Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/21/11
From Press Release
The two-time defending league champion University of Delaware men’s lacrosse squad will wrap up its fall drills this Saturday as the Blue Hens host St. John’s, Robert Morris, and UMBC in a four-team, eight-game scrimmage on the UD Practice Fields.
Delaware, coming off back-to-back seasons in which the Hens captured the Colonial Athletic Association title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, will host the annual four-team scrimmage this Saturday, Oct. 22, beginning at 12 noon on the turf practice fields behind Delaware Field House.
The event is free and open the public and media. Free parking is available in front of Delaware Stadium. Media members who wish to video the action will have access to lifts located at midfield and in the end zone at both fields.
The action will get underway at 12 noon with Delaware taking on UMBC on Field 1 and St. John’s taking on Robert Morris on Field 2. At 2 p.m., Delaware will take on Robert Morris on Field 1 and UMBC will face St. John’s on Field 2.
Delaware posted an 11-7 record a year ago as the Hens placed fourth in the CAA standings with a 4-2 mark before downing Hofstra and Massachusetts to claim the league title. The Hens then fell 15-14 in a hard-fought battle with Duke in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Hens, led by veteran head coach Bob Shillinglaw, return their top three point-scorers from last year’s squad led by All-CAA attackman Grant Kaleikau (15 goals, 30 assists), leading goal-scorer Eric Smith (25 goals, 20 assists), and Sean Finegan (21 goals, 7 assists). Also leading the returning players are All-CAA faceoff specialist Dan Cooney, CAA All-Rookie selection John Mills at midfield, and defenseman Connor Fitzgerald.
Big East entry Saint John’s is coming off a 4-10 record in 2011 while UMBC went 6-7 and lost in the America East Tournament semifinals and Robert Morris posted a 9-6 record and advanced to the Northeast Conference Tournament semifinals this past spring.
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