LC Earns 10 Top Votes, W&L and VWC Pick Up First Place Consideration
FOREST, Va. --- Four-time defending ODAC
champion Lynchburg College secured 10 first place votes towards 141
total points to lead the 2014 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason
Poll. Five squads collected more than 100 tallies, with
Washington and Lee University sitting second with 130 points and
one first place nod. Virginia Wesleyan College picked up a
pair of top considerations to go along with 104 markers.
Roanoke College and Bridgewater College round out the top-five,
having gathered 107 and 103 points, respectively.
The 2013 ODAC title game ended much like the previous three, with
LC hoisting the trophy via a 2-0 victory over Washington and
Lee. The win marked the eighth title in the last 10 years for
the Hornets, and also tied Lynchburg with Randolph-Macon College
atop the conference's all-time record book with 12 league
crowns.
Lynchburg's season continued with its seventh straight trip to the
NCAA Division III Tournament. LC traveled to Atlanta, Ga.,
for first and second round action, meeting up with Centre College
in its opening game. After topping the Colonels, 3-2, the
Hornets squared off with host Emory University in round two.
LC went ahead early with a fifth-minute tally from Jessie Gonzalez,
but two Eagles' goals before the intermission and a scoreless
second half eliminated the Hornets from the tourney, 2-1.
ODAC women's soccer fans will not lack for recognizable names and
star power to support in 2014 as 30 All-ODAC honorees return to
pitches across the conference. Three of those athletes wear
Lynchburg (22-2-0 overall, 12-0-0 ODAC in 2013) colors.
Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Dr. Todd Olsen saw four players
earn All-ODAC First Team accolades last season, and he's got three
back this season. One of those standouts is 2013 ODAC Player
of the Year Dessi Dupuy (23 g, 7 as), who led the ODAC in scoring
and opens the season on the doorstep of the conference's all-time
points and goals scored records. She's tallied 77 career
goals to sit second, while her 173 points are sixth. Forward
Angela Bosco (15 g, 7 ast) and midfielder Jenn Snyder (2 g, 3 ast)
joined Dupuy on the All-ODAC First Team. Forward Morgan
Singer (15 g, 2 ast) and midfielder Jade Woll (6 g, 12 ast) earned
All-ODAC Third Team laurels. Goalkeeper Tess Frelick (20 sv,
0.45 gaa, .800 sv%) is back minding the net, while midfielders
Nicole Kopsidas (6 g, 1 ast) and Kelley Smith (4 g, 5 ast) and
forward Marina Clark (8 g, 4 ast) add further punch to the Hornets'
roster.
Washington and Lee (17-3-1, 11-1-0) played in its first ODAC title
game in 2013 since winning the hardware in 2009, and the Generals
return five all-conference standouts from last season's
squad. The group includes a quartet of first teamers with
midfielder Holley Beasley (8 g, 7 ast) and forward Haley Ward (7 g,
9 ast) leading the offense and goalkeeper Addie Healy (51 sv, 0.48
gaa, .864 sv%) and reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year, defender
Ashley Hogan, spearheading the defense. Midfielder Lauren
Abraham (6 g) collected All-ODAC Second Team honors. Forward
Tricia Jessee (9 g, 1 ast) adds more fuel to a Generals' offense
that returns every player that scored a goal in 2013.
Virginia Wesleyan (12-5-2, 9-3-0) also welcomes back five
all-conference performers, tying W&L for the league lead.
Forward Kaitlyn Clunan (11 g, 2 ast) and midfielder Kerry Knauss (3
g, 1 ast) both earned first team accolades, while forward Jasmine
Dao (3 g, 4 ast), midfielder Kristen Mack (2 g, 2 ast) and defender
Allie Ketzler (1 g, 1 ast) picked up third team honors. The
defense is further bolstered by the return of goalkeeper Megan
Gerhart (53 sv, 0.50 gaa, .841 sv%).
Roanoke (10-6-2, 8-3-1) had a stretch of nine undefeated games in
2013, going 8-0-1 over that stretch before falling in the ODAC
quarterfinals. First team midfielder Nathalie Torres (5 g) is
one of four returning All-ODAC players looking to help the Maroons
advance further in this season's tourney. She's joined by a
pair of second team selections in defender Kaitlyn Manning and
midfielder Ashley Barnes (9 g), as well as third team goalkeeper
Carolyn Sarbacher (62 sv, 0.71 gaa, .849 sv%).
