W&L with Seven First Place Votes, LC Gets Remaining Six

FOREST, Va. --- Two squads stand atop the 2017 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll as both Washington and Lee University and Lynchburg College earned 138 points following an annual vote of the league's head coaches. The Generals have a slight edge in the survey after receiving seven first place votes, while the Hornets garnered the remaining six. Virginia Wesleyan University sits third with 120 markers, while Bridgewater College and Shenandoah University each cleared the century mark with 105 and 103 tallies in fourth and fifth position, respectively.

The 2016 season provided two new occurrences for ODAC fans, including a successful application of an unbalanced schedule for the first time in league history. At season's end, the last team standing also proved a relatively fresh face with Washington and Lee securing its fourth overall league crown and first since 2009, ending a six-year title-run by Lynchburg.

The competition for the 2016 conference hardware featured W&L and Virginia Wesleyan in the final game. The Generals punched in two first-half goals inside the first 29 minutes from Tricia Jessee and Megan Engeland. The second goal proved the decider as the Marlins came up short knotting the affair in the second half, securing only a 70-minute tally from Angie Hartman and leaving W&L with a 2-1 championship result.

The Generals, winners of the ODAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, did not enter the field without some conference friends. Both Lynchburg and Virginia Wesleyan joined them as at-large selections, marking the first time since 2011 that the ODAC received multiple entries to the NCAA women's soccer tournament. Lynchburg proved the most successful on the national stage. The Hornets took down Hope College (Mich.), 3-2, in the first round, but fell to Thomas More College (Ky.) in the second round via the tightest of margins, 1-0. W&L and VWU (then VWC) both saw their campaigns close in round one with 3-0 scorelines. The Generals were topped by Hardin-Simmons University (Texas), while the Marlins were defeated by Brandeis University (Mass.).

For the second straight year, a majority of the conference's All-ODAC honorees from a season ago are set to return in 2017 with 24 standouts donning league kits. Bridgewater and Virginia Wesleyan lead the way in overall tally of holdovers with six all-league competitors each back on their rosters. When it comes to All-ODAC First Team selections back for another go, nine are slated to lace 'em up this season.

Lynchburg, Shenandoah, and Washington and Lee account for two first team selections each. LC welcomes back forward Caitlin Mertens and 2015 ODAC Player of the Year, centerback Emily Maxwell. SU showcases last year's ODAC top scorer and Rookie of the Year, Emily Yergin (50 pts., 21 goals), as well as centerback Michelle Krause. W&L and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Neil Cunningham will look to 2016 ODAC Player of the Year, midfielder Megan Engeland, and forward Caroline Peters to lead the charge for the preseason nationally 24th-ranked Generals. Bridgewater forward Keri Rager is set for her senior season as an Eagle, while Roanoke College returns center midfielder Emily Whitaker. Virginia Wesleyan features the remaining first team honoree with Zoe Traficante patrolling the middle of the park.

The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on Friday, September 1.  The first ODAC game is slated for September 16. The regular season closes on Sunday, October 29 with tournament playing opening for eight squads in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, November 1. The highest remaining seed will host the semifinals and championship 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 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.

