Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, VA -- University of Delaware redshirt freshman Anthony Ruiz, who led the Blue Hens to an 8-4 win over Villanova Saturday night at Rullo Stadium, has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for the period ending March 23, the league office announced Monday.

Ruiz (at right), a midfielder from Dover, NJ (Seton Hall Prep), led the No. 14 ranked Blue Hens (6-2) to the victory as they opened defense of their 2007 CAA league title with the win over the Wildcats, snapping a two-game losing streak.

Delaware will continue action this week when the Hens travel to Lehigh Tuesday at 7 p.m. and host Brown Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rullo Stadium.

Ruiz won 9 of 14 faceoffs for the Blue Hens vs. Villanova and scooped up a team-high six groundballs. He currently leads the team and ranks second in the CAA with 5.1 groundballs per game and his 55.2 percent winning pct. on faceoffs leads the team and ranks seventh in the CAA.

He is the second UD player to be honored by the CAA this season after Curtis Dickson was named the CAA Player of the Week on Feb. 18 and Feb. 25.

In addition to Ruiz’ award, Hofstra’s Anthony Muscarella was named the CAA Player of the Week. A junior midfielder from Wantagh, NY, Muscarella scored a career-high five goals in Hofstra’s 13-8 win over Towson.