Roanoke Leads Tight ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

One Point Separates First from Second, Third from Fourth

FOREST, Va. --- Roanoke College, winner of an ODAC record 18 men's lacrosse championships, was picked as a narrow favorite to add to that total by the league's head coaches in the annual ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. The Maroons picked up five first place votes on the way to 76 total points, just one clear of defending champion Washington and Lee University. The Generals earned four top nods.

Third and fourth places are only separated by one point as well. Lynchburg College garnered the remaining first place vote as part of a 63-point total. Hampden-Sydney College sits just one point back in fourth as the Tigers prepare to open a new era under Jason Rostan following the retirement of his father, Ray Rostan.

Close rankings are nothing new to ODAC men's lacrosse, and last season's conference tournament seeding should have provided ODAC fans with a barometer of what to expect in the preseason poll. All six seeds required head-to-head tiebreakers to set. Washington and Lee, which played as the #2 seed, defeated Hampden-Sydney, 14-6, in the semifinals to setup a championship date with Lynchburg following the Hornets' 16-14 semifinal win over Roanoke. The Generals used a four-goul fourth quarter to propel themselves to a 10-7 victory over LC and the program's 10th conference title.

The season continued for both Washington and Lee and Lynchburg in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Hornets' stay was shorter than intended as they fell to Gettysburg College, 8-7, in the first round.  The Generals faired one game better, topping Sewanee, 9-5, before losing to York (Pa.) College, 12-5, in round two.

Given the ODAC preseason poll, it should come as no surprise that national outlets are a little undecided when it comes to which ODAC team they think is best entering the 2017 season. U.S. Lacrosse Magazine and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Assocation (USILA) have Washington and Lee listed as the top squad with #16 and #20 rankings, respectively. Both Roanoke and Lynchburg are receiving votes just outside the USILA's top-20 ranked teams.

Face-Off Yearbook 2017 has a heavy slant on the Maroons with a #19 ranking plus four players noted as Preseason All-Americans. Midfielder IV Stucker earned a spot on the first team, while midfielder Kevin Jackson and defenseman Robby Moore earned third team selections. Longstick midfielder Conn Curry was tabbed to the honorable mention list.

Several teams will look for new players to take on starring roles in 2017 with less than half of last season's All-ODAC selections -- 19-of-45 -- returning to league rosters. Roanoke welcomes back a league-best five all-conference standouts, including each of the four returners that earned All-ODAC First Team laurels in the previously mentioned Stucker, Jackson, Moore, and Curry. Two special award winners are back for another season. Washington and Lee welcomes back attackman A.J. Witherell, who earned ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades as well as an All-ODAC Second Team nod. Shenandoah University features attackman Stephen LaTona, who was chosen the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year in addition to earning a spot on the All-ODAC Third Team.

The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on Saturday, February 11.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Saturday, March 11.   If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistical links.

Listed below is the complete 2017 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC men's lacrosse programs.  For more information on ODAC men's lacrosse, 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 odacathletics on Instagram.

*GAA and Save % of 2016 statistically qualified keeper or returner with most time between pipes
#Face-offs by % when more than one player qualifies 

