LC Receives 11 First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Six-time defending ODAC champion Lynchburg College opens the 2016 season in a familiar position as the Hornets headline the ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.  LC picked up 11 first place votes on the way to 142 total points, making it one of a record six programs to crack the 100-point plateau.  Washington and Lee sits second with 131 points and one top nod.

The next four positions are separated by just seven points with Shenandoah University chiming in third at 108 tallies. Virginia Wesleyan College (106) is just one notch clear of Bridgewater College (105), with the Eagles receiving the remaining first place vote. Roanoke College, the 2015 conference runner-up, caps the century club with 101 points.

Coming off a national title in 2014, Lynchburg continued its strong play in 2015 despite seeing a long streak come to an end. A 1-1 tie with Shenandoah in mid-October snapped a string of 39 straight regular season ODAC victories, a run that dated back to the 2012 campaign.  LC returned to its winning ways in the subsequent four games leading up to an ODAC title matchup with Roanoke.  RC and LC played to a 1-1 draw thru 110 minutes of action, leaving the game result and conference hardware up to a penalty shootout. Lynchburg came out ahead from the spot, 5-3, to lock up its ODAC-record 14th women's soccer crown.

Lynchburg continued its season in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament, but its stay proved shorter than desired. Following a 1-0 opening round victory over Babson College, the Hornets were eliminated from the national field via the same scoreline by host Rowan University in round two.

The 2016 season kicks off with plenty of talent returning to fields across the conference as 25 All-ODAC honorees from 2015 dot league rosters.  Nine of those athletes earned All-ODAC First Team laurels last year, including reigning ODAC Player of the Year Emily Maxwell from Lynchburg.  She's joined by fellow LC defender Natalie Deacon and forward Hannah Olds. Shenandoah and Washington and Lee both feature a pair of first team returners. Centerback Michelle Krause and goalkeeper Erin Septer spearhead SU's defensive third, while forward Tricia Jessee and fullback Ashley Hogan boost both ends of the pitch for the Generals.  Bridgewater features goal-scorer Keri Rager, while Virginia Wesleyan welcomes back midfielder Zoe Traficante.

The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Tuesday, September 1.  The first ODAC game is slated for September 17 as Emory & Henry College welcomes Sweet Briar College back to the ODAC following a one year hiatus from full-time conference competition.   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 2016 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's soccer programs.  For more information on ODAC women'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.

