2026 Season Preview

[LILax]

Delaware Preview (153 of 158 goals returning)

2026 should be an interesting year for the Hens as they enter year one in the competitive A10 conference. Delaware is coming off an uneven season when Coach DeLuca dealt with a defense that showed an uncharacteristic lack of cohesion due to the constantly changing lineup. The Hens offense also struggled to gain footing after the graduation of Mike Robinson and JP Ward, with very inconsistent shooting (26%) and the lack of a true QB at attack. The good news is that a LOT of young players got a LOT of playing time. The Hens finished 2025 with a winning record (7-6) that included a few “no show” games against Penn, Hofstra and Monmouth (the latter two ultimately cost them a spot in the CAA Tourney for the first time in Coach DeLuca’s run at UD).

So who is back? (nearly everyone)
Hens return a young and talented group at attack including sophomore Bennett Parmer who had a great first year (16g 17a), despite being moved around at attack. He finished the year as the Hen’s QB at X and showed a proclivity for finding open teammates inside for easy dunks. Parmer is a very physical player who has a great handle but lacks the speed and quickness of a traditional X attackman. Joining Parmer at attack will be senior lefty Brendan Powers who is coming off his best season with 53 points (37g 16A). Powers displayed a ton of creativity scoring inside and outside with a much-improved shooting percentage (35%). Powers never missed a game despite suffering an early season injury against St. John’s. Powers rebounded to become the Hens most consistent scorer averaging 3.6 goals over the last eight games. Junior John McCurry started the season at midfield but was moved to the righty wing attack position (where he played his freshman year) and became much more of an offensive threat scoring 22 goals and adding 4 assists. This attack unit was augmented by lefty assassin Finn Morgan who scored 11 goals on nearly 50% shooting. Morgan will again be asked to fill the role of man-up specialist and spot midfielders from time to time. Yale transfer Cory Capri, showed a lot of quickness and speed at X but failed to finish on a consistent basis shooting at just a 17% clip.

The midfield unit led by Jason Kolar (15g 12a), Hank D’Ambrogi (12g 13a) and sophomore Tyler Owings (16g 1a) are all back this year. The second unit with Jack Kolbe (6g 2a) and Ryder Villani (3 goals) are both back but will see a lot of competition from incoming class and players returning from injuries. During the fall and early “spring” DeLuca had sophomore Drew Duncan and Finn Morgan playing on this second unit. He also ran sophomore Maverick Smith at times. Smith is a highly athletic middie with a terrific outside shot, as evidenced by a goal he scored against Hopkins in the fall.

Defensively, the Hens played a bunch of combinations that helped many of the young players gain experience. However, there seemed to be a lot of confusion on slides leading to a ton of open looks from the competition. The off-ball defense was not good. Close defenseman Matt Montgomery should be back this year after missing the entire year with injury. He was missing from the recent scrimmage, so who knows? Nick Cowen moved from LSM to close to fill in for Montgomery and did a terrific job with 28 GBs and 19CTs. He was joined in the backline by sophomore Louie Atkinson (18GBs 3CTs) and freshman Liam Powell (23GBs 17CTs). The Hens had constantly changing rope units led by LSMs Patrick Gillin (32GBs 8CTs), Rowan Marsell (15GB 5CTs), Owen Black, Aidan Bodonyi and young SSDMs Nate Ferguson (Fr), Ryder Buell (So), Troon Houlton (So), Duncan Barnes (Fr), Justin Sanelli, and Jackson Shields which led to very inconsistent play. The Delaware defense gave up 11.3 goals a game which was way too much given the schedule that they played. The man-down unit was a work-in progress and was the 7th worst in division 1 lacrosse with opponents scoring at a .514 rate. The good news is that all of these young defensive players (except for Shields) are back after gaining a ton of experience. The team will also be helped by some new arriving talent including freshman Finn Rodgers (Steamboat Springs, CO) who saw a lot of play in the fall and spring scrimmages and four-star recruit from Archbishop Spaulding Greyson Dunn.

