CAA men's soccer

Article by UD Athletics staff Photo by Mark Campbell August 18, 2016

UD men’s soccer team selected second in CAA preseason poll

The University of Delaware was picked to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) standings in 2016 and three Blue Hens earned preseason All-CAA accolades in a vote of the conference’s nine head coaches announced on Thursday, Aug. 18.

Seniors Guillermo Delgado and Thomas de Villardi joined junior Thibault Philippe as preseason All-CAA honorees.

“It’s always a nice boost for players when they receive recognition, even if it is in a preseason poll,” said UD head coach Ian Hennessy, who is in his 11th season at the helm of the Hens. “As a group, we understand their importance and their value relative to end of the season awards, but we are thankful and respectful for how the other coaches view our program at the University of Delaware.”

UD garnered 55 points and one first place vote while the reigning CAA champion Hofstra Pride was predicted to capture the title once again this season. Elon followed UD in third with 48 points and the University of North Carolina Wilmington came in fourth with 39 points.

William and Mary rounded out the top-five with 35 points and was trailed by the College of Charleston (28), James Madison (23), Northeastern (20) and Drexel (12).

The Blue Hens are coming off a season in which they went 10-7-4 overall and 5-2-1 in CAA play while appearing in their third straight CAA tournament title game. UD is the lone school to have made trips to the CAA championship final in four of the last five years.

Last year, Delgado became UD’s first three-time All-American after posting 24 points and 10 goals. The forward is currently second in program history with 85 career points and 37 goals and was named earlier this month to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Both de Villardi (two goals, nine assists) and Philippe (three goals) joined Delgado on the All-CAA first team a year ago.

Hofstra senior midfielder Joseph Holland was picked as the CAA preseason player of the year.

UD kicks off the 2016 campaign with an Aug. 26 contest at Bucknell before returning home to host Fordham on Aug. 28 at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.

For more on UD Athletics, see BlueHens.com.