Maroons, Generals Round Out Top-Three

FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College, the 2015 NCAA Division III runner-up and reigning ODAC champion, is favored to again top the conference standings as the Hornets received nine first place votes towards 81 total points to lead the ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll.  Roanoke College sits second with 72 tallies and the remaining top nod from the league's head coaches. Washington and Lee University rounds out the top-three with 60 points.

The best season in Lynchburg history began with an undefeated run (9-0) thru its ODAC slate on the way to the conference postseason's top seed. LC defeated W&L, 13-5, in the semifinals to setup a championship showdown with Roanoke on Shellenberger Field. Five first-quarter goals set the pace for the Hornets as they went on to hoist the program's sixth ODAC trophy via a 17-12 decision.

The championship afforded the Hornets the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, and they were joined by Roanoke as an at-large selection.  The Maroons squared off with Salisbury University in the first round in what turned out to be a defensive battle. RC trailed 4-3 at the half, but the Sea Gulls scored the only two goals in the second half -- one in each quarter -- to post a 6-3 win.

Lynchburg opened with drubbings of Sewanee (13-4) and Aurora University (Ill.)(19-8) before meeting Salisbury in the quarterfinals. LC used six second-quarter goals to pull out a 13-11 win to advance to the semifinals at Gettysburg College.  On the road for the first time in the tournament, LC recovered from a 7-2 halftime deficit for an 11-9 triumph, this time powered by nine unanswered goals including a 6-0 whitewashing of the Bullets in the game's final stanza.

That setup a date with 2014 national champion Tufts University at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The Hornets scored the game's first four goals before the Jumbos found their footing and closed out the nine-goal first frame with a 5-4 advantage. Tufts eventually pulled away as it posted a 19-11 win to capture its second straight national title.

While Lynchburg has aims of duplicating last season's success, ODAC teams will not be lacking for talent as they look to overtake the Hornets by the close of the 2016 campaign.  Of the 42 All-ODAC honorees from a season ago, 24 are set to return, including eight from the All-ODAC First Team.  Lynchburg leads the way with four first team returners, including ODAC Player of the Year and all-time single-season scoring record-holder (126 points, 109 goals), Austin Stewart.  Fellow attackman Aaron Murphy led the ODAC in assists (50) and joined Stewart in forming an offensive duo that racked up 156 goals and 223 points. Cole Barrett returns as the first team long-stick, while goalkeeper Chris Hawley posted a 7.92 goals-against-average in 24 games.

The remaining four first team honorees wear Washington and Lee, Roanoke or Virginia Wesleyan College colors. Midfielder Christian Zanetis was second for the Generals in points (41), while defenseman Buck Armstrong finished second in the ODAC with 34 caused turnovers.  Roanoke midfielder Kevin Jackson ranked inside the ODAC's top-10 in points (56) and assists (26), while Virginia Wesleyan welcomes back leading scorer (37 goals, 22 assists) Josh Currier, who was the first player in ODAC history to crack the 100-point plateau two season's ago.

Nationally, both Lynchburg and Roanoke are ranked in a trio of annual preseason polls.  The Hornets are slotted second in behind defending champs Tufts in the USILA/Nike Preseason Poll, Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Poll, and the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Poll.  Roanoke sits 14th, 11th, and 12th in each survey, respectively.

The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Friday, February 5.  The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Saturday, March 12.   If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistical links.