2017 Poll Position: 8th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-9/2-7 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Mic Grant Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 41 -- Blake Mann   Goals: 38 (7) -- Blake Mann   Assists: 21 (8) -- Daniel Brown   Ground Balls: 30 -- Nick Strider   Face-offs: 77-of-190 (.405) (8) -- Nick Strider   Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Sean Nevin   Saves: 15 -- Kevin Metzger   Save Pct.: .536 -- Kevin Metzger   Goals-Against-Avg.: 11.67 -- Kevin Metzger		2017 Poll Position: 6th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-13/3-6 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: J.B. Sheridan Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Coleman Adams (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 35 -- Coleman Adams   Goals: 23 -- Miles Muncie   Assists: 20 (10) -- Coleman Adams   Ground Balls: 46 -- Kyle Geblein   Face-offs: 30-of-84 (.357) -- Mile Muncie   Caused Turnovers: 18 -- Kyle Geblein   Saves: 194 -- Brian Davies   Save Pct.: .533 -- Brian Davies   Goals-Against-Avg.: 11.94 -- Brian Davies
2017 Poll Position: 7th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-9/4-5 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/Elminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Tom Carmean Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Erik Fries (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 36 -- Zachery Berkowitz   Goals: 27 -- Zachary Berkowitz   Assists: 9 -- Zachary Berkowitz   Ground Balls: 39 -- Erik Fries   Face-offs: 42-of-93 (.452) -- Aaron Parrish   Caused Turnovers: 13 -- Will Forrestal   Saves: 185 -- Parker Styles   Save Pct.: .543 -- Parker Styles   Goals-Against-Avg.: 9.37 -- Parker Styles		2017 Poll Position: 1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-5/8-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Bill Pilat Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Kevin Jackson (M), IV Stucker (M), Conn Curry (LSM), Robby Moore (D)   Second Team: Reid Kaminski (FO)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 52 (10) -- IV Stucker   Goals: 35 (9) -- IV Stucker   Assists: 17 -- IV Stucker   Ground Balls: 74 (7) -- Reid Kaminski   Face-offs: 140-of-225 (.622) (1) -- Reid Kaminski   Caused Turnovers: 27 (5) -- Conn Curry   Saves: 145 -- Burke McManus   Save Pct.: .564 -- Burke McManus   Goals-Against-Avg.: 9.26 -- Burke McManus
2017 Poll Position: 4th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-6/7-2 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Jason Rostan Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Ian Levin (A), Hunter Brown (M), Mitch Renfrow (GK)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 61 (5) -- Ian Levin   Goals: 43 (4) -- Ian Levin   Assists: 33 (1) -- Hunter Brown   Ground Balls: 60 (9) -- Jard Arntzen   Face-offs: 122-of-228 (.535) (4) -- Jared Arntzen   Caused Turnovers: 11 -- Kent Henry   Saves: 152 -- Mitch Renfrow   Save Pct.: .521 -- Mitch Renfrow   Goals-Against-Avg.: 8.41 -- Mitch Renfrow		2017 Poll Position: 10th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-12/0-9 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Tim Marshall Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Stephen LaTona (A-SAOY), Ben Judy (GK) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 59 (6) -- Stephen LaTona   Goals: 40 (5) -- Stephen LaTona   Assists: 19 -- Stephen LaTona   Ground Balls: 40 -- Andrew Shy   Face-offs: 135-of-350 (.386) (9) -- Andrew Shy   Caused Turnovers: 15 -- Chris Wolford   Saves: 240 -- Ben Judy   Save Pct.: .559 -- Ben Judy   Goals-Against-Avg.: 13.07 -- Ben Judy
2017 Poll Position: 3rd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-9/7-2 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Runner-up Head Coach: Steve Koudelka Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Cole Barret (LSM), Zach Thompson (D)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 41 -- Evan Lombardo   Goals: 30 -- Evan Lombardo   Assists: 18 -- Colin McGuire   Ground Balls: 38 -- Zach Thompson   Face-offs: 14-of-21 (.667)   Caused Turnovers: 21 -- Cole Barrett   Saves: 17 -- CJ Santora   Save Pct.: .531 -- CJ Santora   Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.94 -- CJ Santora		2017 Poll Position: 5th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-7/4-5 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: J.P. Stewart Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Tyler Conn (LSM), Duncan Haight (FO) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 26 -- Tyler Conn   Goals: 16 -- Tyler Conn   Assists: 12 -- Justin Metzger   Ground Balls: 94 (2) -- Duncan Haight   Face-offs: 163-of-296 (.551) (3) -- Duncan Haight   Caused Turnovers: 31 (4) -- Tyler Conn   Saves: 27 -- Chris McTague   Save Pct.: .519 -- Chris McTague   Goals-Against-Avg.: 13.27 -- Chris McTague
2017 Poll Position: 9th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-9/2-7 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Andy Sinclair Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 31 -- Mitch MacDonald   Goals: 23 -- Mitch MacDonald   Assists: 14 -- Brett Pausic   Ground Balls: 71 (8) -- Spencer Matthews   Face-offs: 59-of-123 (.480) -- Alex Layva   Caused Turnovers: 27 (5) -- Spencer Matthews   Saves: 54 -- Matt Lindenbaum   Save Pct.: .563 -- Matt Lindenbaum   Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.93 -- Matt Lindenbaum		2017 Poll Position: 2nd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-4/8-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/ODAC Champion Head Coach: Gene McCabe Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: A.J. Witherell (A-ROY), Kyle Gifford   Third Team: Joe Perrella (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 55 (7) -- A.J. Witherell   Goals: 33 -- A.J. Witherell   Assists: 22 (7) -- A.J. Witherell   Ground Balls: 38 -- A.J. Witherell   Face-offs: 36-of-77 (.468) -- Nick Anders   Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Kyle Gifford   Saves: 10 -- Nic Peterson   Save Pct.: .714 -- Nic Peterson   Goals-Against-Avg.: 3.12 -- Nic Peterson