Generals Collect Six First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University opens the 2016 season as the coaches' favorite to top the ODAC standings as the Generals were selected #1 in the ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Poll.  W&L picked up six first place votes on the way to 62 total points. Lynchburg College collected 56 tallies including one first place vote, while defending conference champion Bridgewater College earned the remaining two top nods towards 48 points to round out the top three.

The 2015 campaign was a year of firsts for both Bridgewater and Washington and Lee.  The Generals catapulted to the ODAC Tournaemnt's top seed on the way to a run to the conference title game in head coach Gina Wills' first season. The Eagles kept W&L from continuing its trend by marking a program benchmark of their own in winning the first ODAC field hockey championship in BC history via a 1-0 triumph over the Generals.

Bridgewater's success continued in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament as the Eagles went on the road to Catholic University and trounced the then 17th-ranked Cardinals, 2-1.  The victory marked the first in the NCAA Tournament for Bridgewater field hockey.  BC's second round opponent was sixth-rated William Smith, which earned a 6-0 result in stopping the Eagles' run.

There is no shortage of talent returning to fields across the conference as 20 All-ODAC honorees from a season ago are back in 2016.  Seven of those standouts earned All-ODAC First Team laurels. Roanoke College features a trio from the top team in attack Shelbi Holloman, defender Kellie Jasinski, and goalkeeper Heather Schauder.  Washington and Lee welcomes back midfielder Kendall Peterson and attack Maggie Waxter.  Lynchburg and Eastern Menonite University each feature one first team returner. Defender Emily Augsburger provides a boost to the Royals back line, while ODAC Player and Rookie of the Year, Nikki Simpao, looks forward to a successful encore season following a stellar first year in the Hill City.

The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Thursday, September 1.  The first ODAC match will also be played that day as Bridgewater meets Sweet Briar College.  The Vixens make their full-time return to the conference ranks in that contest following a one-season hiatus.   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 Field Hockey Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC field hockey programs.  For more information on ODAC field hockey, 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: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-9/5-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/ODAC champion (W&L, 1-0) 2015 NCAA Tournament: 1-1 -- def. Catholic, 1-0; lost to William Smith, 6-0 Head Coach: Allyson Kenyon Overall Record/Yrs: 119-123 (.492)/13 Record at BC/Yrs: 119-123 (.492)/13 ODAC Record/Yrs: 51-50 (.505)/13 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None (of two)   Second Team: None (of one)   Third Team: Elizabeth Washington (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 15 - Elizabeth Washington   Goals: 5 - Elizabeth Washington   Assists: 5 - Elizabeth Washington   Defensive Saves: 1 - Laura Gretz   Saves: 38 - Marisa Sims		2016 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-7/5-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Lost in Semifinals (W&L, 3-2) Head Coach: Ashley Smeltzer-Kraft Overall Record/Yrs: 33-24(.578)/3 Record at SU/Yrs: 33-24(.578)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 17-6 (.739)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None (of two)   Second Team: None (of one)   Third Team: Elizabeth Pardo (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 23 - Elizabeth Pardo   Goals: 11 - Elizabeth Pardo   Assists: 3 - Kayla Alderman   Defensive Saves: 2 - Alexa Lapp   Saves: 73 - Jessica Brown
2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-14.0-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: E.A. Jackson Overall Record/Yrs: 3-14 (.176)/1 Record at EMU/Yrs: 3-14 (.176)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-7 (.000)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Emily Augsburger (D)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Lorraine Armstrong (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 10 - Lorraine Armstrong   Goals: 4 - Lorraine Armstrong   Assists: 3 - Mikayla Martin   Defensive Saves: 1 - Emily Augsburger   Saves: 130 - Kelsey Troyer		2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in ODAC Head Coach: Hannah Lott Overall Record/Yrs: 1-25 (.038)/2 Record at SBC/Yrs: 1-25 (.038)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-8 (.000)/1 --- 2014 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: N/A   Second Team: N/A   Third Team: N/A Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 4 - Kayla Dooms   Goals: 2 - Kayla Dooms   Assists: None   Defensive Saves: 1 - Kiley Jolicoeur/Jessica Lusby/Amanda Terry   Saves: None
2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 15-4/6-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Lost in Semifinals (BC, 2-1 OT) Head Coach: Enza Steele Overall Record/Yrs: 541-211-11 (.716)/36 Record at LC/Yrs: 541-211-11 (.716)/36 ODAC Record/Yrs: 234-33-2 (.874)/34 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Nikki Simpao (M)   Second Team: Kayla Copeman (A), Lacey Elliott (A), Hannah Krause (D)   Third Team: Beka Hess (GK), Karissa Lemaire (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 42 - Nikki Simpao   Goals: 15 - Nikki Simpao   Assists: 12 - Nikki Simpao   Defensive Saves: 4 - Ashley Heuberger   Saves: 96 - Beka Hess		2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-14/2-5 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Lost in Quarterfinals (BC, 8-0) Head Coach: Christina Restivo Overall Record/Yrs: 17-35 (.327)/3 Record at VWC/Yrs: 17-35 (.327)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 6-17 (.261)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Asiah Allen (M/A)   Third Team: None (of one) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 12 - Taylor Marshall   Goals: 5 - Taylor Marshall/Ashley Parker   Assists: 4 - Asiah Allen   Defensive Saves: 2 - Morgan Lee   Saves: 183 - Skye Swain
2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-8/2-5 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Jessica Weiss Overall Record/Yrs: First Season Record at RMC/Yrs: First Season ODAC Record/Yrs: First Season Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None (of one)   Third Team: None (of two) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 14 - Kaitee Nicholas   Goals: 6 - Victoria Cappadora/Kali Carroll   Assists: 6 - Kaitee Nicholas   Defensive Saves: 2 - Kaitee Nicholas/Kaci Payne   Saves: 212 - Kelsey Stanley		2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-7/6-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Lost in Finals (BC, 1-0) Head Coach: Gina Wills Overall Record/Yrs: 132-47 (.737)/9 Record at W&L/Yrs: 11-7 (.611)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: 6-1 (.857)/1 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Kendall Peterson (M), Maggie Waxter (A)   Second Team: Maggie Sands (D), Ariyel Yavalar (GK)   Third Team: Haley Tucker (A) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 33 - Maggie Waxter   Goals: 16 - Maggie Waxter   Assists: 4 - Audrey Brady/Kendall Peterson   Defensive Saves: 2 - Lilly MacDonald/Kendall Peterson   Saves: 71 - Ariyel Yavalar
2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-7/2-5 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Lost in Quarterfinals (SU, 1-0) Head Coach: Briana Banks Record at RC/Yrs: 34-69 (.330)/6 Overall Record/Yrs: 34-69 (.330)/6 ODAC Record/Yrs: 14-32 (.304)/6 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Shelbi Holloman (A), Kellie Jasinski (D), Heather Schauder (GK)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Kaylin Stenson (M/D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Points: 37 - Shelbi Holloman   Goals: 15 - Shelbi Holloman   Assists: 7 - Shelbi Holloman   Defensive Saves: 2 - Kellie Jasinski   Saves: 102 - Heather Schauder