8:34 a.m., Feb. 17, 2010----The University of Delaware field hockey team, which made one of the nation's biggest turnarounds in 2009 when the Blue Hens captured the Colonial Athletic Association title and advanced to the NCAA tournament, was presented its championship rings in a ceremony Tuesday at Hullihen Hall.

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UD President Patrick Harker, Director of Athletics Bernard Muir and field hockey head coach Carol Miller each spoke and congratulated the squad on its outstanding season before presenting a ring to each of the 26 student-athletes on the team as well as the coaching staff.

“What a great season it was,” said Harker in his congratulatory remarks. “You showed what kind of team you were from the very start (winning nine straight games early in the campaign). We are so proud of our student-athletes here and what you accomplished this season was phenomenal. You will remember this for the rest of your lives and you will remember that you won the right way. Each of you are models of how we would like all of our student-athletes here at the University of Delaware to perform.”

The Blue Hens completed one of the finest seasons in school history as the squad compiled an overall record of 14-6, winning nine straight games early in the season after starting out 0-2. The team went 6-2 in CAA play to finish second in the regular season standings and then stormed through the CAA tournament, defeating No. 11 ranked James Madison University 2-1 in overtime in the semifinals before knocking off top-seed and No. 10 ranked Drexel University 1-0 in the title game on the Dragons' home field.

Delaware then advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in school history, and for the second time in the last six years, before falling to No. 6 ranked Michigan State University 7-0 in the first round.

The Hens made one of the nation's most remarkable turnarounds after posting a record of just 3-15 during the 2008 season.

For her efforts, Miller was named the fieldhockey.com National Coach of the Year while senior forward Casey Howard earned second team All-American, first team all-region, and first team All-CAA laurels after ranking among the nation's top scorers with 22 goals.

In addition, Missy Woodie and Michelle Drummonds each earned All-CAA honors. Eight members of the squad were also named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

Team members include seniors Howard, Lizzie Lewis, Rachel Schexnayder, Tori Karsten, Amanda Hall, Kimmy Schlezes, Rae Everson, Cassie Grossman, and Alexis Esbitt, juniors Drummonds, Woodie, Kacie Campbell, and Emily Wagner, sophomores Nicole Ebersole, Carli Shutter, Kerry Brenner, Kayla Schweitzer, Caroline Campbell, Carley Hecht, Amanda McCardell, and Noelle Diana, and freshmen Nicole Onorato, Amber Holland, Brooke Simonovich, Victoria Sharpless, and Sarah Scher. Also honored were assistant coaches Erica Johnson-Crell and Carly Campana and trainer Craig Oates.

The team will also be recognized at halftime of the University of Delaware women's basketball game against Hofstra on March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Bob Carpenter Center.

For more on UD athletics, go to BlueHens.com.

Photo by Evan Krape