GLEN ALLEN, VA -- The University of Delaware field hockey team was ranked No. 18 in this week’s STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll after receiving 173 points during a vote by the NFHCA.

For the Blue Hens, it was the fourth consecutive week they were ranked in the top 20. In the previous poll, Delaware was ranked No. 17 but fell one spot after the team split its two contests this past week. The Blue Hens lost to No. 7 James Madison, 1-0, before rebounding to beat Virginia Commonwealth, 5-4, in double-overtime.

With the win against Virginia Commonwealth, Delaware improved to 8-2 on the season. The squad’s eight wins are one more than they had all of last year.

Delaware's .800 winning percentage is tied for seventh best in all of Division I.

This season, the Hens’ offense is averaging 3.3 goals per game, which is seventh best in the country. Their 1.86 win margin is also ninth highest.

The offense is led by Casey Howard, who scored two goals and added an assist in Delaware’s two games this week. She is tops on the team with eight goals and 18 points.

Tori Karsten is second on the squad with 13 points, while she is tied with Molly Burke for second on the team with five goals.

Freshman Jackie Tait and senior co-captain Amanda Warrington (at right) have both posted four assists on the season, which is tied for second in the Colonial Athletic Association.

North Carolina remained as the No. 1 team in the NFHCA poll, receiving 40 first-place votes. Maryland stayed in the second spot, while Connecticut, Wake Forest, and Michigan State rounded out the top-five.

Fellow CAA members James Madison and Old Dominion also stayed in the Top-20, ranking No. 7 and 13 respectively. William & Mary also received votes in the poll, while Duke, who faces Delaware on October 20, was picked No. 15.

The Blue Hens return to action on Friday at 7 p.m. when they host the William & Mary Tribe at Rullo Stadium.

AGATE:

2007 STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll (September 25): 1. North Carolina (40 first-place votes), 952 points; 2. Maryland (8 first-place votes), 919; 3. Connecticut, 804; 4. Wake Forest, 753; 5. Michigan State, 737; 6. Iowa, 703; 7. James Madison, 630; 8. Michigan, 615; 9. Penn State, 566; 10. Boston College, 559; 11. Ohio, 409; 12. American, 493; 13. Old Dominion, 331; 14. Boston, 296; 15. Duke, 277; 16. Louisville, 274; 17. Albany, 206; 18. Delaware, 173; 19. Virginia, 172; 20. Stanford, 62.