Three Squads Earn First Place Votes
FOREST, Va. --- A familiar squad returns to the top of the ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll as defending champion University of Lynchburg earned #1 billing in the annual survey of the league's head coaches. The Hornets garnered 163 points powered by seven first place votes, while Virginia Wesleyan University trails closely behind with 155 tallies including five top nods. Washington and Lee University takes up third with 140 markers, while Bridgewater College picked up the remaining two first place votes on the way to 137 points to rank fourth.
ODAC fans were treated to a banner ODAC Tournament in 2017 with five of the seven games coming down to one deciding goal. That included both semifinals and the championship, which were competed at top-seed Virginia Wesleyan. The host Marlins were defeated by Bridgewater, 2-1, in one semifinal outing, while Lynchburg got the best of Roanoke College by the same score in the other semifinal.
It took overtime to decide a champion the following day with Caitlin Mertens' 100th-minute strike propelling Lynchburg past Bridgewater, 1-0. The victory marked a conference-best 15th overall crown for Lynchburg, its seventh in the past eight seasons.
Lynchburg was joined by at-large choice Virginia Wesleyan in the NCAA Tournament field. Both experienced early success. VWU took down Tufts University, 3-2, in the first round before falling to host TCNJ, 3-0, in round two. The Hornets advanced one game further, defeating McDaniel College, 1-0, and host Christopher Newport University, 2-1, in round two before they too were eliminated by TCNJ, 5-0, in the sectional round.
RELATED: 2017 ODAC Tournament Results | 2017 NCAA Tournament Results
For the third time in as many seasons, a large majority of the 2017 All-ODAC honorees return for another campaign in 2018. Twenty-seven award winners return to league rosters, including seven from the All-ODAC First Team.
Lynchburg and Virginia Wesleyan feature a pair of first team athletes each. Lynchburg welcomes back two-time first team forward Caitlin Mertens as well as midfield ball-winner Kara Rombough. The Marlins, which boast a conference-high six all-conference returners, look to defender Brooke Adamchak and 2017 ODAC Rookie of the Year, forward Anna Pedicone.
Bridgewater, Roanoke College, and Shenandoah University return one first team selection apiece. Midfielder Isabella Krider heads up a list of four all-conference Eagles, while goalkeeper Chris Martin is one of three All-ODAC Maroons back in Salem. Shenandoah also returns three honorees, including three-time first team forward Emily Yergin.
RELATED: 2017 All-ODAC Awards
New to the ODAC women's soccer ranks in 2018 is the addition of Ferrum College as the 14th member to sponsor the sport. Fifth-year head coach James Lofton brings a competitive squad to the conference, led by 2017 leading scorer Payton Stuart and All-USA South midfielder Alex Mattson.
The 2018 schedule begins with non-conference play on Friday, August 31. A full slate of the opening conference games is set for Saturday, September 22. The regular season closes on Saturday, October 27 with tournament playing opening for nine squads on Monday, October 29. The quarterfinals will be contested Wednesday, October 31 with the highest remaining seed hosting the semifinals and championship on Saturday-Sunday, November 3-4.
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 2018 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's soccer programs and a preseason interview with Coach Olsen from ODAC #1 Lynchburg. 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.
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2018 Poll Position: 4th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-5-1/7-3-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Runner-up (LYN, 1-0 OT) Head Coach: Mike Van Horn Overall Record/Yrs: 118-68-10 (.628)/10 Record at BC/Yrs: 118-68-10 (.628)/10 ODAC Record/Yrs: 71-36-4 (.658)/10 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Isabella Krider (M) Second Team: None Third Team: Catherine Haufe (M), Bailey Kratz (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 20 | Bailey Kratz Goals: 9 | Bailey Kratz Assists: 4 | Bridget Fabiani/Janidy Madera Saves: 2 | Alyssa Pearson |
2018 Poll Position: 9th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-9-2/5-5-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (VWU, 5-0) Head Coach: Ted Erickson Overall Record/Yrs: 23-46-5 (.345)/4 Record at EMU/Yrs: 23-46-5 (.345)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 14-28-1 (.337)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Rachel Sauder (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 14 | Rachel Sauder Goals: 6 | Laura Rittenhouse Assists: 6 | Rachel Sauder Saves: 86 | Leah Wenger |
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2018 Poll Position: T-10th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-12-1/3-6-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: McCallie Winstead Overall Record/Yrs: 4-12-1 (.265)/1 Record at E&H/Yrs: 4-12-1 (.265)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: 3-6-1 (.350)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 7 | Kelci Horner Goals: 2 | Graysen Barrs/Kelci Horner/Ashley Love/Brittany Singleton Assists: 3 | Gillian Hogg/Kelci Horner Saves: 40 | Kieran Liseski |
2018 Poll Position: 8th 2017 Records - Overall/USAS: 8-9-0/3-4-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: East #5/Eliminated in 1st round (Methodist, 1-0) Head Coach: James Lofton Overall Record/Yrs: 37-35-2 (.514)/4 Record at FC/Yrs: 37-35-2 (.514)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: First Year Returning All-USAS Players First Team: Alex Mattson (M) Second Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 10 | Payton Stuart Goals: 5 | Payton Stuart Assists: 2 | Frances Best/Alexis McCargo Saves: 87 | Taylor Dodson |
