James Connelly

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Royersford, Pa.
Position:
Defense
Height:
5-10
Weight:
185
High School:
Malvern Prep
Major:
Marketing

At Delaware: Fifth-year defenseman for the Blue Hens and one of the top defenders in the Colonial Athletic Association • pre-season first team All-CAA • teams will Trip Ashley and Brandon Worrall on first unit • small in stature among defenders at 5-10 and 185 but makes up for it in toughness, tenacity, skills, and quickness • outstanding one-on-one player • co-captain of 2014 team with fellow senior Garrett Johnson • leads by example • joins Johnson as two of just six seniors on a young UD squad • has played in 27 career games with 19 starts and recorded two assists, 34 groundballs, and 20 caused turnovers • selected in the sixth round by Denver in the Major League Lacrosse Draft in January, 2014 • part of two NCAA Tournament teams at Delaware.

2013 Season: Missed first four games of the season but returned and started each of the final 11 contests on defense as a junior • earned second team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors • dished out two assists from defensive position, setting up goals vs. Villanova and Lafayette in his first games back • ranked third on the team with 11 caused turnovers to go with 18 groundballs • has season-best three groundballs vs. Drexel and Marist and two caused turnovers each vs. Hofstra, Marist, and UMass • part of man-down defense that ranked No. 2 in the CAA and No. 17 nationally (.696) • team went 5-10 for head coach Bob Shillinglaw.

2012 Season: Broke into key role on Delaware defense as a sophomore • saw action in 13 games and started eight of them, including the final seven of the year • recorded 16 groundballs and caused eight turnovers • had career-high five groundballs vs. Drexel and picked up three each vs. Mercer and Penn State • caused two turnovers each vs. Drexel and Stony Brook • team went 6-9 under Shillinglaw.

2011 Season: Appeared in three games on defense as a redshirt freshman • recorded one caused turnover against Presbyterian • also saw action vs. Detroit and vs. Albany • team captured the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament with an 11-7 record.

2010 Season: Did not see game action and retained freshman eligibility • team captured the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament with a 10-7 record.

High School: Played lacrosse and football at Malvern (Pa.) Prep School • three-year starter at running back in football • played football for head coach Gamp Pellegrini, a former University of Delaware player • football teams went 19-1 his final two seasons and captured two league championships • played defense in lacrosse and was a two-year starter • lacrosse teams won three straight league titles • earned all-league honors in lacrosse and was named to the All-Eastern Pennsylvania team • two-time All-League pick in football.

Personal: James Walter Connelly • born May 28, 1990 • son of Jim and Lisa Connelly • marketing major at Delaware • served an internship doing accounting and finance work last summer • has also worked as a landscaper and lacrosse camp instructor during the summer • has an older sister and younger sister • enjoys fishing, weightlifting, and going to the beach in his spare time • father was a professional boxer.