University of Delaware Athletics
Ellington Named CAA Defensive Player of the Year Highlighting Eight Postseason Honors for the Blue Hens
5/1/2024 12:28:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Delaware men's lacrosse team earned eight all-conference honors, the most of any CAA school, highlighted by senior goaltender Kevin Ellington being named Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon.
After spending three seasons as a backup, Ellington finally got his chance and did not squander the opportunity. Ellington, a Bel Air, Md. native had a breakout season for the Blue Hens as he finshed the regular season as the country's save percentage leader at .608 and finished atop the CAA in saves per game (13.33). His 8.93 goals against average is second in the CAA and is fifth nationally. Ellington has amassed 160 saves this season, recording eight games in double figures, five games with 15 or more saves, and twice recorded 20 or more. Ellington's 21-save performance against Stony Brook on April 14 was tied for the most in a game by a CAA goaltender this season. Ellington's goal-stopping ability helped the Blue Hens to the No. 2-ranked scoring defense in the country, allowing just 8.75 goals on average to opponents. The senior was also named First Team All-CAA.
Fellow senior JP Ward joined Ellington with First Team honors. Ward, an Owings Mills, Md. native had his third consecutive First Team All-CAA season after tallying a team-high 53 points on 23 goals and a team-leading 30 assists. Ward finished third in the CAA in both assists per game (2.50) and points per game (4.42). On April 13, in a 16-12 win over Stony Brook, Ward became only the third Blue Hens player in program history to reach both 100-career goals and 100-career assists. He boasts a streak of 49 straight games of recording a point and tallied five or more points seven times this season.
The Blue & Gold earned four Second Team members as Mike Robinson, Aidan Fritz, Reed Kurtz, and Matt Montgomery each earned All-CAA honors.
Robinson, a Peterborough, Ont. native garnered an All-CAA spot for the first time since being named Second Team in 2022. The attackman finished second in the CAA in goals per game at 3.00, a top-eight mark in the nation. The Canadian became Delaware's all-time leader in goals scored at 181-career goals after a four-tally performance against Towson in the final regular season contest. Robinson led the Hens in total goals with 36 and led the CAA in shots with 119 on the season. This was the third time in his career Robinson was named All-CAA.
Fritz, a short stick defensive midfielder has been a force this season for the Hens, having four caused turnovers and scooped 11 ground balls. His agility and adaptability aided in Delaware's transition offense this season as the Lutherville, Md. native showed the ability to provide an offensive spark as he scored his first-career goal against Syracuse on March 16 and recorded an assist against Hofstra on March 23.
Kurtz, a Puslinch, Ont. native was drafted in the second round, 33rd overall, by the NY Riptide in the 2023 NLL draft back in September and for the first time in his career, he was named to the All-CAA team. He tallied 17 ground balls and six caused turnovers this season, aiding the No. 2-ranked defense in the nation.
Like Kurtz, Montgomery is a first-time All-CAA recipient. The West Chester, Pa. native was a mainstay in the Delaware defense this season as he started all 12 games for the Hens. The 6-2 senior scooped 13 ground balls and caused three turnovers, turning the ball over himself just three times.
Freshmen Louie Atkinson and John McCurry were both named to the CAA All-Rookie Team after outstanding play in their first collegiate seasons. McCurry, a Wall, N.J. native started all 12 games for Delaware and is third on the Hens in points and goals scored at 30 and 25, respectively. McCurry was named the CAA Rookie of the Week four times this season, the only rookie with more than three on the year and is seventh in the conference in goals per game at 2.09. Like McCurry, Atkinson also started all 12 games for the Hens. The Brookhaven, Pa. native led UD in caused turnovers with eight, including a season-high three against Drexel. He added nine ground balls and made only two turnovers.
FOLLOW ON SOCIALFor the latest on Delaware men's lacrosse, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
