2024 Post Mortem

[LILax]

Delaware lacrosse ended its season on a pretty depressing note with a no-show game against Towson on Saturday. I have read several reviews about the game and most people point to the OT game against Fairfield as the reason the “worn-down” Hens got run off the field by the Tigers in the CAA finale. That seems like a pretty lazy excuse for the total domination that Towson showed on their home turf Saturday.

Fatigue didn’t lead to 25 turnovers, many of which were mistakes in substitutions through the box during clears. It was almost surreal that a team that was so disciplined (leading D1 lacrosse in the least turnovers per game) became so discombobulated with seemingly no answers. While some of that confusion was caused by the intense defensive pressure that Towson applied in the middle of the field, much more of it was self-inflicted.

The troubles started in earnest on Thursday night. If you watched the Hens defense in the Fairfield game, there is no way that you could come away feeling a single shred of confidence heading into the weekend. The Hens played Fairfield without LSM Patrick Gillin, who apparently got hurt at the end of the final regular season game against Towson. Without LSMs Gillin and Joe Speers (who suffered a season-ending injury three weeks earlier) it looked as if the Hens defense was playing together for the first time. Fairfield only needed to make two quick passes on offense to find a wide open shot due to awful/no slides. The Hens were lucky to survive the semi-final game and got bailed out by the relentlessness of Mike Robinson and excellence of Kevin Ellington in net. The desperate Hens turned to a zone midway through the Towson finale because of this lack of continuity on defense. The zone only exacerbated what was a futile effort to stop the sharpshooting Tigers.

Anyway, it was a good season that was unfortunately marred by key injuries to critical players. Delaware played the full year without captain Drew Lenkaitis and Riar Schell and they lost Logan Premtaj and Jason Kolar after the fourth game of the year. But the biggest loss was when All-CAA LSM Speers was injured at the end of the Stony Brook game. The defense was never the same without him over the last four games. Gillin, who was lost for the Fairfield semi, made a valiant effort to return against Towson, but was essentially playing on one leg.

What the Hens can look forward to in 2024-25
The Hens are losing a TON this year. Starting on offense the Hens lose two of the all-time greats at attack with JP Ward (110G 112A) and Mike Robinson (185G 58A) moving on. At midfield, the Acchione twins will be missed as well, leaving just one Canadian player on the roster. Defensively, Delaware loses Tate Wasson at close defense, Joe Speers at LSM and a pair of all-time great SSDMs Reed Kurtz and Aiden Fritz. They also lose SSDM John Scheivert who did a great job on the second rope unit. I would imagine that coach DeLuca will try to convince Seniors Drew Lenkaitis, Matt Montgomery and Kevin Ellington to come back for another year because they each have eligibility left. Ellington probably has options to transfer if he would like after finishing atop D1 goalies in save percentage. Hope he stays. Lenkaitis, after missing two straight seasons with injuries, might want to just get on with his life.

So, who do the Hens return next year? Delaware returns OJ Morris at FOGO following a surprisingly strong year when he won 57% of his faceoffs. Delaware also returns a promising young midfield unit with Brendan Powers, Tyler Owings, Hank D’Ambrogi and Jason Kolar. They will need to see what they can get from Ryder Villani, Brooks Bond, Owen McGee, Ethan Krauss and incoming freshmen Carson “Maverick” Smith and Bennett Parmer to augment this returning unit.

At attack the Hens return, all-CAA freshman team John McCurry (27G 6A). Coach DeLuca will need to find a playmaking QB and lefty sniper to replace Ward and Robinson. Sounds easy. The Hens have a great lefty sniper on the roster in sophomore Finn Morgan (11G 4A -42% shooting). They also have QB options in returning juniors Nick Fish, Riar Schell or incoming freshman from St. Augustine Prep (Charlie Kitchen’s high school), lefty Noah Plenn. DeLuca might also turn to the transfer portal to pick up an experienced attackman.

On defense, as mentioned earlier, DeLuca could bring back Kevin Ellington in goal and close defenseman Matt Montgomery (15GBs, 3CTs), who both played in just one game before this year, if they are interested in returning. That would be a great start. They also bring back all-CAA freshman Louie Atkinson at close defense. Atkinson had a terrific rookie season starting all 14 games and accumulated 12 GBs and 10 CTs. Gillin, who has improved dramatically this year, will be returning for his junior year and will be instrumental at LSM (16GBs and 10CTs). DeLuca had some young players on the second rope unit this year with freshman Ryder Buell (10GBs 5CTs) logging major minutes along with sophomores Troon Houlton (11GBs, 3CTs) and Rowen Marsell (6GBs, 3CTs). Hens will probably look to Nick Cowen for increased minutes after suffering a bunch of injuries his first three years in Newark. Delaware will also be welcoming in two very athletic 4-star defensemen from Baltimore – Lange Gaspar 6’2” 195lbs (Calvert Hall) and Liam Powell 6’1” 190lbs from Loyola Blakefield.

