LYNCHBURG, Va. ---If you're wondering, Enza Steele has the answer: Winning never gets old.
"No way!" University of Lynchburg's hall-of-fame field hockey coach said Saturday after her program's 20th Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship -- and she has been at the helm for all of them -- a 2-0 win over Shenandoah on Shellenberger Field.
"Did you see me on the sideline?" Steele continued. "I'm still jumping up and down and clapping the whole time."
She had plenty of reason to clap and cheer. Along with stellar defense, No. 18-ranked Lynchburg (18-3) got goals from juniors Maggie Chiappazzi and Jackie Lerro, scoring once in each half.
In the second quarter, Chiappazzi scored her third goal of the ODAC tournament after sophomore Kaylie Truitt played a long ball into the middle of the Shendandoah circle, and sophomore Brittany Claybaugh deflected it to Chiappazzi, standing at the far post, to put Lynchburg up, 1-0.
The game remained 1-0 through halftime, but the Lynchburg offense continued to pressure the Shenandoah defense as it out-shot SU, 16-4. Lynchburg's defense stayed strong as well, as junior goalkeeper Laurel Nicks manned the cage in her sixth shutout of the season and the team's eighth.
Late in the fourth quarter, Lerro found the back of the Shenandoah cage after recovering her own rebounded shot to seal the win and capture Lynchburg's second ODAC championship in a row.
The championship win was Lynchburg's 13th victory in a row, a streak dating back to September 29.
Lynchburg's 2019 championship win is the program's 20th Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship, the most of any ODAC school. The program's all-time record in ODAC championship games is 20-9.
The Hornets will carry the ODAC's automatic bid into the upcoming NCAA Division III tournament, looking to build on last year's success that took them to the Round of 16. Steele believes this group has a deep November run in it as well.
"These girls finally believe in how good they really are," Steele said, "and they're trusting us and executing the things we do in practice. They can blow people away."
Lynchburg will learn its NCAA tournament draw Sunday evening, Nov. 10 at approximately 10:30 p.m., when the Division III bracket is released on NCAA.com. The tournament's first round games are set for Wednesday, Nov. 13.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Alexis Brown, Lynchburg
Jackie Lerro, Lynchburg
Laurel Nicks, Lynchburg
Kessa Romero, Lynchburg
Taylor Hayes, Shenandoah
Kelsey Jones, Shenandoah
Colleen Schneider, Shenandoah
Kendall Gamble, Roanoke
Emilee Wooten, Roanoke
Sara Amil, Washington and Lee
Tess Muneses, Washington and Lee
--- This release is courtesy of the University of Lynchburg sports information department. ---
www.lynchburgsports.com