Generals Earn Eight First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University finds itself in a familiar position entering the 2017 season as the Generals stand atop the ODAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll for the second straight year. W&L picked up 10 first place votes on the way to a table-topping 115 points. Defending ODAC champion Lynchburg College collected three top nods as part of a 111-tally showing. Roanoke College secured the remaining first place vote and also eclipsed the 100-point plateau with 103 markers in the annual coaches' survey.

The 2016 regular season proved a success in the first year of unbalanced play in men's soccer. Lynchburg and Washington and Lee each won seven conference games, with the former posting a pair of ties to trump W&L's one stalemate and lone conference loss for the first seed in the ODAC Tournament. The two foes squared off in the conference championship game in early November, with LC reversing a 2-1 regular season defeat to W&L with a 2-1 triumph for the title. Two second-half goals proved enough to wrap up the Hornets' ODAC-record 15th league crown and the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

For the first time since 2009, the league saw two squads carry an ODAC banner into the national field with Washington and Lee joining Lynchburg as an at-large selection. Both programs made their way thru first round action. Lynchburg scored a 4-2 triumph over John Carroll University (Ohio), while W&L cashed in all five of its penalty kicks to advance past St. Lawrence University after a 1-1 scoreline persisted following 110 minutes of regulation and overtime play. The 2016 campaign came to a close for both ODAC competitors in the second round. Washington and Lee dropped a 2-0 decision to early round host Franklin & Marshall College, while Lynchburg forced overtime before falling to Kenyon College, 2-1, on the turf at Shellenberger Field.

Entering the 2017 campaign, both Lynchburg and Washington and Lee have earned national attention. Formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), United Soccer Coaches (USC) show LC as the 19th ranked squad and W&L slotted 24th in the organization's annual Division III preseason top-25 coaches poll.

There won't be a shortage of familiar faces for ODAC fans to follow in 2017 with 25 of the 37 All-ODAC honorees from a season ago set to lace 'em up one more time. Roanoke and Washington and Lee feature a league-best five returners each and account for four of the eight All-ODAC First Team selections back on conference rosters. However, when it comes to first team talent, Lynchburg benefits from a trio of returning standouts. Forward Fredy Flores is back to lead reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Chris Yeager's attack, while midfielder Nate Berning will do his best to help link up the two halves of the pitch. Goalkeeper Dylan McLaurin returns between the sticks.

Roanoke's first team honorees include holding midfielder Fortune Sibanda and centerback Sam Rauf, giving RC a potent duo down the Maroons' spine. Washington and Lee features forward Dylan Ritch, who secured ODAC Player of the Year laurels last season. He's joined by back Oliver Dolberg. The remaining first team standout dons an Eastern Mennonite University kit as Emmanuel Boamah returns to bolster the Royals' defensive unit.

The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on Friday, September 1.  The first set of ODAC contests is slated for Saturday, September 23. The ODAC Tournament will feature a slightly altered format with eight teams opening quarterfinal play on Saturday, October 28. The highest remaining seed will host the semifinals and finals on Saturday-Sunday, November 4-5. 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 2017 ODAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC men's soccer programs.  For more information on ODAC men's soccer, 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.