Prediction for 2025
The Hens are losing a lot of great players who just completed the most successful sustained period of lacrosse for the program. This ’24 graduating class finished 45-19 over that four year stretch with 3 regular season CAA titles, 2 CAA Championships and one NCAA quarterfinal appearance. I would imagine that ’24 will be a rebuilding year for this young squad, but I would not count them out for a CAA Championship in their final year in conference. Lots to look forward to. I’ll be back in the fall to give thoughts on that season with all of the newcomers on campus.

One question for Coach DeLuca - WHERE ARE THE CANADIAN RECRUITS? The most successful periods of Hen lacrosse were led by Canadian recruits. Late 90's John Grant Jr., late 00's Curtis Dickson and Jordan Hall 2010-2011 Curtis Dickson and Nick Diachenko, 2019-Present Tye Kurtz, Owen Grant, Mike Robinson, Reed Kurtz, Matt Acchione, Cam Acchione. Has the Canadian pipeline dried up for the Hens?

[tenn hen]

LILax- thanks for the summary- I didn't seem to watch the games as the season played out, but caught the end of the Fairfield game. I totally agree with your disappointment in that game. I was shocked to view F breaking us down easily for goals-almost at will. It was cool that we managed to pull out the game, but felt our chances were slim v Towson. I gave up at halftime feeling there was no way out of the hole we were in.

[dovetail]

One question for Coach DeLuca - WHERE ARE THE CANADIAN RECRUITS?

H.S lacrosse has developed tremendously in the states over the past 20 years. Maybe we don't need Canada as much these days.

[77HEN]

The defense which was so organized in the first half of the season became unraveled. Clearly due to injuries. Gonna check the rosters of the Big schools for Canadians, the Big is really big in the LAX scene now.

[BlueHenBill]

Two big question going forward that could have a major affect on the recruiting, the future of HC DeLuca, and the overall M/W Lax programs, is what conference(s) (if any) will M/W Lax be joining and when will that be announced?

I agree that UD needs to bring in 2-3 players from Canada every year as their experience with box (indoor) Lax gives them a real advantage in the outdoor game. To me the fall off (so far) im recruiting M Lax Canadians is analogous to the fall off in UD FH in recruiting players form the Netherlands and Germany which IMO has been a significant factor in the decline in success of UD FH.

[Hengrad07]

Does the GK stay or move on to greener pastures?

[LILax]

I had a feeling that the Hens would find a transfer to fill JP Ward spot. The Hens have signed Yale grad transfer Cory Capri as the new QB on attack. Capri played at John Glenn HS on Long Island before PGing at the Hill School where he had 21 points in just 5 games. He spent three years at Yale and has 2 years of eligibility left.

Cory Capri is a total stud who was stuck behind all-time great attackman Matt Brandau at Yale the last couple of years. He is graduating from Yale this month but will have two years left due to the IVY not playing in '21. This is a HUGE signing. Interestingly, the Hens have another John Glenn player coming in '25 in the #34 recruit in that class Matt Triolo.

Never doubt Ben DeLuca. They are reloading in a hurry.

I believe that Kevin Ellington will return to Newark BTW. Just a feeling. Next years attack with McCurry, Finn Morgan and Cory Capri will be fire.

The only thing to worry about is that a bunch of D1 coaching spots are opening. Chrissy better keep DeLuca happy.

[Hengrad07]

I had a feeling that the Hens would find a transfer to fill JP Ward spot. The Hens have signed Yale grad transfer Cory Capri as the new QB on attack. Capri played at John Glenn HS on Long Island before PGing at the Hill School where he had 21 points in just 5 games. He spent three years at Yale and has 2 years of eligibility left.

Cory Capri is a total stud who was stuck behind all-time great attackman Matt Brandau at Yale the last couple of years. He is graduating from Yale this month but will have two years left due to the IVY not playing in '21. This is a HUGE signing. Interestingly, the Hens have another John Glenn player coming in '25 in the #34 recruit in that class Matt Triolo.

Never doubt Ben DeLuca. They are reloading in a hurry.

