RICHMOND, VA -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team, coming off the finest season in school history in 2007 when the Blue Hens advanced to the NCAA semifinals, has been picked No. 3 in the Colonial Athletic Association Pre-Season Coaches Poll announced Friday.

Drexel, which shared the CAA regular season title a year ago before falling to Delaware in the semifinals, was the pre-season favorite as the Dragons earned three first place votes and 33 points, edging pre-season No. 2 Towson, which earned three first place votes and 32 points.

Delaware, which will open the 2008 season Feb. 9 at Saint Joseph’s, was at No. 3 with one first place vote and 27 points followed by Hofstra (22), Villanova (16), Sacred Heart (11), and Robert Morris (6).

The Blue Hens went 13-6 a year ago, placed third in the CAA regular season in 2007 before defeating Drexel in the semifinals and Towson in the finals to capture the league crown and automatic NCAA berth. Delaware then knocked off defending champion Virginia in the NCAA first round before downing UMBC in the quarterfinals and falling to eventual champion Johns Hopkins in the national semifinals.

Delaware, which has been ranked No. 14 nationally in both the Inside Lacrosse/Faceoff Yearbook and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association pre-season polls, returns five starters and 27 letterwinners from last year’s squad.

Delaware will be counting on All-Rookie team honoree sophomore Curtis Dickson (at right) who scored 21 goals and passed out 7 assists last season. The Blue Hens will also welcome back three-time All-CAA attackman senior Cam Howard who missed all but two games last season with an injury. Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Tom Scherr and senior defender Evan Crowther-Washburn also return to anchor a solid defense which allowed just over eight goals a game in 2007.

AGATE:

2008 Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Lacrosse Pre-Season Coaches Poll: 1. Drexel (3 first place votes), 33 points; 2. Towson (3), 32; 3. Delaware (1), 27; 4. Hofstra, 22; 5. Villanova, 16; 6. Sacred Heart, 11; 7. Robert Morris, 6.