W&L with Six First Place Votes, Lynchburg and Roanoke Split Remaining Three
FOREST, Va. --- A familiar team sits atop the 2018 ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll as Washington and Lee University tops the chart produced by the league's head coaches for a third straight season. The Generals collected 62 total points including six first place votes. The University of Lynchburg sits second with 55 tallies and a pair of top nods, while Roanoke College rounds out the upper trio with 51 markers and the remaining first place consideration.
The 2017 ODAC Tournament concluded with an overtime victory for Washington and Lee, the program's second overall conference crown. Both W&L and Lynchburg scored first-half goals before going scoreless in the second frame. Generals' forward Haley Tucker provided the game-winning goal, beating the keeper for a second time in the 73rd minute.
The Generals, playing in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in program history, made their stay count with a 1-0 overtime victory over Denison University in the first round in Lexington. The win marked the first for W&L field hockey in the national bracket. Washington and Lee made a run at a second-round result at Messiah College, taking 1-0 and 2-1 first half leads, but the Falcons scored twice in the second half to secure a 3-2 win.
RELATED: ODAC Tournament Results | NCAA Tournament Results
An abundance of talent returns to conference rosters in 2018 with 23 of the 33 All-ODAC honorees set for another run. Eight of those standouts earned a spot on last year's All-ODAC First Team. Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Shenandoah University each feature two of those athletes. Lynchburg welcomes back three-time first team midfielder Nikki Simpao and 2017 ODAC Rookie of the Year, forward Jackie Lerro. The Maroons defense has a stable backbone behind goalkeeper Emma Clark and defender Kaylin Stenson. SU looks to midfielder Taylor Hayes and defender Morgan Payne to lead the squad just two seasons removed from its first ODAC title in 2016.
The remaining two first team athletes wear Bridgewater College and Washington and Lee jerseys, both making the jump from the 2016 All-ODAC Third Team to a first team position. The Eagles welcome back defender Laura Gretz, while W&L and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Gina Wills look to the eventual return from injury of last season's ODAC Player of the Year, Haley Tucker.
RELATED: 2017 All-ODAC Awards
The ODAC's field hockey ranks grow by one with the addition of Ferrum College as the conference's 15th full-time member institution. The Panthers are led by fourth-year head coach Carrie Hanshue Austin. Her squad went 5-14 overall last season, including a 1-5 mark in league play with the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). Leading scorer and All-SAA Second Team choice Sierra Magdaleno keys FC's on-field efforts.
The 2018 season begins with non-conference play on Friday, August 31. The first ODAC match of the season is slated for Wednesday, September 26. The regular season closes on Saturday, October 27 and leads into the annual six-team ODAC Tournament. Quarterfinal play at the #3 and #4 seeds is set for Tuesday, October 30. The #1 seed will host the semifinals and championship on Friday-Saturday, November 2-3. If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistics links.
Listed below is the 2018 ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC field hockey programs and a preseason interview with W&L head coach Gina Wills. For more information on ODAC field hockey, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.