Who are the newcomers that can make an impact?
Not a newcomer, but certainly a new starter, Aidan Koff has shown to be a very proficient replacement for Kevin Ellington in goal. He was fantastic in each of the Hen’s scrimmages. Sophomore Colton Silverstein has also shown promise in net playing predominantly in the fourth quarter of these scrimmages.

The aforementioned Rodgers certainly looks to play a role at SSDM and freshman phenom Matt Triolo (#28 Inside Lacrosse ’25 recruit) should be able to increase his time as the year progresses. Unfortunately for him, the Hens are loaded with lefty attackman, so I would assume he would be used out of the box at midfield.

Freshman Scott Conte looked pretty good at FOGO when facing the Lehigh second unit. The strength of the Hens at FOGO last year, winning 64% of faceoffs is gone. The Hens will rely on a combination of Michael Straub, Nolan Bolger, Matthew Warburton and Conte to try to get close to 50% this year.

Should be an interesting year. We will get an early look next week as the Hens open in a frigid Delaware Stadium against ASUN favorites Utah. We shall see.

[UDHoops]

LI, this is fantastic. Thank you! Looking forward to Saturday

[77HEN]

Thanks for the preview LI, you never disappoint. Frigid Delaware Stadium is the key descriptor for this Saturday. I really want to attend but have to see just how brutal the weather will be. Is it possible to play the game in the fieldhouse?

[Cluck U]

Fantastic preview, LILax.

Thanks!

[Cluck U]

Thanks for the preview LI, you never disappoint. Frigid Delaware Stadium is the key descriptor for this Saturday. I really want to attend but have to see just how brutal the weather will be. Is it possible to play the game in the fieldhouse?

Interesting question regarding the fieldhouse.

I left a message with the ticket office asking about access to the clubhouse. It was open for the scrimmage with no charge, but they usually charge an entrance fee for the games. Hard to justify the extra per person clubhouse charge for 4+ people (we usually only get a couple so that the group can stay..uh...hydrated), so they might lose some fans.

Latest forecast is gametime temp of 21-degrees with a 10-degree wind chill.

2+ hours of exposure in that weather is dangerous...better make sure your skin is covered.

Definitely going to challenge the thinking that there isn't bad weather...there's just bad gear.

[Cluck U]

From the ticket office:

"First and foremost, thank you for your continued support! Given the extreme temperatures, we are working through some different solutions for both player and fan safety coming up for this game. We will send out more communication once we have a plan finalized – more details to come shortly.

Thank you again and talk to you soon!"

Looks as though UD is looking at making some changes for the game.

I'll forward what I hear.

[77HEN]

From the ticket office:

"First and foremost, thank you for your continued support! Given the extreme temperatures, we are working through some different solutions for both player and fan safety coming up for this game. We will send out more communication once we have a plan finalized – more details to come shortly.

Thank you again and talk to you soon!"

Looks as though UD is looking at making some changes for the game.

I'll forward what I hear.

Thanks Cluck. The frigid temps dangerous for players and fans, everyone. Good idea for the club, but can you see the field from the club?

[Cluck U]

From the ticket office:

"First and foremost, thank you for your continued support! Given the extreme temperatures, we are working through some different solutions for both player and fan safety coming up for this game. We will send out more communication once we have a plan finalized – more details to come shortly.

Thank you again and talk to you soon!"

Looks as though UD is looking at making some changes for the game.

I'll forward what I hear.

Thanks Cluck. The frigid temps dangerous for players and fans, everyone. Good idea for the club, but can you see the field from the club?

No sight lines, but, they have the game on multiple large TVs.

Popping in and out would work to help warm up and shelter from the cold...plus grab some warm grub, if needed.

Maybe they'll have some sideline heaters for the players. Will be interesting to see any adaptations to the regular planning.

[Cluck U]

UD called Utah and everyone has agreed to play the game as scheduled. No changes.

For those of you who are going...the Clubhouse will be open for the extra $10 charge.

