ODAC Field Hockey News Archive

In a year of incredible accomplishments, Enza Steele earned recognition for a lifetime of achievement Thursday night. The National Field Hockey Coaches Association enshrined University of Lynchburg's legendary field hockey coach into its hall of fame at a reception during the NFHCA Annual Convention.

Two ODAC stars were recognized as All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) on Wednesday. University of Lynchburg forward Jackie Lerro earned Longstreth/NFHCA Division III Second Team All-America laurels, while teammate and midfielder/defender Alexis Brown was tabbed a Third Team All-American.

Shenandoah University won its first-ever ECAC Championship Sunday with a 3-2 overtime victory over host Lebanon Valley in the Division III Field Hockey Tournament.

The University of Lynchburg field hockey team's season came to a close Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament with a 1-0 loss at third-ranked Rowan.

The University of Lynchburg scored three times in the second half to erase a 1-0 halftime deficit and post a 3-1 victory over Denison University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament.

ODAC champion University of Lynchburg earned a league-high six all-conference honors plus two special individual awards to lead the 2018 All-ODAC Field Hockey Awards. For the second time in her career, Nikki Simpao earned ODAC Player of the Year honors while Lynchburg mentor Enza Steele took home ODAC Coach of the Year Laurels. Shenandoah University collected the remaining special individual awards. Midfielder Kelsey Jones received ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades, while defender Morgan Payne was named the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete in a vote of the league's sports information directors.

Washington and Lee University forward Haley Tucker was tabbed a Third Team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) on Wednesday. She is the third General to earn such a distinction, joining fellow third team selections Maggie Waxter and Kendall Korte in 2016 and 2007, respectively.

Despite two goals from sophomore forward Lauren Paolano (Huntington, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) and 16 saves from junior goalkeeper Ariyel Yavalar (Baltimore, Md./Garrison Forest School), the Washington and Lee field hockey team fell at top-ranked Messiah, 3-2, on Saturday, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Off a pass from sophomore forward Lauren Paolano (Huntington, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor), junior forward Haley Tucker (Manakin-Sabot, Va./St. Catherine's School) registered the game-winning goal to give the Washington and Lee field hockey team a 1-0 double overtime victory over Denison in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday at the W&L Turf Field.

No. 15 University of Rochester advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 with a 2-0 victory over Shenandoah University Wednesday in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament.

Three squads placed six players each on All-ODAC teams and the special awards were split between Shenandoah University and Washington and Lee University to highlight the 2016 All-ODAC Field Hockey Awards. Generals' forward Maggie Waxter was named the ODAC Player of the Year, while teammate Kendall Peterson earned ODAC/Virgina Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete recognition. Shenandoah mentor Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft was tabbed the ODAC Coach of the Year, while first-year Hornet Taylor Hayes took home the ODAC Rookie of the Year award.

Shenandoah University won its first ODAC field hockey championship on Saturday evening, becoming just the second team at SU to claim a trophy since joining the conference in 2012-13. Now the Hornets know where they'll continue their season in the NCAA Division III Tournament. SU will travel to the University of Rochester for first round action on Wednesday.

The Bridgewater College field hockey team saw its postseason run end in the NCAA Sweet 16, as the Eagles fell 6-0 to #6 William Smith on Saturday.

The Bridgewater College field hockey team scored twice in a span of under two minutes, carrying the Eagles past Catholic, 2-1, and into the NCAA Sweet 16. Taylor Prillaman and Madison Clement (pictured) scored the goals, with the latter's tally proving the deciding factor in defeating the 17th-ranked Cardinals.

Lynchburg midfielder Nicole Simpao picked up a pair of special awards as part of the All-ODAC field hockey awards, becoming the first player to earn ODAC Player of the Year and ODAC Rookie of the Year distinction since the sport began honoring the top first year player in 2000. Washington and Lee mentor Gina Wills received ODAC Coach of the Year recognition, while Shenandoah midfielder Kelani Bailey received the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award.

Washington and Lee Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn has announced the appointment of Gina Wills as head field hockey coach and associate professor of physical education effective June 1. Wills comes to W&L from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where she served as the head field hockey coach for the last eight years.

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the 2014-15 ODAC Sportsmanship Teams in each of the fall sports sponsored by the conference. This marks the sixth year the league has recognized these fine student-athletes for their excellence in sportsmanship. Seventy-five athletes were honored this season.

Bridgewater College midfielder Caroline Augsburger earned a spot on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-America Second Team, becoming just first Eagle field hockey to earn such a recognition. She's the program's fifth all-time All-American and the lone athlete on the list from the ODAC this season. She is one of five to receive NFHCA All-South Region honors.

Just a few games remain before tournament seeds are set, and performances have never been better as teams look to make a push. Those earning weekly awards include (l-r, t-b): Bobby Brajdic, RMC (MSW); Michaela Nolte, E&H (WSW); Carrie Jacobs, RMC (FH); Marc Dinkel, RC (MSOC); Olivia Bowling, RMC (WG); Nash Nance, HSC (FB); Anna Lausberg, W&L (VB); Clint Peregoy, E&H (FB); Jade Woll, LC (WSOC).

Sweet Briar College announced the hiring of Hannah Lott as the new head coach of the Vixens' field hockey program on Saturday morning. A graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Lott was an assistant coach at Smith College before most recently serving as the interim head coach at Western New England University.

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the 2013-14 ODAC/StellarOne Sportsmanship Teams in each of the fall and winter sports sponsored by the conference. This marks the fifth year the league has recognized these fine student-athletes for their excellence in sportsmanship.

