Generals Picked to Win Fifth Straight ODAC Crown

W&L Unanimous Selection, VWC and RMC Fill Out Top Three

SALEM, Va. --- Defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) champion Washington and Lee University earned nine first place votes to secure the top spot in the 2007 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll.

Washington & Lee collected 81 total votes as the Generals go in search of their ninth overall ODAC title, which would tie Roanoke College for the most in conference history.   Virginia Wesleyan College holds the second spot with 70 total nods, and Randolph-Macon College landed in the third slot in the poll with 58 votes.

The Generals, finishing 16-4 last season, lost to the College of New Jersey in the second round of the national tournament.  In order to make a return trip, W&L must replace its top two scorers from last season including the 2006 ODAC Player of the Year, Amanda Strickler, and All-ODAC first team attacker, Kate Lester.  The Generals will look for their scoring to come from first team All-ODAC midfielder Maggie Megear and sophomore standout Kelsi Robinson.  Megear posted 25 goals while Robinson beat the keeper 24 times and dished out 19 assists.

W&L will welcome back a strong defensive unit led by defender Kat Michaels and goalkeeper Sarah Tilbor, both 2006 All-ODAC first teamers.  Michaels caused 28 turnovers and gobbled up 35 groundballs.  Last year's defense only allowed 6.5 goals per game thanks in part to Tilbor's 123 saves between the pipes.  She also had a conference-best 6.71 goals against average.

The Marlins will also return a strong defense behind the 2006 Rookie of the Year, goalkeeper Ashley Sippel. The All-ODAC second team net-minder made 134 saves and an ODAC third-best 10.03 goals against average.  Virginia Wesleyan will also welcome back first team All-ODAC midfielder Jillian Boyd.  Boyd returns not only as the Marlins leading scorer, but her 49 goals also make her the ODAC's top returning offensive threat.

Randolph-Macon will look to improve upon its 6-2 conference mark from last season, but to do that the Yellow Jackets will have to knock off one of the two teams above them in the preseason poll.  Both W&L and VWC got the best of the RMC a season ago.  The Yellow Jackets return their leading scorer in two-time first team All-ODAC selection, Traci Phipps. She notched 45 goals and 10 assists making her one of the highest scoring returnees this season.

Listed below is the entire 2007 ODAC coaches poll. For a more in-depth view into each of the teams, please visit the ODAC on the web at www.odaconline.com

2007 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
(#) Denotes First Place Votes