University of Vermont Athletics

Stephane Delval 1993 - Soccer

One of the most skilled soccer players to ever play for the Catamounts and 2010 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Stephane Delval was a two-time first-team All-North Atlantic Conference and All-New England defender. A four-year letterwinner, the Poissy, France native used his skills to play a variety of roles for coach Ron McEachen. "I would not trade him for anyone in New England," claimed McEachen in the 1992 preseason. "He can play anywhere on the field for anyone in the region."

Delval, who prepped at nearby Mount Mansfield Union High for two years, was a regular as a freshman but battled injuries which forced him to miss 10 of the team's 23 games in their run to the NCAA national quarterfinals. In 1990 he rebounded to start all 22 games and was an integral part of the NAC champions that also advanced to the NCAAs. He scored three goals with four assists for ten points including a game-winner in a 1-0 win over UMass. He also earned a spot as an N.E.I.S.L. All-Star and was named to the NAC Championship All-Tournament team as a sophomore.

He moved to a more defensive role for the Catamounts for his final two seasons, in which he captained the team both years and thrived at the position. He led the team to a 10-8-2 record in 1991 and was recognized by the NAC and New England coaches on their first teams. Also that year, he was a second-team adidas Scholar-Athlete All-American. He repeated as a first-team All-Conference and All-New England selection in 1992, his senior season, as the Catamounts finished third in the NAC and bowed out in the postseason. As he was after his junior year, Delval was named by his teammates the winner of the team's Hal Greig Award for the player who has done the most for the Catamount soccer program.

Solid in the classroom, he was named to the NAC Academic Honor Roll in 1992. Following graduation from UVM with a degree in Business Administration, Delval returned to France and played professionally for his hometown club, AC Poissy.