Eastern Mennonite, Washington and Lee Round Out Top Three

SALEM, Va. --- Lynchburg College stands atop the 2009 ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll as the league's coaches tabbed the Hornets to win their fourth straight ODAC crown.  Lynchburg received six of eight first place votes on the way to 62 total poll points.  Eastern Mennonite University (55 pts.) and Washington and Lee University (50 pts.) round out the top three positions.  Both programs received one first place vote.

Lynchburg (18-6 overall, 6-1 ODAC in 2008) looks to make it four straight ODAC titles, becoming the second squad to achieve such a feat.  EMU won six consecutive conference championships from 1995-2000.  The Hornets have dominated ODAC postseason play since the turn of the century, appearing in eight of nine conference finals including each of the past five.

The Hornets welcome back 2008 ODAC Co-Player of the Year and three-time leading scorer Allie Weir.  The 2009 Longstreth/NFHCA Third Team All-American has already scored 100 goals in her career, leaving her just seven shy of setting a new ODAC record.  Weir is also within reach of the ODAC all-time points record.  She currently sits at 222 points, 40 away from the 10-year old record of 262 points held by EMU's Sherri Allebach.  Weir will have plenty of help throughout the squad thanks to the return of four All-ODAC selections.  Signey Milks and Jenny Weir (13 assists in '08) earned All-ODAC First Team accolades in 2008, while Samantha Marano and Caitlin Gibb (11 assists) were All-ODAC Second Team choices.

Eastern Mennonite (14-5, 6-1) has also participated in each of the past three ODAC finals, falling each time to Lynchburg.  A title this season would mark the first for EMU since 2003 and the program's 12^th overall, tying Lynchburg for the most in the conference.  To aid in that effort, the Royals welcome back ODAC Co-Player of the Year Alyssa Derstine.  She finished second in the league with 57 points (to Weir's 75) on 24 goals and nine assists, those numbers ranking second and third in the conference, respectively.  She'll be joined by a pair of All-ODAC Second Team returnees in Sarah Roth (13 points) and Karissa Sauder (four defensive saves).

Washington and Lee (10-9, 5-2) looks to return to the ODAC finals for the first time since winning the ODAC title in 2005.  WLU placed five players on the All-ODAC first or second team in 2008 with three returning to Lexington this season.  Sallie Armstrong and Emmy Mathews both found their names amongst those on the first team.  Armstrong's 37 points and 17 goals both ranked third in the league.  Also back in the fold for the Generals is '08 second team choice, Grace McGee, who registered a team-best six defensive saves.

The 2009 ODAC Field Hockey Tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Saturday, October 31, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, November 4.  The championship game is set for Saturday, November 7.  All games will be played on the campus of the higher seed in each matchup.

Posted below is the complete 2009 ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools' websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. 

2009 ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll
(#) Denotes first place votes