A pair of Lynchburg, Va., based schools saw one of their student-athletes earn the conference's top honors in a vote of the ODAC Board of Directors at the recently completed annual league meetings. Lynchburg College field hockey standout Shelly Milks was recognized as the Marjorie Berkley Award winner, while Randolph College men's basketball star Colton Hunt was tabbed the winner of the Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Award.

Shenandoah University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Zipp announced Monday that Ashley Smeltzer has accepted the position of head women's field hockey coach. Smeltzer takes over the Shenandoah program after five years as an assistant coach at longtime D-III power University of Rochester. She is the third head coach in program history and takes over the team from Kim Iman-Bianchi.

Virginia Wesleyan College named Christina Restivo as its new field hockey head coach this week. The former University of Maryland standout goalkeeper was an assistant coach at Wake Forest University for the past six years. She is no stranger to postseason play, having won a pair of championships as a Terrapin (2005-06) and helping the Demon Deacons to the title game in 2008.

Lynchburg's Shelly Milks (pictured) earned recognition from a pair of outlets in annual postseason awards announcements. She was named a NFHCA First Team All-American and joined four of her teammates on the All-South Region Team. She was also tabbed the VaSID College Division Player of the Year, which also featured 14 other ODAC players and coaches.

The Hornets national title hopes came to an end Sunday afternoon, as fourth-ranked Lynchburg College was defeated, 3-0, by #3 The College of New Jersey in the quarterfinals of the 2011 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament, hosted by TCNJ. Lynchburg ends its season with a 19-2 record, with its only other loss coming in the season's first game in September.

There are only eight teams left in the 2011 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament, and fourth-ranked Lynchburg College is one of them. The Hornets defeated Catholic University, 2-0, in the second round of the tournament Saturday, hosted by the College of New Jersey. LC meets the Hornets on Sunday for a spot in the national semifinals.

Three student-athletes earned the conference's top awards in a vote of the ODAC Board of Directors at the annual league meetings earlier this week. W&L's Greg Kurkis was recognized as the Doc Jopson Award winner. BC's Christina Rhodes and W&L's Emmy Mathews will share the Marge Berkely Award., marking the first tie in Berkely Award history.

Seven student-athletes from Old Dominion Athletic Conference member schools earned a 2010 ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete Award during the fall athletic schedule. Farm Bureau Insurance is the proud presenter of each award for the ODAC's 22 sponsored sports.

Lynchburg College sophomore midfielder Shelly Milks (Gloucester, VA/Gloucester) was named a second-team NCAA All-American Monday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. It is the third-straight season that a Hornet field hockey star achieved All-American status.

Eastern Mennonite University field hockey athlete, Karissa Sauder, is one of eight student-athletes from Old Dominion Athletic Conference member schools to earn a 2009 ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete Award during the fall athletic schedule. Sauder was tabbed from a pool of nominees by a vote of each of the conference’s sports information directors.

Eight student-athletes from Old Dominion Athletic Conference member schools to earn a 2009 ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete Award during the fall athletic schedule. Farm Bureau Insurance is the proud presenter of each award for the ODAC's 22 sponsored sports.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Washington and Lee is working with groups across campus and within the community to assemble and send 500 care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan. Student athletes (above, from left) Chelsea Stevenson, Meredith Freeman and Jason Cimino help with the efforts

The USA Field Hockey National Training Center will host five of VWC’s nine home contests slated in September and October. The Marlins are making the move to the Training Center through a relationship between the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation department and VWC Head Coach Joyce Anne Koubaroulis.

Lynchburg field hockey saw its season come to an end on Saturday morning as Ursinus College topped the Hornets, 3-2, in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. LC finishes with an 18-6 overall record.

Lynchburg's Allie Weir and Eastern Mennonite's Alyssa Derstine were named Co-Players of the Year in All-ODAC Field Hockey voting. Lynchburg’s Enza Steele received the Coach of the Year award while fellow Hornet Kristina Morris was named the Rookie of the Year. EMU’s Kristina Landis took home the ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete award.

This year’s annual All-ODAC Field Hockey voting has ended and the All-ODAC teams and individual awards have been set. Washington & Lee’s Kendall Korte and Emily Mathews collected Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards, respectively. Eastern Mennonite’s Brenda Bechler collected the Coach of the Year honor and the Royals’ Kristina Landis was tabbed as the ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete award following a vote of the league’s sports information directors.

The ODAC Field Hockey Tournament championship game will have a familiar feel to it on Saturday, albeit at a new location. Top-seeded Eastern Mennonite University and #2 Lynchburg College both advanced on Wednesday evening, setting up a rematch of last season’s conference championship.

The Eastern Mennonite Royals enter the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Field Hockey Tournament as the #1 seed after finishing the conference regular season with a untarnished 7-0 ODAC record. Lynchburg College goes into the eight-team tourney as the #2 seed while Washington & Lee University sits in the third spot. Randolph-Macon College rounds out top four seeds.

Roanoke College Director of Athletics Scott Allison has named Lacey Pustizzi the college’s new field hockey coach. Pustizzi comes to the Salem, VA school from nearby Virginia Tech University where she is currently an assistant coach with the women’s lacrosse team. Pustizzi will begin her appointment with the college immediately.

Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) field hockey tournament champion Lynchburg College put four players on the league’s all-star first team list, but it was Washington & Lee University that took home the top individual honor of the season. General midfielder Kendall Korte led a pair from Lexington on the All-ODAC First Team as she was named the 2006 Player of the Year.

The Elizabethtown College field hockey team scored five minutes into the second half and held on for a 1-0 win Wednesday afternoon against Lynchburg College in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.