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2018 Poll Position: 6th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-11/4-3 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (SU, 3-0) Head Coach: Allyson Kenyon Overall Record/Yrs: 137-141 (.493)/15 Record at BC/Yrs: 137-141 (.493)/15 ODAC Record/Yrs: 61-55 (.526)/15 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Laura Gretz (D) Second Team: Georgia Howard (M), Tessa Tierson (M) Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 25 | Tessa Tierson Goals: 11 | Tessa Tierson Assists: 3 | Jacqueline DiFulvio/Georgia Howard/Tessa Tierson Defensive Saves: 3 | Karinne Moyer Saves: 79 | Ali Bishop |
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2018 Poll Position: 8th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 5-12/0-7 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Ashley Kishorn Overall Record/Yrs: 5-12 (.294)/1 Record at EMU/Yrs: 5-12 (.294)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-7 (.000)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 19 | Lauren Hartzler Goals: 7 | Lauren Hartzler Assists: 5 | Lauren Hartzler Defensive Saves: 4 | Clover Cooper Saves: 173 | Kelsey Troyer |
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2018 Poll Position: 9th 2017 Records - Overall/SAA: 5-14/1-5 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Semifinals (Centre, 5-1) Head Coach: Carrie Hanshue Austin Overall Record/Yrs: 13-59 (.181)/4 Record at FC/Yrs: 13-59 (.181)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: First Season Returning All-SAA Players First Team: None Second Team: Sierra Magdaleno (F/M) Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 24 | Sierra Magdaleno Goals: 7 | Sierra Magdaleno Assists: 10 | Sierra Magdaleno Defensive Saves: None Saves: 39 | Mia Holmes |
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2018 Poll Position: 2nd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-4/6-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Runner-up (W&L, 2-1 OT) Head Coach: Enza Steele Overall Record/Yrs: 568-222-11 (.716)/38 Record at LYN/Yrs: 568-222-11 (.716)/38 ODAC Record/Yrs: 248-34-2 (.877)/36 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Jackie Lerro (F-ROY), Nikki Simpao (M) Second Team: Kayla Copeman (F) Third Team: Alexis Brown (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 70 | Nikki Simpao Goals: 28 | Jackie Lerro Assists: 16 | Nikki Simpao Defensive Saves: 1 | Alexis Brown Saves: 52 | Laurel Nicks |
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2018 Poll Position: 5th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-13/2-5 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (RC, 7-0) Head Coach: Jessica Weiss Overall Record/Yrs: 9-27 (.250)/2 Record at RMC/Yrs: 9-27 (.250)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 3-12 (.200)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Georgia Drescher (D/M) Third Team: Maria Teresa Ambrogi-Torres (F/M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 19 | Maria Teresa Ambrogi-Torres Goals: 7 | Maria Teresa Ambrogi-Torres Assists: 5 | Maria Teresa Ambrogi-Torres Defensive Saves: 2 | Megan May Saves: 24 | Katie Thompson |
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2018 Poll Position: 3rd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 14-5/5-2 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Semifinals (LYN, 7-1) Head Coach: Briana Banks Overall Record/Yrs: 59-81 (.421)/8 Record at RC/Yrs: 59-81 (.421)/8 ODAC Record/Yrs: 23-38 (.377)/8 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Emma Clark (GK), Kaylin Stenson (D) Second Team: Stacey Staley (D), Emilee Wooten (F) Third Team: Lauren Heffron (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 38 | Emilee Wooten Goals: 16 | Emilee Wooten Assists: 8 | Leonore Keunen Defensive Saves: 3 | Stacey Staley Saves: 81 | Emma Clark |
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2018 Poll Position: 4th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-9/3-4 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Eliminated in Semifinals (W&L, 3-1) Head Coach: Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft Overall Record/Yrs: 56-42 (.571)/5 Record at SU/Yrs: 56-42 (.571)/5 ODAC Record/Yrs: 25-13 (.658)/5 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Taylor Hayes (M), Morgan Payne (D) Second Team: Kayla Alderman (F) Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 16 | Megan Stevens Goals: 7 | Megan Stevens Assists: 5 | Taylor Hayes Defensive Saves: 5 | Kiera Lane Saves: 75 | Isabella Morande |
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2018 Poll Position: 7th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-10/1-6 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Christina Restivo Overall Record/Yrs: 31-56 (.356)/5 Record at VWU/Yrs: 31-56 (.356)/5 ODAC Record/Yrs: 11-27 (.289)/5 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Elizabeth Roberto (D), Skye Swain (GK) Third Team: Cori Jackson (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 26 | Elizabeth Roberto Goals: 12 | Elizabeth Roberto Assists: 6 | Julie Fassl/Hunter Majewski Defensive Saves: 4 | Emma Walsh Saves: 119 | Skye Swain |
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2018 Poll Position: 1st 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-5/7-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Champion (LYN, 2-1 OT) 2017 NCAA Tournament: 1-1/def. Denison (1-0 2OT) in 1st round, lost to Messiah (3-2) in 2nd round Head Coach: Gina Wills Overall Record/Yrs: 160-59 (.731)/11 Record at W&L/Yrs: 39-19 (.672)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 19-3 (.864)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Haley Tucker (F-POY) Second Team: Lauren Paolano (F) Third Team: Ariyel Yavalar (GK) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 45 | Haley Tucker Goals: 20 | Haley Tucker Assists: 5 | Haley Tucker Defensive Saves: 2 | Olivia Hewitt Saves: 106 | Ariyel Yavalar |