I believe that Kevin Ellington will return to Newark BTW. Just a feeling. Next years attack with McCurry, Finn Morgan and Cory Capri will be fire.

The only thing to worry about is that a bunch of D1 coaching spots are opening. Chrissy better keep DeLuca happy.

Does “keeping him happy” include joining a good lax conference?

[dchen]

[/quote]

Does “keeping him happy” include joining a good lax conference?
[/quote]

Much less important than keeping DeLuca happy but joining a good conference is important to keep me happy.

[77HEN]

I had a feeling that the Hens would find a transfer to fill JP Ward spot. The Hens have signed Yale grad transfer Cory Capri as the new QB on attack. Capri played at John Glenn HS on Long Island before PGing at the Hill School where he had 21 points in just 5 games. He spent three years at Yale and has 2 years of eligibility left.

Cory Capri is a total stud who was stuck behind all-time great attackman Matt Brandau at Yale the last couple of years. He is graduating from Yale this month but will have two years left due to the IVY not playing in '21. This is a HUGE signing. Interestingly, the Hens have another John Glenn player coming in '25 in the #34 recruit in that class Matt Triolo.

Never doubt Ben DeLuca. They are reloading in a hurry.

I believe that Kevin Ellington will return to Newark BTW. Just a feeling. Next years attack with McCurry, Finn Morgan and Cory Capri will be fire.

The only thing to worry about is that a bunch of D1 coaching spots are opening. Chrissy better keep DeLuca happy.

Does “keeping him happy” include joining a good lax conference?

It’s not clear that AD Rawak did all her homework prior to the move solely for FB.

[Cluck U]

Isn’t DeLuca signed for a while (with a decent sized buy out clause)?

A couple UD lacrosse alums were talking about DeLuca staying because he has a LOT of support…including financial. But, I’ve also heard DeLuca is on Ohio State’s radar…and they just dumped $24 million into their new lacrosse stadium.

Sheeesh…money seems to not be a problem for some of these institutions.

It will be interesting to see if/how the football free agency stuff filters down to other sports…including the lesser money maker sports such as lacrosse.

[dchen]

Isn’t DeLuca signed for a while (with a decent sized buy out clause)?

A couple UD lacrosse alums were talking about DeLuca staying because he has a LOT of support…including financial. But, I’ve also heard DeLuca is on Ohio State’s radar…and they just dumped $24 million into their new lacrosse stadium.

Sheeesh…money seems to not be a problem for some of these institutions.

It will be interesting to see if/how the football free agency stuff filters down to other sports…including the lesser money maker sports such as lacrosse.

Ohio State doesn't seem to have a head coaching vacancy. Are their other D1 programs with an HC vacancy?

[Cluck U]

Isn’t DeLuca signed for a while (with a decent sized buy out clause)?

A couple UD lacrosse alums were talking about DeLuca staying because he has a LOT of support…including financial. But, I’ve also heard DeLuca is on Ohio State’s radar…and they just dumped $24 million into their new lacrosse stadium.

Sheeesh…money seems to not be a problem for some of these institutions.

It will be interesting to see if/how the football free agency stuff filters down to other sports…including the lesser money maker sports such as lacrosse.

Ohio State doesn't seem to have a head coaching vacancy.

Yet.

Signed a new contract a couple years ago. Paid $336,119.38 this year.

2023: 5-9 (finished last in conference at 1-4)
This year: 6-9…ended on a 4-game losing streak. Finished last, again, in conference (1-4).

Only recent success was 2022: finished 10-5 (3rd in the Big 10), but lost in the first round 15-8 to Cornell (same Cornell that beat us 10-8, ironically at Ohio State).

Oh, 2021: finished 4-7.

Losing coach for 3 of the last 4 years…not sniffing the Big 10 championship. New $24 million stadium…how long does THE OSU wait for their investment to pay off?

Anyway, heard Myers was on the hot seat…and heard some of the lacrosse supporters have brought up DeLuca’s name as a replacement…DeLuca is well known to some of the current OSU team and its supporters.

[Henny]

Man, hope not. Glad to have him here as long as possible.

[Cluck U]

Home teams all won...a rarity.

Sunday's games were mostly good until halftime. Saturday's games were mostly snooze fests.

Towson performed admirably until the 3rd quarter...then the wheels came off. Their goalie, strangely, was caught out of position several times.

Don't know what the future holds for our Hens, but it would be fun to go out of the CAA with a bang next year and get back into the NCAA tourney.