Four tickets...$15 each...plus an extra $40 to get some relief from the cold...plus beer and a hot dog/pretzel.

Pass...ESPN+ has the game. Money will be spent on bourbon, beers and some grub at home. Plenty of other games to attend.

Hope our guys get off to a good start this Saturday.

[Cluck U]

UD called Utah and everyone has agreed to play the game as scheduled. No changes.

For those of you who are going...the Clubhouse will be open for the extra $10 charge.

Four tickets...$15 each...plus an extra $40 to get some relief from the cold...plus beer and a hot dog/pretzel.

Pass...ESPN+ has the game. Money will be spent on bourbon, beers and some grub at home. Plenty of other games to attend.

Hope our guys get off to a good start this Saturday.

EDIT: It is Pink Day. Pink Gear raffle and a hot chocolate bar.

January 31st | 12:00 p.m. vs. Utah - Pink Game | Hot Chocolate Bar
Join us for our Pink Game where Delaware Men's Lacrosse will be sporting pink gear for the game in support of breast cancer awareness. All fans can stop by the marketing table to enter a raffle for pink Delaware Lacrosse gear.

In honor of National Hot Chocolate Day, all fans in attendance can visit the free hot chocolate bar located near the marketing table to create their own hot chocolate while supplies last!

[Cluck U]

Random comment from a self-identified Utah Lacrosse mother on Inside Lacrosse's Instagram comment sections says the Delaware game moved indoors...and played tomorrow at 12:30pm????? Made a point that the Utah team would be just getting off the plane and playing.

However, the IL website does not have that update.

https://www.sticksinlacrosse.com/post/s ... sse-week-0


Updated: 3 minutes ago

This is what happens when you start the season in January! Last weekend most of the country had snow and ice dumped all it, with some places in the northeast and New England pushing two feet of powder. Regular season play is set to start this weekend, and mother nature has decided to intervene. Another storm is brewing that should bring frigid temperatures and yet more snow and ice. As a result, several games have already had their venue or time adjusted. Some teams hosting games include Hofstra, Loyola, Richmond, Hopkins, Delaware, Towson, and VMI, all of whom may be impacted by the expected weekend weather. This will be updated with information as it comes out.

Link lists several games that have changed so far...but not Delaware.

Ticket office is closed, so I could not confirm that rumor.

Anyone with Instagram might be able to follow that conversation.

[UDHoops]

Good find. I plan to be there covering the game this Saturday, but if it’s tomorrow it’ll be a no go. Hope official news comes soon

[BlueHenBill]

Through the 1994 season, Men's Lax didn't start play until March and more frequently played two games per week (on Tues. or Weds. & on Sats - weekday games have been very rare since the 1995 season) on a number of weeks and they played more than 13 regular season games as well. I would like to see a return to that former scheduling so that winter weather games are minimized as much as possible. If Lax athletes could effectively play 2 games per week for a number of weeks through the 1994 season, I don't see why today's athletes can't as well.

[Cluck U]

Good find. I plan to be there covering the game this Saturday, but if it’s tomorrow it’ll be a no go. Hope official news comes soon

Lil' Cluck was monitoring the situation. Gotta' give credit to the new generation with the quick updates (if true).

I called the UD ticket office around 2pm, and they said everything was a go for the normal game time operation...that the teams had agreed on keeping the game as it was. Thus, my earlier post.

BUT>>>> now Inside Lacrosse has this:

https://www.sticksinlacrosse.com/post/s ... sse-week-0


DELAWARE VS UTAH

Was: Saturday at noon at Delaware.

Is now: Friday at 12:30, moved indoors. No spectators are expected to be allowed. Streaming availability will be added.

No fans!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Let's storm the Fieldhouse (or wherever they're playing)! Who's with me?

[bluehenbillk]

https://bluehens.com/news/2026/1/29/men ... fieldhouse

Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington tomorrow, no stream as of now and no fans. Sucks, I was planning on watching ESPN+