Washington and Lee Favored in ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

R-MC with Four First Place Votes, Tight for Second

FOREST, Va. --- Six-time defending ODAC champion Washington and Lee University is favored to lift its 17th overall conference trophy after collecting 78 total points and six first place votes to lead a tightly segmented ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll.  Trailing by just two points in second is 2015 runner-up Randolph-Macon College, which also garnered the remaining four top considerations. With 58 tallies, Roanoke College is just one point clear of Lynchburg College for third place in the annual head coaches survey.

W&L's road to the ODAC title included a 10-0 march thru its league slate, but also required a pair of one-goal victories in the ODAC Tournament.  After earning a bye thru the quarterfinals as the top seed, the Generals needed an overtime goal from Sammy Yates to move past Lynchburg, 7-6, in the semifinals.  The conference championship game provided much the same drama with Washington and Lee and Randolph-Macon locked 3-3 at the half.  But the Generals had scored the first two goals of a five-goal string that spanned the intermission and provided the cushion needed to withstand a late three-goal run by the Yellow Jackets on the way to an 8-7 victory.

Washington and Lee, which climbed to 10th in the country in IWLCA coaches poll, continued its season with an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.  Following a bye thru the first round, the Generals took down Sewanee, 18-4, at home in the second round.  W&L traveled to Lancaster, Pa., and the campus of Franklin & Marshall College for regional play where it squared off with Fredonia State.  The 17th-ranked Blue Devils eliminated the Generals via a 9-5 decision.

Teams will certainly not be short on talent in 2016, with 23-of-39 All-ODAC honorees set to return to conference fields.  That list includes eight from the All-ODAC First Team with six wearing Lynchurg, Randolph-Macon or Washington and Lee colors. Attacker and ODAC points leader (78) Caroline Carozza and defender Grace Finnerty lead LC, while R-MC features midfielder Jenelle Whitman and defender Natalie Schnell. The Generals, which are slotted 14th in the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Top-20 and 16th in the IWLCA Division III Preseason Poll, bring back attackers Melissa Coggins and Lauren Procaccino, who combined for 110 points a season ago.

The remaining two first teamers don Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan College jerseys. The Maroons enjoy the return of attacker Claire Feeney, while reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year and top goal-scorer (72), Megan Schallock, takes up her position in the Marlins midfield.

The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Sunday, February 14.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Thursday, March 17.   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 2016 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's lacrosse programs.  For more information on ODAC women'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.