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2018 Poll Position: T-10th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-9-1/3-6-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Stephanie Webb Overall Record/Yrs: 6-9-1 (.406)/1 Record at GC/Yrs: 6-9-1 (.406)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: 3-6-1 (.350)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 14 | Lauren Culler Goals: 4 | Lauren Culler Assists: 6 | Lauren Culler Saves: 27 | Morgan Malikowski |
2018 Poll Position: 13th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 1-14-0/1-9-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Robin Ramirez Overall Record/Yrs: 14-105-1 (.121)/7 Record at HU/Yrs: 3-64-0 (.045)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 1-42-0 (.023)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 9 | Mallory Jengo Goals: 4 - Mallory Jengo Assists: 2 | Ciera Morris/Miranda Springston Saves: 224 | Kendra Rich |
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2018 Poll Position: 1st 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 20-4-0/8-2-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Champion (BC, 1-0 OT) 2017 NCAA Tournament: def. McDaniel (1-0 OT) in 1st Round; def. CNU (2-1) in 2nd Round; eliminated by TCNJ (5-0) in sectionals Head Coach: Dr. Todd Olsen Overall Record/Yrs: 419-92-46 (.794)/24 Record at LYN/Yrs: 419-92-46 (.794)/24 ODAC Record/Yrs: 206-28-18 (.853)/24 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Caitlin Mertens (F), Kara Rombough (DM) Second Team: Rachel Cooke (M), Kennedy Jakubek (F) Third Team: Georgie Duggan (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 31 | Caitlin Mertens Goals: 14 | Caitlin Mertens Assists: 7 | Kennedy Jakubek Saves: 48 | Delia LoSapio |
2018 Poll Position: 12th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-10-2/2-7-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Kevin Porterfield Overall Record/Yrs: 87-182-9 (.329)/16 Record at RAND/Yrs: 87-182-9 (.329)/16 ODAC Record/Yrs: 38-135-4 (.226)/16 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 5 | Marle King Goals: 2 | Marle King/Michaela Salerno Assists: 1 | Sam Hablas/Grace Jennings/Marle King/Hannah Overstreet Saves: None |
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2018 Poll Position: 6th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-7-1/6-4-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (RC, 2-0) Head Coach: Jay Howell Overall Record/Yrs: 33-32-5 (.507)/4 Record at RMC/Yrs: 33-32-5 (.507)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 22-20-1 (.523)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Casey Kent (M), Lexi Mallory (D) Third Team: Mary Virginia Kelley (D), Meghan Skevington (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 16 | Meghan Skevington Goals: 7 | Meghan Skevington Assists: 8 | Casey Kent Saves: 58 | Christina Newman |
2018 Poll Position: 5th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-7-2/7-2-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Semifinals (LYN, 2-1) Head Coach: Phil Benne Overall Record/Yrs: 329-191-46 (.622)/29 Record at RC/Yrs: 329-191-46 (.622)/29 ODAC Record/Yrs: 198-74-18 (.714)/29 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Chris Martin (GK) Second Team: None Third Team: Lucy Perry (M), Ellie Schad (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 11 | Ellie Schad Goals: 4 | Kathryn Van Orden Assists: 5 | Ellie Schad Saves: 70 | Chris Martin |
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2018 Poll Position: 7th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-9-0/5-5-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (LYN, 3-2) Head Coach: Liz Pike Overall Record/Yrs: 114-95-16 (.542)/11 Record at SU/Yrs: 114-95-16 (.542)/11 ODAC Record/Yrs: 42-21-4 (.657)/6 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Emily Yergin (F) Second Team: None Third Team: Rebecca Collimore (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 25 | Emily Yergin Goals: 11 | Emily Yergin Assists: 14 | Rebecca Collimore Saves: None |
2018 Poll Position: 14th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 1-14-0/0-10-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in the ODAC Head Coach: Jason Capps Overall Record/Yrs: First season Record at SBC/Yrs: First season ODAC Record/Yrs: First season Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 2 | Caylin Newman Goals: 1 | Caylin Newman Assists: None Saves: 104 | Sam Holton |
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2018 Poll Position: 2nd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-7-1/9-1-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Eliminated in semifinals (BC, 2-1) 2017 NCAA Tournament: def. Tufts (3-2) in 1st round; eliminated by TCNJ (3-0) in 2nd round Head Coach: Jeff Bowers Overall Record/Yrs: 264-86-36 (.731)/18 Record at VWU/Yrs: 264-86-36 (.731)/18 ODAC Record/Yrs: 161-24-15 (.843)/18 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Brooke Adamchak (D), Anna Pedicone (F-ROY) Second Team: Alex Davidson (F), Shae Geary (D), Ryan McCurry (M) Third Team: Alicia Zamora (GK) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 31 | Alex Davidson Goals: 12 | Alex Davidson Assists: 7 | Alex Davidson Saves: 58 | Alicia Zamora |
2018 Poll Position: 3rd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-6-1/7-3-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (BC, 2-1) Head Coach: Neil Cunningham Overall Record/Yrs: 302-88-33 (.753)/23 Record at W&L/Yrs: 240-58-29 (.778)/17 ODAC Record/Yrs: 149-24-15 (.832) /17 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Caroline Coppinger (M), Megan Engeland (F), Emily Roche (D) Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 24 | Megan Engeland Goals: 12 | Megan Engeland Assists: 5 | Emily Roche Saves: 41 | Leeann Passaro |