Delaware Suspends Vincent Giordano Following Arrest

[Sonny]

NEWARK, DE -- University of Delaware junior men's lacrosse player Vincent Giordano has been suspended from the program following his arrest early Tuesday morning in New Jersey, UD Director of Athletics Edgar N. Johnson and men's lacrosse head coach Bob Shillinglaw announced Wednesday.

According to University policy, any student charged with a felony is expelled, until the charge is dismissed or the student is acquitted of the charge. The University's Office of Judicial Affairs is now taking the steps to expel Giordano from the campus, Cynthia Cummings, associate vice president of campus life, said.

Giordano, 21, a native of Moorestown, NJ (Moorestown High School) and a two-year standout midfielder for the Blue Hens, was one of three men charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and bias intimidation early Tuesday morning, Aug. 22, in Sea Isle City, NJ. The charges stemmed from the assault with a bat of an off-duty police officer. Giordano was released on bail Tuesday.

Per University of Delaware athletics policy regarding felony arrests, Giordano has been suspended from the program until further investigation into the incident by UD officials.

"The incident is still under investigation," said Shillinglaw. "However, I have spoken to Vince and he strongly maintains his innocence and that this was a case of mistaken indentity. We stand behind him."

The other men charged, neither of them UD students, were 23-year-old Keith Hoffman of Folcroft, PA and 21-year-old Thomas Russo of Lansdowne, PA. According to Giordano, he has never met either of the other two suspects.

"Two of them (Hoffman and Russo) were caught almost right away. The third one was caught by an officer on patrol who spotted a suspect who fit the description," said Det. Sgt. Bud Boyer of Sea Isle City Police.

Giordano is a two-year letterwinner for the Blue Hens, leading the squad to a second place Colonial Athletic Association tournament finish in both 2005 and 2006 and an appearance in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. He scored 15 goals and earned a spot on the CAA All-Rookie team in 2005 and scored 10 goals and had five assists this past spring.