2023 Women's Lacrosse Season In-Review

NEWARK, Del. - The 2023 Delaware women's lacrosse season ended as the Blue Hens' best season since 2017, cumulating with multiple records being broken and multiple players earning CAA and national recognition.

Delaware finished the year at 8-8, their most wins since 2018 and their best record since finishing 9-8 in 2017. Their 4-3 record in CAA play was also their best since 2017, while their 5-3 record at Delaware Stadium was their best since 2018. The Blue Hens qualified for the CAA Conference Tournament, where they were matched up against No. 1 seed and No. 11 nationally-ranked Stony Brook.

Game-By-Game
Lehigh

Delaware won their season opener against Lafayette, 13-11, at Delaware Stadium, on the strength of three goals by Danielle Livornese and Keira Grant and two by Laurel McHale and Jenna McHale.

Lafayette

Delaney McDaniel led the charge in the second game of the season with seven assists, the fourth most in a game in program history, and a goal in a 16-12 win over Lafayette. Livornese, Morgan Gore, and Lizzie Hsu also scored three goals each.

Temple

Livornese once again recorded a hat trick, and Emma Hoffman and Madison Hranicka combined for seven caused turnovers, despite a 9-7 setback to Temple.

Old Dominion

Delaware returned to their winning ways with a dominating second half in a record-setting, 18-9, victory over Old Dominion. Delaware set a new program record with 26 draw controls, and Livornese tied a program record with 12 draw controls and scored four goals. McDaniel had six assists, and the 18 goals scored were a season-best.

UMBC

In their first road game of the season, Livornese and McCarthy made clutch plays down the stretch and Megan Bozzi had a breakout game with three goals to seal a 7-6 win. Livornese scored the game-winning goal with just over a minute remaining, while Mercy McCarthy made the game-saving stop on a free-position attempt with under 10 seconds remaining.

Georgetown

Delaware fell in another close game, 11-7, against Georgetown. Gore scored a goal for the sixth consecutive game to begin her career, the longest streak by a Blue Hen in over 14 years.

Niagara

Delaware was defeated in overtime against Niagara, 12-11. Hsu tied her career-high in goals scored with five and Hranicka had four ground balls and four caused turnovers.

No. 6 Denver

In the non-conference finale, Delaware fell to No. 6 Denver, 13-6. Sophia Foohey recorded 10 saves, a career-high.

No. 5 Stony Brook

Delaware opened CAA play against conference newcomer Stony Brook. McCarthy made 16 saves – 14 in the first half – and reached 200 for her career despite a 19-6 loss.

Monmouth

The Blue Hens kickstarted their stretch run with a come-from-behind, Senior Day, 13-12, win over Monmouth. Lizzie Yurchak scored a career-best six goals, including the game-tying at the end of regulation and game-winning in overtime, to help Delaware come back from a five-goal second-half deficit and win. It was their largest comeback win since March 13, 2019. Hranicka also had six ground balls and caused three turnovers.

William & Mary

In their second straight overtime game, Delaware fell 13-12 to William & Mary. Livornese scored four goals and Hranicka had five caused turnovers.

Hofstra

Another big second-half push led Delaware to a 13-10 road win over Hofstra. The Blue Hens scored seven goals in the third quarter and three in the fourth, with Hsu totaling four for the game. Riley Gillin had a goal, an assist, four ground balls, and three caused turnovers.

Drexel

Delaware returned home and played Drexel close before falling 13-11. Hranicka recorded a program record-tying seven caused turnovers and added six ground balls.

Elon

In their final road game of the year, Delaware pulled out a 12-11 victory in the final seconds to put themselves in position for a CAA Tournament spot heading into the final weekend. McKenzie Didio scored the game-winner with five seconds remaining, while Foohey allowed just four goals and saved six shots in just over 42 minutes of action in goal. Hranicka broke Delaware's single-season caused turnover record during the game.

Towson

Delaware clinched a CAA Conference Tournament spot with a 13-9 win over Towson on the regular season's final day. McCarthy had 11 saves and Hranicka had six caused turnovers and five ground balls to anchor a defense that held Towson to their lowest goal total in CAA play. Hsu scored four goals.

