NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware women's lacrosse team has released its 2008 schedule, a 16-game slate that features match-ups with five teams that finished last season ranked among America's top 20. The Blue Hens, who went 11-6 in 2007 en route to a semifinal berth in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, open their season Feb. 19 with a visit from Binghamton. The Bearcats, who have never played Delaware, struggled to a 1-14 mark last year and went winless on the road.

The competition gets tougher on Feb. 28, when the Hens host Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights went 12-5 in '07 to finish the year ranked 14th nationwide by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association. They toppled the Hens, 15-12, on March 3 of last season. On March 5, Delaware travels to Loyola (2-14 in 2007) before returning home to face Maryland-Baltimore County (7-10) five days later. UD beat those teams by 11 goals apiece last year.

Kim Ciarrocca's squad gets its first major road test on March 13, when the Hens venture to South Bend, IN for a showdown with Notre Dame. The Irish, 11-6 last year, finished the season ranked No. 13 in America by the IWLCA. Delaware closes out a three-game road swing with trips to Temple (March 18) and Virginia Tech (March 23). Temple won just six games a year ago, while the Hokies managed just five victories (four at home) and fell to UD, 16-7. Penn State, which went 9-8 and ended last year ranked No. 18 in the country, comes to Rollo Field on March 28. The Nittany Lions outlasted Delaware, 15-10, in the 2007 edition.

Delaware opens CAA play March 30 at Towson, a squad the Hens nipped by a 16-15 tally in Newark last season. Drexel visits on April 4, while UD travels to defending CAA champion Hofstra two days later. The Pride earned a No. 16 national ranking and an NCAA tournament berth last year on the strength of a 12-7 record, but lost, 9-6, at Delaware a year ago.

The Hens enjoy a two-game homestand in mid-April, as James Madison (ranked 17th nationally in '07) visits on the 11th and George Mason heads to Newark on the 13th. The Dukes, 13-5 a year ago, outlasted Delaware in two high-scoring games last season, including a 15-13 triumph in the CAA semifinals. Delaware closes out its regular season with road games at Old Dominion (April 18), William & Mary (April 20), and Villanova (April 25).

The Blue Hens return their entire starting line-up from last season, including seven of their top eight scorers. They welcome back five players who notched at least 33 goals last year: senior midfielder Katie Muth, sophomore attack Nicole Flego (left), junior midfielder Debbie Sloan, sophomore midfielder Courtney Aburn, and senior attack Casey McCrudden. Flego, Sloan, and Muth were All-CAA selections last year, while Flego was named the conference's Rookie of the Year. Junior goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny also returns to a deep, explosive squad that should be a favorite for a CAA title.

2008 Delaware Women's Lacrosse Schedule

Feb. 19 - Binghamton, 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 28 - Rutgers, 3:00 p.m.

March 5 - at Loyola, 3:00 p.m.
March 10 - UMBC, 5:00 p.m.
March 13 - at Notre Dame, 3:00 p.m.
March 18 - at Temple, 3:00 p.m.
March 23 - at Virginia Tech, noon
March 28 - Penn State, 3:00 p.m.
March 30 - at *Towson, 1:00 p.m.

April 4 - *Drexel, 7:00 p.m.
April 6 - at *Hofstra, 1:00 p.m.
April 11 - *James Madison, 7:00 p.m.
April 13 - *George Mason, 1:00 p.m.
April 18 - at *Old Dominion, 3:00 p.m.
April 20 - at *William & Mary, noon
April 25 - at Villanova, 6:30 p.m.

May 2-4 - CAA Championships at highest seed

*Colonial Athletic Association game

2007-09-17