2017 Poll Position: 7th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-8-2/4-5-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (W&L, 2-0) Head Coach: Ryan Bennison Overall Record/Yrs: 48-57-3 (.458)/6 Record at BC/Yrs: 48-57-3 (.458)/6 ODAC Record/Yrs: 29-31-3 (.484)/6 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Thomas White (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 9 - Thomas White   Goals: 3 - Thomas White/Jacob Heiston   Assists: 3 - Thomas White   Saves: 2 - Quentin Boric		2017 Poll Position: 6th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-6-5/2-3-4 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (LC, 2-1) Head Coach: Bryan Waggoner Overall Record/Yrs: 97-71-22 (.568)/10 Record at RAND/Yrs: 97-71-22 (.568)/10 ODAC Record/Yrs: 49-28-16 (.613)/9 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Adam Watson (M), Cristian Irigoyen (D)   Third Team: Travis Brown (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 16 - Adam Watson   Goals: 7 - Adam Watson   Assists: 3 - Travis Brown   Saves: 73 - Erick Cortez-Martinez
2017 Poll Position: 8th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-8-4/4-3-2 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (RC, 1-0) Head Coach: Dr. Roger Mast Overall Record/Yrs: 230-230-43 (.500)/26 Record at EMU/Yrs: 230-230-43 (.500)/26 ODAC Record/Yrs: 104-116-22 (.475)/26 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Emmanuel Boamoah (D)   Second Team: Juan Luna (F)   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 20 - Juan Luna   Goals: 8 - Juan Luna   Assists: 4 - Juan Luna   Saves: 106 - Matthew Overacker		2017 Poll Position: 5th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-5-3/5-3-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Eliminated in Semifinals (LC, 1-0 OT) Head Coach: Josh Laux Overall Record/Yrs: 123-94-23 (.560)/13 Record at RMC/Yrs: 19-15-3 (.554)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 65-44-11 (.588)/13 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Anthony Astruc (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 15 - Bryan Lutz   Goals: 6 - Anthony Astruc/Bryan Lutz   Assists: 3 - Bryan Lutz   Saves: 63 - Brian Breslin
2017 Poll Position: 11th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-8-1/2-6-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Robert Richardson Overall Record/Yrs: 19-47-5 (.303)/4 Record at E&H/Yrs: 19-47-5 (.303)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 6-33-3 (.179)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Jordan Couch (F)   Third Team: Tyequis Stallins (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 47 - Jordan Couch   Goals: 21 - Jordan Couch   Assists: 8 - Massimo Tager   Saves: 4 - Cole Schreiner		2017 Poll Position: 1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-5-5/5-0-4 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Semifinals (W&L, 3-0) Head Coach: Ryan Pflugrad Overall Record/Yrs: 45-22-10 (.649)/4 Record at RC/Yrs.: 45-22-10 (.649)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 27-7-7 (.744)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Fortune Sibanda (M), Sam Rauf (D)   Second Team: Marc Hoppler (D-ROY)   Third Team: Tim Mahabir (D), Nick Tadros (GK) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 10 - Marc Hoppler   Goals: 5 - Marc Hoppler   Assists: 5 - Tim Mahabir   Saves: 56 - Nick Tadros
2017 Poll Position: 9th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-9-3/2-4-3 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #9/Eliminated in 1st Round (RAND, 3-2 OT) Head Coach: Cory Speed Overall Record/Yrs: 7-9-3 (.447)/1 Record at GC/Yrs: 7-9-3 (.447)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: 2-4-3 (.389)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Ricky Aguilar (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 17 - Ricky Aguilar   Goals: 7 - Ricky Aguilar   Assists: 4 - Jake Grieco   Saves: None		2017 Poll Position: 12th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-17-0/0-9-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Matt Smith Overall Record/Yrs: 240-45-19 (.821)/18 Record at SU/Yrs: First Year ODAC Record/Yrs: First Year Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 6 - Austin McCarron   Goals: 2 - Austin McCarron/Sam Natkin   Assists: 2 - Austin McCarron   Saves: 41 - Matt Sweeney
2017 Poll Position: 10th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-9-1/1-7-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Tommy DiNuzzo Overall Record/Yrs: 15-50-7 (.257)/5 Record at HSC/Yrs: First Year ODAC Record/Yrs: First Year Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 9 - Ryan Turner   Goals: 3 - Ryan Turner   Assists: 3 - Ryan Turner   Saves: None		2017 Poll Position: 4th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-6-4/4-2-3 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Elminated in Quarterfinals (RMC, 3-1) Head Coach: Chris Mills Overall Record/Yrs: 44-21-12 (.649)/4 Record at VWU/Yrs: 44-21-12 (.649)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 25-9-8 (.690)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Ricky Perrault (F)   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 12 - Ricky Perrault   Goals: 5 - Andrew Duenke/Ricky Perrault   Assists: 4 - Bennett Wiley   Saves: None
2017 Poll Position: 2nd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-2-4/7-0-2 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Champion (LC, 2-1) 2016 NCAA Tournament: def. John Carroll (4-2) in 1st Round; eliminated by Kenyon (2-1 OT) in 2nd Round Head Coach: Chris Yeager Overall Record/Yrs: 168-97-35 (.618)/15 Record at LC: 168-97-35 (.618)/15 ODAC Record/Yrs: 82-40-25 (.643)/15 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Fredy Flores (F), Nate Berning (M), Dylan McLaurin (GK)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Ryan Pikunas (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 22 - Fredy Flores   Goals: 8 - Fredy Flores   Assists: 6 - Fredy Flores   Saves: 69 - Dylan McLaurin		2017 Poll Position: 1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-5-2/7-1-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Runner-up (LC, 2-1) 2016 NCAA Tournament: tied St. Lawrence (1-1; adv. 5-3 on PKs) in 1st Round; eliminated by Franklin & Marshall (2-0) in 2nd Round Head Coach: Mike Singleton Overall Record/Yrs: 77-32-10 (.689)/6 Record at W&L/Yrs: 42-14-6 (.726)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 23-5-3 (.790)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Dylan Ritch (F-POY), Oliver Dolberg (D)   Second Team: Will Hamryka (M), Kevin Molnar (M), Gillen Beck (GK)   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 30 - Dylan Ritch   Goals: 12 - Dylan Ritch   Assists: 6 - Kevin Lencioni/Dylan Ritch   Saves: 55 - Gillen Beck