RICHMOND, VA -- The University of Delaware women’s soccer team, which returns 15 letterwinners and five starters from last year’s squad that advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals, was selected to finish fifth in the CAA pre-season coaches poll announced recently by the league office.

The Blue Hens, led by 17th year head coach Scott Grzenda, received 85 votes to place fifth in the poll. Delaware has already started pre-season camp in preparation for its season opener Aug. 25 at home vs. Saint Joseph’s.

Virginia Commonwealth, the 2005 regular season champion, was picked to finish first with eight first place votes and 116 points overall. Defending CAA Tournament champion Hofstra was picked to finish No. 2 with a pair of first place votes and 105 points, edging No. 3 James Madison, which also earned two first place votes and 103 points overall.

William & Mary, who the Blue Hens defeated in last year’s CAA quarterfinals, was fourth with 89 points followed by Delaware (85), Old Dominion (69), George Mason (56), UNC Wilmington (49), Northeastern (43), Towson (33), Georgia State (32), and Drexel (12).

Delaware posted its sixth straight winning season a year ago as the Blue Hens went 10-6-4 overall and placed third in the CAA regular season standings with a mark of 7-3-1. Delaware defeated William & Mary in the CAA quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Hofstra in the semifinals. It marked the first time the Hens had advanced to the league semifinals since joining the CAA in 2002 and the seven regular season conference wins were the most ever by a UD women’s soccer team in school history.

Among the top Blue Hens returning are senior All-CAA defender Lauren Petchel, sophomore CAA All-Rookie selection and the team’s leading scorer in 2005 Caitlyn Germain (five goals, four assists - at right), junior forward Alli D’Amico (four goals), and junior forward/defender Kendall Lytwynec.

The Blue Hens will need to replace two-time All-CAA midfielder Shannon Alger and four-year starting goalkeeper Lindsey Shover.

AGATE:

Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Pre-Season Coaches Poll: 1. Virginia Commonwealth (8 first place votes), 116 points; 2. Hofstra (2), 105; 3. James Madison (2), 103; 4. William & Mary, 89; 5. Delaware, 85; 6. Old Dominion, 69; 7. George Mason, 56; 8. UNC Wilmington, 49; 9. Northeastern, 43; 10. Towson, 33; 11. Georgia State, 32; 12. Drexel, 12.