2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-9/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Danielle Hawkins Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Claire Palermo-Re (A), Rachel Gruber (GK)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 53 (10) -- Claire Palermo-Re   Goals: 26 -- Jenna Devilbiss   Assists: 34 (3) -- Claire Palermo-Re   Ground Balls: 24 -- Kayla O'Sullivan   Draw Controls: 33 -- Jenna Devilbiss   Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Jenna Devilbiss   Saves: 144 (4) -- Rachel Gruber   Save Pct.: .533 (1) -- Rachel Gruber   Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.78 (2) -- Rachel Gruber		2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 14-4/9-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/Eliminated in Finals Head Coach: MK Geratowski Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Jenelle Whitman (M), Natalie Schnell (D)   Second Team: Alex Lightfoot (A), Alicia Hsieh (M)   Third Team: Susie Snee (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 68 (4) -- Alicia Hsieh   Goals: 56 (2) -- Alicia Hsieh   Assists: 19 (5) -- Alex Lightfoot   Ground Balls: 40 -- Jenelle Whitman   Draw Controls: 107 (2) -- Jenelle Whitman   Caused Turnovers: 33 (5) -- Jenelle Whitman   Saves: 108 (7) -- Allie Walker   Save Pct.: .443 (8) -- Allie Walker   Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.00 (6) -- Allie Walker
2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-8/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Sarah Lamphier Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Demming Carlow (A) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 41 -- Demming Carlow   Goals: 36 (9) -- Demming Carlow   Assists: 5 -- Marina Bailey/Taylor Campellone/Demming Carlow   Ground Balls: 39 -- Marina Bailey   Draw Controls: 27 -- Marina Bailey   Caused Turnovers: 24 -- Carter MacLeod   Saves: 87 (9) -- Sammi Milbourn   Save Pct.: .475 (5) -- Sammi Milbourn   Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.57 (7) -- Sammi Milbourn		2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-5/7-3 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Mary Schwartz Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Claire Feeney (A)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Meredith Bigelow (A) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 50 -- Claire Feeney   Goals: 36 (9) -- Claire Feeney   Assists: 14 (10) -- Claire Feeney   Ground Balls: 20 -- Nicole Zelnik   Draw Controls: 33 -- Meredith Bigelow   Caused Turnovers: 9 -- Meredith Bigelow   Saves: None   Save Pct.: None   Goals-Against-Avg.: None
2016 Poll Position: 10th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-13/0-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Danielle O'Leary Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: None   Goals: None   Assists: None   Ground Balls: 41 -- Emily Lowther   Draw Controls: 2 -- Allie Tambornini   Caused Turnovers: 10 -- Allie Tamborini   Saves: 127 (6) -- Emily Lowther   Save Pct.: .367 (10) -- Emily Lowther   Goals-Against-Avg.: 18.32 -- Emily Lowther		2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-5/8-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Lindsey Lutz Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Miranda Rudacille (A)   Third Team: Rache Levy (GK) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 45 -- Miranda Rudacille   Goals: 32 -- Miranda Rudacille   Assists: 13 -- Miranda Rudacille   Ground Balls: 48 (5) -- Annie McCorry   Draw Controls: 43 -- Annie McCorry   Caused Turnovers: 27 -- Annie McCorry   Saves: 137 (5) -- Rachel Levy   Save Pct.: .489 (3) -- Rachel Levy   Goals-Against-Avg.: 8.31 (3) -- Rachel Levy
2016 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-8/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Bruce Reid Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Caroline Carozza (A), Grace Finnerty (D)   Second Team: Kat Francis (M)   Third Team: Alexa Carey (A), Helen Boniface (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 78 (1) -- Caroline Carozza   Goals: 44 (6) -- Kat Francis   Assists: 39 (1) -- Caroline Carozza   Ground Balls: 35 -- Grace Finnerty   Draw Controls: 54 (9) -- Dorrie MacGregor   Caused Turnovers: 16 -- Grace Finnerty   Saves: 5 -- Chelsea Shultis   Save Pct.: .500 -- Chelsea Shultis   Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.05 -- Treva Tyson		2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-9/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Meagan DiCave Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Megan Schallock (M - ROY)   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 77 (2) -- Megan Schallock   Goals: 72 (1) -- Megan Schallock   Assists: 5 -- Megan Schallock   Ground Balls: 47 (6) -- Megan Schallock   Draw Controls: 104 (3) -- Megan Schallock   Caused Turnovers: 18 -- Megan Schallock   Saves: 175 (2) -- Madison Carroll   Save Pct.: .486 (4) -- Madison Carroll   Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.85 (8) -- Madison Carroll
2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-12/1-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Alexis Waggoner Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 28 -- Taylor Riccardi   Goals: 24 -- Taylor Riccardi   Assists: 4 -- Ashton Ewers/Taylor Riccardi   Ground Balls: 24 -- Taylor Riccardi   Draw Controls: 25 -- Taylor Riccardi   Caused Turnovers: 16 -- Taylor Riccardi   Saves: None   Save Pct.: None   Goals-Against-Avg.: None		2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-3/10-0 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/Champions Head Coach: Brooke O'Brien Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Melissa Coggins (A), Lauren Procaccino (A)   Second Team: Olivia Sisson (M), Caroline Hutchinson (D)   Third Team: Riley Garcia (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 56 (7) -- Melissa Coggins   Goals: 42 (7) -- Lauren Procaccino   Assists: 36 (2) -- Melissa Coggins   Ground Balls: 37 -- Riley Garcia   Draw Controls: 42 -- Hollis Tardy   Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Riley Garcia/Olivia Sisson   Saves: 3 -- Harleigh Bean   Save Pct.: .500 -- Harleigh Bean   Goals-Against-Avg.: 1.86 -- Harleigh Bean