Grow the Game®

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Share on whatsapp

Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Preview: Delaware

We’re breaking down all the NCAA D1 teams one by one. Welcome to the Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Previews! We are now at teams starting with the letter ‘D’,  and Delaware, located in Newark, DE, is up for Preview… it’s Blue Hen time!

2012 saw Delaware go 6-9, and the Blue Hens pulled out big wins over Bucknell, Villanova, and St. Joe’s. Delaware suffered bad losses to Loyola, Hofstra, Towson, and UMass, and fell by closer scores to Penn State, Drexel, Hopkins, MSM, and Stony Brook. Delaware also got wins over Detroit, Mercer, and Michigan.

In 2013, Delaware plays a similar schedule, but drops Johns Hopkins, Stony Brook, Mercer and Detroit. They add in Binghamton, High Point, Lafayette, and Marist. Two of the games they dropped were likely to be losses (Hop and SBU), and all four games they added are potential wins. Even if Delaware doesn’t improve in the Colonial, they can improve their record this year with relative ease.

The big story last year for the Blue Hens was Head Coach Bob Shillinglaw breaking the 500 win plateau. This year, Delaware’s big goal has to be winning double digit games. To do so, they will need to replace Grant Kaleikau, Mark Yetter, and Austin John. Those three combined for 90 points last year and were a force to be reckoned with. Thankfully, the Blue Hens still have some serious punch in their midfield, and Danny Keane and Nick Diachenko are more than capable of leading the way.

If Keane and Diachenko can get the ball moving, players like Beau Jones and Connor McRoy could see added success and time. Chris Herbert returns for his sophomore season in net, and he should continue to improve and provide stability for the Hens on defense. Delaware has some returners on defense in Connor Fitzgerald and James Connelly, but lost some experience to graduation. Players like Brandon Worrall could prove to be huge difference makers for Delaware, as tightening up on D, and pushing transition, can keep them in many more games.

Overall, Delaware has potential, and a slightly easier schedule in 2013. They lost some serious scoring talent and a couple of defensive players, but the pieces are there for improvement, and a competitive year on the field. My gut says the Blue Hens will win a couple big games, but also lose a couple of head scratchers. D1 lacrosse is just that tough.

Click HERE to see Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Preview posts for Air Force, Albany, Army, Bellarmine, Binghamton, Brown, Bryant, Bucknell, Canisius, Colgate, Cornell, and Dartmouth!

Also check out Crosse Clicks: College Edition for links, videos, photos and more.