowest goals-per-game average in the CAA. He was a member of the CAA All-Tournament team in 2022. Last season, he became the 15th goalie in program history to surpass 300 saves. He needs 134 saves to pass Chris Burdick and crack the top 10 in all-time saves.
Kurtz finished second on the Blue Hens, and second in the conference, in goals with 52. The re-shirt senior from Puslinch, Ontario, is 42 goals away from tying the all-time goal of 162 record set by Curtis Dickson back in 2010. Kurtz scored a career-high eight goals against Drexel back on April 23, which is tied for fifth most goals in a game in program history. In September, he was selected 17th overall by the Albany FireWolves.
The Blue Hens open the season against Lafayette on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Easton, Pa.
2023 CAA Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Team (1st) Points
1. Delaware (7) 49
2. Towson (1) 42
3. Drexel 35
4. Stony Brook 32
5. Hofstra 23
6. Fairfield 22
7. Monmouth 14
8. Hampton 7
2023 Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-CAA
Name School Position
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jack Mulcahy, Drexel
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Owen Grant, Delaware
Honorable Mention:
Tye Kurtz (A), Delaware, Jack McKenna (A), Fairfield Corey Kale (M), Hofstra Rory Jones (M), Hofstra Dy-Jae Pearson (LSM), Hampton Mike Quigg (D), Monmouth Michael Sabella (D), Stony Brook Pat Udovich (D), Drexel Mac Gates (GK), Hofstra
Delaware received seven of the eight votes and 49 points in the preseason poll.
In addition, Owen Grant was voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year to lead a group of six Blue Hens that received recognition.
Grant is the reigning two-time CAA defensive player of the year. He holds the program record for most caused turnovers in a season (35) and in a career (87). USA Magazine and Inside Lacrosse selected him as a preseason second-team All-American. In September, he was selected third overall by the Vancouver Warriors in the 2022 National Lacrosse League. Grant was also selected to the preseason All-CAA team.
Joining Grant on the CAA Men's Lacrosse Preseason Team is Mike Robinson, JP Ward, Clay Miller, and Matt Kilkeary. Tye Kurtz was named a Preseason Honorable Mention
Robinson the Blue Hens, and the conference, in goals with 53. The senior from Peterborough, Ontario was recognized as a preseason All-American honorable mention by USA Lacrosse Magazine and Inside Lacrosse. Last season, he joined the 100-goal club, and has 113 total goals in his career with the Blue Hens.
JP Ward, a junior from Owing Mills, Md. led the Blue Hens, and the conference, in points with 72. In the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, Ward scored the game-winning goal to defeat No. 2 Georgetown. Last season, Ward was a first-team All-CAA honoree and a member of the CAA Tournament team. He is 22 points away from entering the 100-point club.
Miller is a senior from Mechanicsburg, Pa. He finished the 2022 season with 28 goals and 12 assists. Miller recorded a career-high five goals against St. Joe's back on Feb. 15. He is 22 points away from entering the 100-point club.
Kilkeary is the lone goalkeeper to make the All-CAA preseason team. The Lake Sherwood, Calif. graduate student appeared in 16 games and made 12 starts. He collected 146 saves, had a .530 save percentage, and allowed 10.33 goals per game, the lowest goals-per-game average in the CAA. He was a member of the CAA All-Tournament team in 2022. Last season, he became the 15th goalie in program history to surpass 300 saves. He needs 134 saves to pass Chris Burdick and crack the top 10 in all-time saves.
Kurtz finished second on the Blue Hens, and second in the conference, in goals with 52. The re-shirt senior from Puslinch, Ontario, is 42 goals away from tying the all-time goal of 162 record set by Curtis Dickson back in 2010. Kurtz scored a career-high eight goals against Drexel back on April 23, which is tied for fifth most goals in a game in program history. In September, he was selected 17th overall by the Albany FireWolves.
The Blue Hens open the season against Lafayette on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Easton, Pa.
2023 CAA Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Team (1st) Points
1. Delaware (7) 49
2. Towson (1) 42
3. Drexel 35
4. Stony Brook 32
5. Hofstra 23
6. Fairfield 22
7. Monmouth 14
8. Hampton 7
2023 Men's Lacrosse Preseason All-CAA
Name School Position
Dylan Pallonetti Stony Brook Attack
Mike Robinson Delaware Attack
JP Ward Delaware Attack
Matt Anderson Stony Brook Midfield
Kyle Berkeley Towson Midfield
Clay Miller Delaware Midfield
Jack Mulcahy Drexel Midfield
Matt Constantinides Towson FOGO
Colby Barsz Towson Defense
Owen Grant Delaware Defense
Braden Lynch Fairfield Defense
Garrett Zungailia Towson Defense
Matt Kilkeary Delaware Goalkeeper
Mike Robinson Delaware Attack
JP Ward Delaware Attack
Matt Anderson Stony Brook Midfield
Kyle Berkeley Towson Midfield
Clay Miller Delaware Midfield
Jack Mulcahy Drexel Midfield
Matt Constantinides Towson FOGO
Colby Barsz Towson Defense
Owen Grant Delaware Defense
Braden Lynch Fairfield Defense
Garrett Zungailia Towson Defense
Matt Kilkeary Delaware Goalkeeper
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jack Mulcahy, Drexel
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Owen Grant, Delaware
Honorable Mention:
Tye Kurtz (A), Delaware, Jack McKenna (A), Fairfield Corey Kale (M), Hofstra Rory Jones (M), Hofstra Dy-Jae Pearson (LSM), Hampton Mike Quigg (D), Monmouth Michael Sabella (D), Stony Brook Pat Udovich (D), Drexel Mac Gates (GK), Hofstra
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
M/A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
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