Washington and Lee, Roanoke Receive First Place Consideration
FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College received seven first place votes as part of 78 overall points to earn the #1 position atop the 2013 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. Washington and Lee University picked up a pair of top nods and 71 tallies to place second, just one point clear of third-standing Roanoke College, which garnered the remaining first place vote.
Lynchburg captured its fourth overall ODAC men's lacrosse crown via a 10-4 triumph over Washington and Lee in the conference championship game. The Hornets' stay in the NCAA Division III Tournament was cut short as they fell to Denison University, 10-5, in second round competition at LC's Shellenberger Field.
Lynchburg (17-2 overall, 7-2 in ODAC play in 2012) has been a participant in seven of the past eight ODAC championship games, winning the title three times during that span. Reigning ODAC Coach of the Year, Steve Koudelka, returns four All-ODAC honorees from a season ago, helping this year's Hornets earn the #7 spot in the NCAA Division III Preseason Top-20 poll by Lacrosse Magazine. Defenseman Joe Lisicky (5 goals, 89 ground balls, 41 caused turnovers) leads the charge after earning ODAC Player of the Year and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) First Team All-American honors in 2012. He's also been tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year by Lacrosse Magazine and a First Team Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse magazine for the publication's annual Face-Off Yearbook. He's joined by a trio from the All-ODAC Second Team in attack Pat Ohrem (28 G, 12 assists, 27 GB), midfielder Max Voumard (28 G, 9 A, 20 GB, 11 CT) and defenseman Jon Gill (28 GB, 25 CT). Ohrem is a Second Team Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse, while Voumard was named to the third team and Gill the honorable mention team. Ohrem and Voumard were USILA Honorable Mention All-Americans in 2012.
Washington and Lee (10-9, 3-4) has three all-conference honorees back, plus the reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year in attack Cameron Dabir (27 G, 18 A, 31 GB). Defenseman Joe LaSala (22 GB, 31 CT) was a first teamer and a USILA Honorable Mention All-American last year, in addition to being named the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He's also been tabbed to the preseason third team by Inside Lacrosse. Attack Mac Means (32 G, 14 A, 32 GB, 10 CT) earned second team laurels in 2012, while midfielder Luke Heinsohn (11 G, 13 A, 28 GB) received All-ODAC Third Team recognition. Heinsohn won the ODAC Offensive Player of the Year award this past football season as the Generals' lead running back.
Roanoke (11-4, 6-1), rated 13th by Lacrosse Magazine, welcomes back six all-conference performers, including first team midfielder Mike Hayden (19 G, 29 A, 26 GB) and long-stick midfielder Brayden Gerrie (6 G, 4 A, 56 GB, 25 A). Hayden, a USILA Third Team All-American in 2012, earned a preseason third team spot by Inside Lacrosse, while Gerrie and All-ODAC Second Team attack Richard Lachlan (40 G, 5 A, 19 GB) were tabbed to the honorable mention squad by the national outlet. Gerrie was a USILA Honorable Mention All-American last year. Midfielder Connor Dubois (15 G, 18 A, 64 GB), defenseman Mike Packo (1 G, 4 A, 27 GB, 18 CT) and goalkeeper Mike Hardon (73 saves, 8.41 goals-against-average) were third team honorees last season.
Hampden-Sydney College (9-7, 5-2) features the return of second team defenseman Cameron Sheppard (1 A, 32 GB, 10 CT). He's joined by attack Ryan Martin (27 G, 13 A, 18 GB), midfielder and face-off specialist Brad Mostowy (3 G, 2 A, 102 GB, 142-of-284 on face-offs) and goalkeeper Cody Hornung (112 SV, 9.13 GAA).
Randolph-Macon College (9-8, 3-4) and Virginia Wesleyan College (10-7, 3-4) each return one all-conference honoree. The Yellow Jackets invite second team midfielder Tim Rowe (34 G, 6 A, 24 GB) back to Ashland. He's joined by fellow midfielders Jason Andrews (19 G, 20 A, 41 GB, 11 CT) and Justin Butler (9 G, 13 A, 14 GB). The Marlins have third team goalkeeper Corey Bauer (207 SV, 8.75 GAA) back between the pipes this season. Attack Nick Pappas (25 G, 11 A, 34 GB) and midfielder and face-off specialist Mikey Connors (12 G, 11 A, 71 GB, 100-of-180 F/O) also return for VWC.
Guilford College (6-9, 1-6) and Randolph College (3-12, 0-7) feature returning third team athletes from a season ago. The Quakers look to midfielder Chase Clausen (22 G, 13 A) to continue his development after a solid rookie season in Greensboro. He's joined by midfielders Nick Mann (7 G, 18 A, 17 GB) and Sam Newland (1 G, 30 GB, 77-of-159 F/O), who also served as GC's face-off specialist. The WildCats enter year two under head coach Andy Sinclair, and he welcomes back defenseman Ryan Blackwell (72 GB, 31 CT) from the third team. Attacking midfielder Colton Wood (30 G, 3 A, 25 GB) and face-off specialist John Grundy (1 G, 4 A, 78 GB, 106-of-229 F/O) also return to the fourth year program.
The ODAC men's lacrosse ranks grow by two in 2013 as both Shenandoah University and Bridgewater College embark on their first conference seasons. The Hornets (2-14, 1-6), under the direction of second year head coach Mike Kruger, welcomes back leading scorer and midfielder Mike Pope (30 G, 5 A, 39 GB), who earned honorable mention honors from the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). Also back are goalkeeper Tyler Quinn (182 SV, 12.71 GAA) and short-stick midfielder/defenseman Eric Hobby (1 A, 32 GB, 11 CT).
Men's lacrosse is one of two new sports at Bridgewater that started competition during the 2012-13 academic year, joining women's golf. The Eagles tabbed Mic Grant to be the program's first head coach in April 2011 in anticipation of a 2013 beginning. He's no stranger to building programs as he started the Marywood University program and led them to winning records in each of five seasons prior to coming to Bridgewater. That stint included a pair of CSAC title game appearances in 2009 and 2011.
Listed below is the full 2013 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. For more information on ODAC men's lacrosse, visit any of the participating school's websites, 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. You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter @odacathletics.
2013 ODAC MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Lynchburg (7) | 78 pts. |
2. Washington and Lee (2) | 71 pts. |
3. Roanoke (1) | 70 pts. |
4. Hampden-Sydney | 57 pts. |
5. Randolph-Macon | 45 pts. |
5. Virginia Wesleyan | 45 pts. |
7. Guilford | 33 pts. |
8. Randolph | 21 pts. |
9. Shenandoah | 19 pts. |
10. Bridgewater | 11 pts. |