HEMPSTEAD, NY – Five University of Delaware women’s lacrosse players were honored at the Colonial Athletic Association banquet Thursday evening, including freshman Nicole Flego, who was named the league Rookie of the Year.

Flego (at right) was also named to the CAA first team, becoming the first player in school history to be named to the CAA first team and the All-Rookie team in the same season. Sophomore Debbie Sloan and senior Katie Muth were named to the CAA second team while Courtney Aburn and Emily Schaknowski joined Flego on the CAA All-Rookie squad.

Flego (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks East) became the first Delaware player since 1995 to garner CAA Rookie of the Year accolades. The freshman finished the regular season with 33 goals and was fifth in the CAA and first on the team with 20 assists. She also led the team and placed sixth in the CAA with 53 points.

Annie Wagner of James Madison was named the leagues Player of the Year as she led the league with 55 goals.

Muth and Sloan, who each earned All-CAA second team honors for the first time, tied for second on the team with 47 points each. Muth, a senior from Ellicott City, MD (Seton Keough HS) completed her stellar final season with 34 goals and 13 assists. Sloan, a sophomore from Thornton, PA (West Chester East HS) who was named to the All-Rookie team last season, leads the Hens with 36 goals this year.

Aburn, a freshman attacker from Jarrettsville, MD (John Carroll HS), tied Flego for the freshman lead in goals scored with 33 and also added nine assists for 42 points. Aburn also led the team with four game-winning goals.

Schaknowski, a freshman midfielder from Wading River, NY (Shoreham Wading River High School), had a tremendous rookie campaign, tallying 32 points. Schaknowski was second on the team with 16 assists and also added 16 goals, 27 groundballs, and 20 draw controls for the Hens.

Delaware, which earned the No. 3 seed in the CAA Tournament after an 11-5 regular season and 5-2 conference record, will take on No. 2 seed James Madison in the semifinal round Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Hofstra. Top seed Hofstra will host No. 4 Old Dominion in the othe semifinal game at 5 p.m. The championship game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

AGATE:

2007 All-CAA Women’s Lacrosse Teams

First Team: Kim Hillier, Hofstra; Kelly Berger, James Madison; Casey McGrath, Hofstra; Kylee Dardine, James Madison; Kristen Wong, William & Mary; Laura King, George Mason; Nicole Flego, Delaware; Annie Wagner, James Madison (CAA Player of the Year); Hillary Fratzke, Towson; Kerry Kelly, Drexel; Maggie Bridges, George Mason; Lauren LaBella, Drexel

Second Team: Becky Thorn, Hofstra; Debbie Sloan, Delaware; Meggie McNamara, Towson; Emily Hoesch, Drexel; Caroline Jacobs, Old Dominion; Shannon Witzel, Towson; Katie Veneziale, Old Dominion; Katie Muth, Delaware; Jaime Sellers, William & Mary; Julie Ondrako, Towson; Alysse Ruszkowski, Hofstra; Lindsey Belle, Old Dominion; Kelly Wetzel, James Madison

All-Rookie Team: Nicole Flego, Delaware (CAA Rookie of the Year); Courtney Aburn, Delaware; Sara Beckstead, William & Mary; Kelly Davis, George Mason; Corrine Gandolfi, Hofstra; Ashley Kellogg, Old Dominion; Nikki Marcinik, Towson; Emily Schaknowski, Delaware; Jillian Taylor, Old Dominion; Megan Udovich, George Mason

CAA Player of the Year: Annie Wagner, James Madison
Defensive Player of the Year: Kylee Dardine, James Madison
Rookie of the Year: Nicole Flego, Delaware
Coach of the Year: Sue Stahl, Old Dominion