2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-8-1/6-4-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Lost in Quarterfinals (VWC, 2-1) Head Coach: Mike Van Horn Overall Record/Yrs: 89-58-8 (.589)/8 Record at BC/Yrs: 89-58-8 (.589)/8 ODAC Record/Yrs: 58-30-3 (.654)/8 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Keri Rager (F)   Second Team: None (of two)   Third Team: Sarah Brennan (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 30 - Keri Rager   Goals: 14 - Keri Rager   Assists: 8 - Isabella Krider   Saves: 64 - Hayley Talbot		2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-9/5-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7/Lost in Quarterfinals (SU, 1-0) Head Coach: Jay Howell Overall Record/Yrs: 17-17-1 (.500)/2 Record at RMC/Yrs: 17-17-1 (.500)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 11-12-0 (.478)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Caroline Hollandsworth (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 7 - Jenna Burns   Goals: 3 - Jenna Burns   Assists: 1 - TaylorAnne Barry/Jenna Burns/Olivia Maust   Saves: 4 - Lindsay Zachman
2016 Poll Position: 11th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 2-15-1/1-9-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Ted Erickson Overall Record/Yrs: 8-27-2 (.243)/2 Record at EMU/Yrs: 8-27-2 (.243)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 5-17-1 (.239)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 12 - Amanda Williams   Goals: 5 - Amanda Williams   Assists: 4 - Emma Petersheim   Saves: 10 - Briana Stanard		2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-7-3/6-5-0 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Finals (LC, 1-1, 5-3 on PKs) Head Coach: Phil Benne Overall Record/Yrs: 309-178-40 (.624)/27 Record at RC/Yrs: 309-178-40 (.624)/27 ODAC Record/Yrs: 184-69-17 (.713)/27 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: NOne   Second Team: Laura Sullivan (D)   Third Team: Linnea Kremer (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 12 - Linnea Kremer   Goals: 4 - Linnea Kremer   Assists: 4 - Linnea Kremer   Saves: 4 - Caroline Liebel/Sydney Sherman
2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-12-3/1-8-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Linda Schirmeister-Gess Overall Record/Yrs: 17-48-5 (.279)/4 Record at E&H/Yrs: 17-48-5 (.279)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 13-30-4 (.319)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 9 - Christina Ameen/Gillian Hogg/Samantha Sampson   Goals: 4 - Gillian Hogg   Assists: 3 - Christina Ameen/Lauren Fleming/Samantha Sampson   Saves: 82 - Kayla Wright		2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-7-1/9-1-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Lost in Semifinals (RC, 1-0) Head Coach: Liz Pike Overall Record/Yrs: 91-79-15 (.532)/9 Record at SU/Yrs: 91-79-15 (.532)/9 ODAC Record/Yrs: 30-13-4 (.681)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Michelle Krause (D), Erin Septer (GK)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Elizabeth Bellido (M), Jennifer Nguyen (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 16 - Rebecca Collimore   Goals: 6 - Rebecca Collimore   Assists: 6 - Alysha McCleaf   Saves: 83 - Erin Septer
2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-10-1/4-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Michael Shenigo Overall Record/Yrs: 10-44-2 (.196)/3 Record at GC/Yrs: 10-44-2 (.196)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 7-28-0 (.200)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 12 - Juliana Evans-Anfom   Goals: 4 - Juliana Evans-Anfom   Assists: 4 - Juliana Evans-Anfom   Saves: 39 - Maggie Albert		2016 Poll Position: 12th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-8 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in the ODAC Head Coach: Amy Dahlin Overall Record/Yrs: 0-8-0 (.000)/1 Record at SU/Yrs: 0-8-0 (.000)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: First ODAC Season Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: N/A   Second Team: N/A   Third Team: N/A Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 3 - Des'rae Davis   Goals: 1 - Jona Cumani/Des'rae Davis/Alicia Wooten   Assists: 1 - Des'rae Davis   Saves: 2 - Caroline Thomas
2016 Poll Position: 13th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-17/0-11 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Robin Ramirez Overall Record/Yrs: 11-74-1 (.134)/4 Record at HU/Yrs: 0-33-0 (.000)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-23-0 (.000)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 2 - Ciera Morris   Goals: 1 - Ciera Morris   Assists: 1 - MacKenzie Roberts   Saves: 175 - Audrey Haisley		2016 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-10/8-3 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Lost in Semifinals (LC, 4-0) Head Coach: Jeff Bowers Overall Record/Yrs: 237-73-32 (.740)/16 Record at VWC/Yrs: 237-73-32 (.740)/16 ODAC Record/Yrs: 145-23-12 (.839)/16 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Zoe Traficante (M)   Second Team: Ann Marie Moffett (D)   Third Team: Julia Downing (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 6 - Annie Hartman/Katie Roberts/Madison Sanders/Zoe Traficante   Goals: 3 - Katie Roberts/Madison Sanders   Assists: 2 - Catherine Galway/Annie Hartman/Abigail Nickle/Zoe Traficante/Brittany Wentzel   Saves: 36 - Megan Gerhart
2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 20-3-2/10-0-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Champion (W&L, 1-1, 5-3 on PKs) 2015 NCAA Tournament: Lost in 2nd Round (def. Babson, 1-0; lost to Rowan, 1-0) Head Coach: Dr. Todd Olsen Overall Record/Yrs: 384-85-44 (.791)/22 Record at LC/Yrs: 384-85-44 (.791)/22 ODAC Record/Yrs: 191-25-16 (.858)/22 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Natalie Deacon (D), Hannah Olds (F), Emily Maxwell (D - POY)   Second Team: Camille Bartley (M), Tess Frelick (GK)   Third Team: Kelley Smith (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 35 - Hannah Olds   Goals: 14 - Hannah Olds   Assists: 7 - Hannah Olds   Saves: 40 - Tess Frelick		2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-3-1/9-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (RC, 1-1, 5-3 on PKs) Head Coach: Neil Cunningham Overall Record/Yrs: 277-78-31 (.758)/21 Record at W&L/Yrs: 215-48-27 (.788)/15 ODAC Record/Yrs: 134-20-14 (.839) /15 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Ashley Hogan (D), Tricia Jessee (F)   Second Team: Caroline Peters (F), Katie Pettit (M), Danielle Spickard (M - ROY), Hollis Tardy (D)   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 26 - Caroline Peters   Goals: 11 - Caroline Peters   Assists: 7 - Tricia Jessee   Saves: 3 - Maggie Nolan
2016 Poll Position: 10th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-12-1/4-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8/Lost in Quarterfinals (LC, 10-0) Head Coach: Kevin Porterfield Overall Record/Yrs: 77-161-6 (.328)/14 Record at RAND/Yrs: 77-161-6 (.328)/14 ODAC Record/Yrs: 32-122-3 (.213)/14 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 13 - Sam Hablas   Goals: 6 - Sam Hablas   Assists: 3 - Meghan Curtin   Saves: 119 - Stephanie Quirk