2017 Poll Position: 4th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-5-1/6-3-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (LC, 2-0) Head Coach: Mike Van Horn Overall Record/Yrs: 102-63-9 (.612)/9 Record at BC/Yrs: 102-63-9 (.612)/9 ODAC Record/Yrs: 64-33-4 (.653)/9 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Keri Rager (F)   Second Team: Isabella Krider (M), Sydney Ryan (D)   Third Team: Bailey Kratz (F), Katherine Wight (M), Sarah Brennan (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 22 - Keri Rager   Goals: 9 - Keri Rager   Assists: 11 - Isabella Krider   Saves: 53 - Hayley Talbot		2017 Poll Position: 7th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-8-3/5-4-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (VWU, 3-0) Head Coach: Jay Howell Overall Record/Yrs: 24-25-4 (.491)/3 Record at RMC/Yrs: 24-25-4 (.491)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 16-16-1 (.500)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Gabby Nelson (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 13 - Gabby Nelson   Goals: 6 - Gabby Nelson   Assists: 2 - Jenna Burns/Courtney Taylor   Saves: 45 - Christina Newman
2017 Poll Position: 8th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-10-1/4-6-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8/Eliminated in 1st Round (RAND, 1-0) Head Coach: Ted Erickson Overall Record/Yrs: 16-37-3 (.313)/3 Record at EMU/Yrs: 16-37-3 (.313)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 9-23-1 (.288)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Laura Rittenhouse (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 20 - Laura Rittenhouse   Goals: 10 - Laura Rittenhouse   Assists: 4 - Amanda Williams   Saves: 65 - Leah Wenger		2017 Poll Position: 6th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-6-4/7-3-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (SU, 1-1, 4-2 on PKs) Head Coach: Phil Benne Overall Record/Yrs: 318-184-44 (.623)/28 Record at RC/Yrs: 318-184-44 (.623)/28 ODAC Record/Yrs: 191-72-17 (.713)/28 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Emily Whitacker (M)   Second Team: Laura Sullivan (D)   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 15 - Emily Whitaker   Goals: 5 - Jillian Barnard/Emily Whitaker   Assists: 7 - Megan Ryan   Saves: 74 - Chris Martin
2017 Poll Position: 11th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-13-1/1-8-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: McCallie Jones-Winstead Overall Record/Yrs: First Year Record at E&H/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: 8 - Gillian Hogg   Goals: 4 - Gillian Hogg   Assists: 3 - Lexi DeMers   Saves: 69 - Kayla Wright		2017 Poll Position: 5th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-7-1/7-3-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Eliminated in Semifinals (W&L, 5-2) Head Coach: Liz Pike Overall Record/Yrs: 104-86-16 (.547)/10 Record at SU/Yrs: 104-86-16 (.547)/10 ODAC Record/Yrs: 37-16-4 (.684)/5 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Michelle Krause (D), Emily Yergin (F-ROY)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Sara Fuller (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 50 - Emily Yergin   Goals: 21 - Emily Yergin   Assists: 8 - Emily Yergin   Saves: None
2017 Poll Position: 10th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-9-1/3-6-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #10/Eliminated in 1st Round (RMC, 1-0) Head Coach: Stephanie Webb Overall Record/Yrs: First Year Record at GC/Yrs: First Year ODAC Record/Yrs: First Year Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Juliana Evans-Anfom (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 17 - Juliana Evans-Anfom   Goals: 7 - Juliana Evans-Anfom   Assists: 3 - Juliana Evans-Anfom   Saves: 43 - Cheyenne Grim		2017 Poll Position: 12th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 2-15-0/1-9-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in the ODAC Head Coach: Amy Dahlin Overall Record/Yrs: 2-23-0 (.080)/2 Record at SU/Yrs: 2-23-0 (.080)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 1-9-0 (.100)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 2 - Cassidy Bodkin/Jona Cumani/Elizabeth Phaup   Goals: 1 - Cassidy Bodkin/Jona Cumani/Elizabeth Phaup   Assists: 1 - Alexa Dahlin/Lacey Tucker/Melissa Wert   Saves: 153 - Caroline Thomas
2017 Poll Position: 13th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 2-17-0/0-10-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Robin Ramirez Overall Record/Yrs: 13-91-1 (.129)/6 Record at HU/Yrs: 2-50-0 (.038)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-33-0 (.000)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 2 - Miranda Springston   Goals: 1 - Miranda Springston   Assists: None   Saves: None		2017 Poll Position: 3rd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-6-3/7-0-3 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Runner-up (W&L, 2-1) 2016 NCAA Tournament: Eliminated by Brandeis (3-0) in 1st Round Head Coach: Jeff Bowers Overall Record/Yrs: 249-79-35 (.734)/17 Record at VWC/Yrs: 249-79-35 (.734)/17 ODAC Record/Yrs: 152-23-15 (.839)/17 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Zoe Traficante (M)   Second Team: Marli Hayward (F), Ann Marie Moffett (D), Alexia Vassiliadis (D)   Third Team: Ryan McCurry (M), Taylor Chapman (GK) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 22 - Marli Hayward   Goals: 11 - Marli Hayward   Assists: 7 - Brooke Adamchak   Saves: 66 - Taylor Chapman
2017 Poll Position: T-1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-3-3/7-1-2 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Semifinals (VWU, 1-0) 2016 NCAA Tournament: Def. Hope (3-2) in 1st Round; eliminated by Thomas More (1-0) in 2nd round Head Coach: Dr. Todd Olsen Overall Record/Yrs: 399-88-46 (.792)/23 Record at LC/Yrs: 399-88-46 (.792)/23 ODAC Record/Yrs: 198-26-18 (.855)/23 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Caitlin Mertens (F), Emily Maxwell (D)   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 25 - Caitlin Mertens   Goals: 10 - Caitlin Mertens   Assists: 5 - Madlyn Amos/Sarah Hammock/Caitlin Mertens   Saves: 3 - Caitlin Dorsch/Delia LoSapio		2017 Poll Position: T-1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-4-1/8-1-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Champion (VWU, 2-1) 2016 NCAA Tournament: Eliminated by Hardin-Simmons (3-0) in 1st Round Head Coach: Neil Cunningham Overall Record/Yrs: 292-82-32 (.759)/22 Record at W&L/Yrs: 230-52-28 (.787)/16 ODAC Record/Yrs: 142-21-15 (.840) /16 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Caroline Peters (F), Megan Engeland (M-POY)   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 21 - Megan Engeland   Goals: 10 - Megan Engeland   Assists: 7 - Caroline Peters   Saves: 3 - Leeann Passaro
2017 Poll Position: 9th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-11-1/4-6-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #9/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (W&L, 5-0) Head Coach: Kevin Porterfield Overall Record/Yrs: 83-172-7 (.328)/15 Record at RAND/Yrs: 83-172-7 (.328)/15 ODAC Record/Yrs: 36-128-3 (.225)/15 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 12 - Patricia Garrett   Goals: 5 - Delaney Doyle   Assists: 4 - Patricia Garrett   Saves: 72 - Stephanie Quirk