Listed below is the complete 2016 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC men's lacrosse programs.  For more information on ODAC men's lacrosse, 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: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-11/2-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Mic Grant Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 34 -- Blake Mann   Goals: 29 -- Blake Mann   Assists: 14 -- Rob Simmons   Ground Balls: 34 -- Derrick Daniels   Face-offs: 56-of-130 (.431) -- Sam Cheplick   Caused Turnovers: 21 (8) -- Sean Nevin   Saves: 141 (8) -- Andrew Buss   Save Pct.: .569 (3) -- Andrew Buss   Goals-Against-Avg.: 13.25 (9) -- Andrew Buss		2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-11/3-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: J.B. Sheridan Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Coleman Adams (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 35 -- Coleman Adams   Goals: 24 -- Ryan Davidson   Assists: 20 (10) -- Sam Mayer   Ground Balls: 125 (1) -- Nick Benhoff   Face-offs: 175-of-323 (.542)(2) -- Nick Benhoff   Caused Turnovers: 12 -- Conor Moran   Saves: 178 (6) -- Brian Davies   Save Pct.: .544 (6) -- Brian Davies   Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.09 (6) -- Brian Davies
2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-6/4-5 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/Elminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Tom Carmean Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Dylan Haupt (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 37 -- Adam Fiore   Goals: 20 -- Dylan Haupt   Assists: 22 (7) -- Adam Fiore   Ground Balls: 73 (5) -- Connor Manning   Face-offs: 151-of-301 (.502)(4) -- Connor Manning   Caused Turnovers: 17 -- Cole Woodward   Saves: 1 -- Anders Haaland   Save Pct.: .333 -- Anders Haaland   Goals-Against-Avg.: 11.11 -- Anders Haaland		2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-7/7-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/Eliminated in Finals Head Coach: Bill Pilat Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Kevin Jackson (M)   Second Team: Will Pilat (A), Tyler McWilliams (A)   Third Team: Conn Curry (ROY - LS) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 59 (5) -- Tyler McWilliams   Goals: 41 (4) -- Tyler McWilliams   Assists: 26 (4) -- Kevin Jackson   Ground Balls: 73 (5) -- Max Kraus   Face-offs: 151-of-265 (.570)(4) -- Max Kraus   Caused Turnovers: 27 (5) -- Conn Curry   Saves: 5 -- Jared Mercandante   Save Pct.: .600 -- Michael Hager   Goals-Against-Avg.: 9.90 -- Michael Hager
2016 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-7/6-3 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Ray Rostan Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Jake Koferl (M), Thomas Passenant (D)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 29 -- Jake Koferl   Goals: 20 -- Jake Koferl   Assists: 9 -- Jake Koferl   Ground Balls: 29 -- Thomas Passenant   Face-offs: 32-of-56 (.571) -- Jared Arntzen   Caused Turnovers: 16 -- Thomas Passenant   Saves: 5 -- Grant Osterlund   Save Pct.: .833 -- Grant Osterlund   Goals-Against-Avg.: 4.95 -- Grant Osterlund		2016 Poll Position: T-9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-12/0-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Tim Marshall Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Ben Judy (GK)   Third Team: Stephen Latona (A), Dom Lombardi (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 59 (5) -- Stephen Latona   Goals: 39 (6) -- Stephen Latona   Assists: 40 (2) -- Tilghman Sanders   Ground Balls: 79 (4) -- Dom Lombardi   Face-offs: 66-of-211 (.313) -- Kyle Savage   Caused Turnovers: 35 (1) -- Dom Lombardi   Saves: 249 (1) -- Ben Judy   Save Pct.: .552 (5) -- Ben Judy   Goals-Against-Avg.: 12.54 (8) -- Ben Judy
2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 21-3/9-0 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/Champions Head Coach: Steve Koudelka Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Aaron Murphy (A), Austin Stewart (A), Cole Barrett (LS), Chris Hawley (GK)   Second Team: Dane Angell (M)   Third Team: Chris Cornelius (M), Bobby Distler (SS) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 126 (1) -- Austin Stewart   Goals: 109 (1) -- Austin Stewart   Assists: 50 (1) -- Aaron Murphy   Ground Balls: 111 (2) -- Bobby Distler   Face-offs: 287-of-481 (.597)(1) -- Bobby Distler   Caused Turnovers: 12 -- Cole Barrett   Saves: 191 (4) -- Chris Hawley   Save Pct.: .541 (7) -- Chris Hawley   Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.92 (2) -- Chris Hawley		2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-6/7-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: J.P. Stewart Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Josh Currier (A)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Ben Fletcher (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 59 (5) -- Josh Currier   Goals: 37 (8) -- Josh Currier   Assists: 22 (7) -- Josh Currier   Ground Balls: 54 -- Josh Currier   Face-offs: 105-of-269 (.390)(6) -- Duncan Haight   Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Ben Fletcher   Saves: 6 -- Sean Galloway   Save Pct.: .375 -- Sean Galloway   Goals-Against-Avg.: 21.84 -- Sean Galloway
2016 Poll Position: T-9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 5-10/1-8 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Andy Sinclair Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Baden James (D)   Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 44 -- Andrew Risse   Goals: 28 -- Andrew Gleitz   Assists: 25 (5) -- Andrew Risse   Ground Balls: 69 (8) -- Baden James   Face-offs: 87-of-204 (.426)(8) -- Alex Leyva   Caused Turnovers: 34 (2) -- Baden James   Saves: 137 (9) -- Cam Davis   Save Pct.: .472 (10) -- Cam Davis   Goals-Against-Avg.: 14.17 (10) -- Cam Davis		2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-7/6-3 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Gene McCabe Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Christian Zanetis (M), Buck Armstrong (D)   Second Team: None   Third Team: Wyatt Devine (GK) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10   Points: 41 -- Christian Zanetis   Goals: 25 -- Christian Zanetis   Assists: 16 -- Christian Zanetis   Ground Balls: 58 (9) -- Buck Armstrong   Face-offs: 95-of-156 (.609)(7) -- Bobby Doyle   Caused Turnovers: 34 (2) -- Buck Armstrong   Saves: 194 (3) -- Wyatt Devine   Save Pct.: .606 (1) -- Wyatt Devine   Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.17 (1) -- Wyatt Devine