RICHMOND, VA -- The University of Delaware women's lacrosse team, coming off an 11-6 season in which the Hens advanced to the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, has been picked No. 2 in the CAA preseason coaches poll, which was released Tuesday.

James Madison, which defeated the Blue Hens 15-13 in the conference semifinals last year, has emerged as the clear pre-season favorite. The Dukes topped the preseason poll with 48 points, including six of the eight first-place votes. JMU returns eight starters from last year's 13-5 squad, including 2007 CAA Player of the Year Annie Wagner and All-CAA goalkeeper Kelly Wetzel.

Delaware, which opens its 2008 campaign on Feb. 28 against Rutgers, finished second to JMU with 40 points and one first-place vote, just ahead of defending CAA champion Hofstra (38 points). Towson garnered 28 points and one first-place vote to finish fourth in the poll, while George Mason notched 23 points for fifth. William & Mary (20 points), Old Dominion (17 points), and Drexel (10 points) rounded out the field.

The Blue Hens return their entire starting line-up from last season, including seven of their top eight scorers. They welcome back five players who notched at least 33 goals last year, including senior midfielder Katie Muth (at right), who led the team with 37 goals and dished out 13 assists. Sophomore attack Nicole Flego (36 G, 22 A), junior midfielder Debbie Sloan (36 G, 11 A), sophomore midfielder Courtney Aburn (36 G, 9 A), and senior attack Casey McCrudden (33 G, 13 A) also return to form one of the CAA's most dangerous offensive units.

Flego, Sloan, and Muth were All-CAA selections last year, while Flego was named the conference's Rookie of the Year. Flego finished the year ranked sixth in the league in points per game (3.41), while McCrudden (3.07) and Muth (2.94) placed seventh and 10th, respectively.

Junior goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny also returns for the Hens, who will face five teams that finished last season ranked among America's top 20 by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association. Cerveny allowed just 9.88 goals per game in 2007, second-best in the CAA.

2008 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll:

1. James Madison 48 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Delaware 40 (1)
3. Hofstra 38
4. Towson 28 (1)
5. George Mason 23
6. William & Mary 20
7. Old Dominion 17
8. Drexel 10