Bridgewater (11-8-1, 7-4-1) features a trio of all-conference
stars on its roster in 2014, including first team defender
Elizabeth Stump. Forward Julia Baca (9 g) and midfielder
Michelle Viegas (5 g, 5 ast) both picked up second team
laurels. The middle of the park is boosted by the return of
Anna Thiesen (3 g, 5 ast), and the defense benefits from defender
Ashley Crossman (2 g, 2 ast).
Shenandoah University (11-8-1, 8-3-1) has made trips to the
conference semifinals in both of its first two seasons in the
ODAC. Three All-ODAC athletes return for a run at the final
game, including second team goalkeeper Erin Septer (76 sv, 1.44
gaa, .768 sv%). Forward Jennifer Nguyen (2 g, 3 ast) and
midfielder Danielle Burris (9 g, 2 ast) both were selected to the
third team. The Hornets' offense has added punch with the
return of forwards Averi Rosena (6 g, 1 ast), Kati Richardson (4 g,
2 ast) and Alysha McCleaf (4 g, 1 ast).
Randolph-Macon (7-11-0, 5-7-0) will be under new leadership in
2014 as Jay Howell takes over as head coach. He's got a pair
of all-conference standouts on his roster, including second team
forward Katherine Schwalen (4 g, 1 ast). Midfielder Jen
LaBarge (3 ast) was a third team choice last season.
Goalkeeper Elizabeth Blanco (106 sv, 1.93 gaa, .774 sv%) leads the
defense, while midfielder Samantha Tyler (4 g, 2 ast) and forward
Samantha Panas (3 g, 3 ast) help out in the offensive third.
Emory & Henry College (4-12-2, 4-6-2) and Eastern Mennonite
University (10-9-0, 5-7-0) share the remaining three all-conference
returners. For the Wasps, forward Erica Merriman (3 g, 3 ast)
and defender Willow Hubbard (1 ast) earned third team
accolades. EMU new head coach Ted Erickson will look to
second team forward Nora Osei (14 g, 3 ast) to lead his
attack. Goalkeeper Becca Borg (99 sv, 2.40 gaa, .712 sv%) and
midfielders Morgan Hill (2 g, 9 ast) and Elisa Ott (4 g, 2 ast) are
also back.
Guilford College (1-18-0, 1-11-0) and Randolph College (4-14-0,
1-11-0) welcome back strong contributors as they look to improve
upon last season. The Quakers feature forward Kelli Uresti (5
g, 3 ast) and midfielder Cassie Vaughn (1 g), as well as defenders
Natalia Petkov and Becca Valchar. The WildCats feature
leading scorer Brittany Hammons (10 g, 1 ast), as well as
midfield-mate Amy Ramos (1 g, 5 ast). Goalkeeper Caitlin
Annunziata (84 sv, 4.05 gaa, .618 sv%) return to lead the
defense.
Hollins University (4-12-1, 3-8-1) and Sweet Briar College
(3-11-1, 1-11-0) look to climb the ODAC ladder. New head
coach Robin Ramirez guides HU as he looks to add new players to
returning goalkeeper Megan McKee (129 sv, 3.45 gaa, .737 sv%) and
defender Bonnie Jo Blevins. The Vixens look to forward Emily
Welch (3 g, 4 ast) and defender Kayla Kishbaugh (2 g, 1 ast), as
well as goalkeeper Katie Tillson (107 sv, 4.91 gaa, .645 sv%).
The 2014 season begins on August 29 with non-conference
competition. For more information, visit any of the
participating schools’ websites 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.
2014 ODAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Lynchburg (10) | 141 pts. |
2. Washington and Lee (1) | 130 pts. |
3. Virginia Wesleyan (2) | 124 pts. |
4. Roanoke | 107 pts. |
5. Bridgewater | 103 pts. |
6. Shenandoah | 91 pts. |
7. Randolph-Macon | 78 pts. |
8. Emory & Henry | 63 pts. |
9. Eastern Mennonite | 49 pts. |
10. Guilford | 47 pts. |
11. Randolph | 39 pts. |
12. Hollins | 21 pts. |
12. Sweet Briar | 21 pts. |