COLUMBUS, OH -- The University of Delaware field hockey team, which returns 12 letterwinners and seven starters from last year’s Colonial Athletic Association playoff team, will open the 2007 season Saturday when the Blue Hens square off against host Ohio State at the OSU Buckeye Classic at the North Turf Field.

Delaware will take on Ohio State, which is coached by former Delaware All-American and UD Hall of Fame member Anne Wilkinson, at 11:30 a.m. The Hens will close out the tournament when they take on Kent State on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Bucknell will take on Kent State Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Ohio State Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Ohio State was ranked No. 13 in the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association pre-season poll announced last week while Delaware received nine votes but was not among the top 20 teams. Kent State received four votes.

The Buckeye posted a record of a 14-3 a year ago, advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, and was ranked No. 5 in the final NFHCA poll. Kent State went 7-15 last season. Delaware and Ohio State met last season in Newark as part of the annual Blue Hen Classic with the 15th ranked Buckeyes pulling out a 2-1 victory.

The Blue Hens will begin their sixth season in the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Association as 15th-year head coach Carol Miller (at right) welcomes back 12 letterwinners and nine starters from last year’s team that posted a record of 7-12 and placed sixth in the CAA regular season standings. The injury-ravaged Blue Hens advanced to the CAA Tournament before falling to Hofstra in the opening round.

Delaware, which will face five teams this season that advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, was picked No. 6 in the CAA Pre-Season Coaches Poll announced last week.

Delaware welcomes the return of junior first team All-Mid Atlantic Region forward Casey Howard (team-high nine goals), senior back Molly Burke (seven goals), senior back Amanda Warrington, and senior goalkeeper Megan Allen. Warrington, a 2004 All-American, and Allen both missed all but four games in 2006 due to injuries.