BALTIMORE -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse squad, coming off the best season in school history in 2007 when the Blue Hens advanced to the national semifinals, has been picked No. 13 in the Lacrosse Magazine NCAA Division I Pre-Season Top 20 poll.

The rankings are compiled by Lacrosse Magazine staff after consultations with coaches from around the nation. Lacrosse Magazine is the flagship publication of US Lacrosse.

Delaware, which was joined in the pre-season top 20 by Colonial Athletic Association rivals Towson at No. 11 and Drexel at No. 20, will open the 2008 season Feb. 9 at Saint Joseph’s with the home opener set for Feb. 23 vs. Marist at Rullo Stadium.

Duke, the 2007 national runner-up, earned the top spot in the Lacrosse Magazine poll followed by 2006 national champion Virginia, 2007 national champion Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Princeton, Cornell, Maryland, Syracuse, North Carolina, Towson, Albany, Delaware, Massachusetts, Colgate, Bucknell, Navy, Ohio State, Yale, and Drexel.

The Blue Hens, led by 30th year head coach Bob Shillinglaw, return five starters from last year’s team that went 13-6, captured the CAA Tournament title, and defeated defending national champion Virginia and UMBC in the NCAA Tournament before falling to national champion Johns Hopkins in the semifinals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.

In addition to the return of standout senior goalkeeper Tommy Scherr, defenders Patrick Biehl and Evan Crowther-Washburn, and scoring standouts Curtis Dickson (21 goals; at right), Vincent Giordano (16 goals), and Kevin Kaminski (16 goals), the Hens will also welcome back senior and three-time All-CAA attackman Cam Howard, who missed all but two games last season with a knee injury. He has scored 62 career goals and is expected to be among the nation’s top offensive players this spring.

Delaware must replace its top three scorers, All-Americans Jordan Hall and Dan Deckelbaum and All-CAA selection Adam Zuder-Havens, as well as all-time NCAA faceoff leader, three-time All-American, and 2007 Major League Lacrosse Rookie of the Year Alex Smith.

Other pre-season No. 1 picks by Lacrosse Magazine were LeMoyne (Men’s NCAA Division II), Salisbury (Men’s NCAA Division III), Northwestern (Women’s NCAA Division I), West Chester (Women’s NCAA Division II), and Franklin & Marshall (Women’s NCAA Division III).

AGATE:

Lacrosse Magazine 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Pre-Season Top 20 Poll: 1. Duke; 2. Virginia; 3. Johns Hopkins; 4. Georgetown; 5. Notre Dame; 6. Princeton; 7. Cornell; 8. Maryland; 9. Syracuse; 10. North Carolina; 11. Towson; 12. Albany; 13. Delaware; 14. Massachusetts; 15. Colgate; 16. Bucknell; 17. Navy; 18. Ohio State; 19. Yale; 20. Drexel.