Delaware Men’s Lacrosse Begins NCAA Tournament with Visit from Marist Wednesday
Hunter Peters
NEWARK, Del. (May 9, 2023) – CAA Men’s Lacrosse Champion Delaware begins its second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament hosting Marist on Wednesday. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Delaware Stadium in Newark, Del.
The Blue Hens (12-4), who won their second consecutive CAA Championship, welcome the MAAC Champions to town, with Marist (10-7) making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
Delaware captured its fifth CAA crown on Saturday following a 13-10 win over Stony Brook.
Matt Kilkeary, who ranks third in the NCAA in goals-against average (9.25), was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. He was joined on the all-tournament team by his teammates
JP Ward and
Tye Kurtz, who are tied for 11th nationally in points per game (4.75), along with
Joe Speers.
The Blue Hens have been dominant this season, ranking third in the NCAA in scoring defense (9.25) and 13th in scoring offense (14.31) en route to a +81-goal differential. Delaware has been ranked as high as 12 in the USILA and Inside Lacrosse media polls, ranking 19th and 16th in the respective polls entering the tournament.
Delaware collected three major awards in the All-CAA year-end honors. Kurtz was named CAA Offensive Player of the Year,
Owen Grant was selected as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and head coach
Ben DeLuca collected CAA Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, Kilkeary and Ward accompanied Kurtz and Grant on the First Team All-CAA.
Marist is led by the two-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, graduate attackman Jojo Pirreca, who was joined on the First Team All-MAAC by his teammate James Lyons in the midfield.
The winner from Wednesday’s opening round game will advance to face top-seeded Duke at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
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