No. 1 Seed /No. 11 ranked Stony Brook

Delaware hung tough with top-seeded Stony Brook in the conference tournament, leading 4-2 after 20 minutes and trailing just 7-5 at halftime before succumbing 18-6. Hsu had three goals, while Hranicka tied Delaware's program record for most caused turnovers in a CAA Tournament game with four, and added four ground balls.

Award Winners
Madison Hranicka

CAA Defensive Player of the Year
All-CAA First-Team
CAA All-Tournament
CAA Defensive Player of the Week (March 27, April 17, May 1)
Preseason All-CAA Team
IWLCA All-Region First-Team
CSC Academic All-District

Delaney McDaniel

All-CAA First-Team
Preseason All-CAA Team

Lizzie Yurchak

All-CAA Second-Team
CAA Player of the Week (March 27)
IWLCA Co-Offensive Player of the Week (March 28)

Morgan Gore

CAA All-Rookie Team

McKenzie Didio

CAA All-Rookie Team

Lizzie Hsu

CAA All-Tournament

Riley Gillin

CAA Defensive Player of the Week (April 10)

Mae Dickens

CSC Academic All-District

Records
Madison Hranicka

Single-season caused turnovers (50)
Single-game caused turnovers – tied (7, April 15, 2023 vs Drexel)
Single-game caused turnovers at Delaware Stadium – tied (7, April 15, 2023 vs Drexel)
Single-game CAA Tournament caused turnovers – tied (4, May 4, 2023 vs No. 1 seed/No. 11 ranked Stony Brook)

Danielle Livornese

Single-game draw controls – tied (12, Feb. 25, 2023 vs Old Dominion)
Single-game draw controls at Delaware Stadium – tied (12, Feb. 25, 2023 vs Old Dominion)

Lizzie Yurchak

Goals scored at Delaware Stadium – tied (6, March 25, 2023 vs Monmouth)

Team

Single-season caused turnover record (240)
Single-game caused turnover record (26, Feb. 25, 2023 vs Old Dominion)

Notes
Madison Hranicka

First player in program history with three CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors in a season
Fourth player in CAA history with at least 50 caused turnovers
One of five players this season with multiple games of six caused turnovers
One of two Delaware players to have two games of at least six caused turnovers in a career
One of two Delaware players to have three games of at least five caused turnovers in a career
Only player in program history with three games of at least five caused turnovers in a single season
43 caused turnovers shy of tying Delaware career-record
First in CAA in caused turnovers and caused turnovers per game
3.12 caused turnovers per game was third best ever by a CAA player

Delaney McDaniel

Fourth player in Delaware history with at least 30 assists in a season
First in CAA in assists and assists per game
First Delaware sophomore to earn First-Team All-Conference since 2014
One of 11 players this season with multiple games of at least six assists
Seven assists vs Lafayette were fifth most by a CAA player in a game all-time

Danielle Livornese

Only player in Delaware history with two career games of at least 10 draw controls
20 draw controls shy of tying Delaware program record

Lizzie Yurchak

One of three CAA players this year with 45+ draw controls, 30+ points, 15+ ground balls, & 15+ caused turnovers
First in CAA in free-position percentage and free-position goals per game

Morgan Gore

First Delaware player to begin career with a goal in six consecutive games in over 14 years

Team

Five All-Conference selections are most since 2017
Two First-Team selections are most since 2019
Two All-Rookie selections are most since 2017
Yurchak and Hranicka earning CAA Player of the Week honors in same week was the first time for Delaware since March 30, 2015
Four Defensive Player of the Weeks was most in CAA this season
First in CAA in caused turnovers per game, draw controls per game, and free-position percentage
15.00 draw controls per game were tied for second best all-time in the CAA
Six games with at least 20 draw controls (entered the season with only five games all-time with 20 draw controls)
Win over Towson was Delaware's first win over a CAA Tournament team during regular season since 2017
RPI increase from 67 in 2022 to 48 in 2023 - +19 was second largest in CAA and one of 19 teams with an RPI increase of +19 or better

Players Mentioned

Megan Bozzi

Mae Dickens

McKenzie Didio

Sophia Foohey

Riley Gillin

Morgan Gore

Kiki Grant

Emma Hoffman

Madison Hranicka

Lizzie Hsu

Danielle Livornese

Mercy McCarthy

Delaney McDaniel

Jenna McHale

Laurel McHale

Lizzie Yurchak

University of Delaware Athletics