FOREST, Va. --- The rank order of the 2020 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll is largely unchanged from its 2019 edition, with a shuffling among the top four teams the only change in positions. The University of Lynchburg returns to the top of the table with 98 points powered by eight first place votes. Reigning ODAC champion Washington and Lee University joins the Hornets in a clearly separated top-two with 92 markers including the remaining three top nods.

The remainder of the top-five are separated by just 10 total points. Hampden-Sydney College sits third with 79 tallies, and only two points separate Roanoke College (71) from Randolph-Macon College (69).

The 2019 ODAC Tournament had its fair share of drama with an overtime win by Roanoke (9-8) over Randolph-Macon bookended with a championship game decided by one goal. Both top-seeded Washington and Lee and #2 Lynchburg punched their tickets to the last contest with strong semifinal victories. The Generals downed Roanoke, 15-3, while the Hornets defeated Hampden-Sydney, 20-11.

The title game was not merely a tight affair. Washington and Lee was offensively consistent, scoring two goals in each quarter and holding Lynchburg to just one goal per period save for a four-goal outburst by the Hornets in the second frame. Still, the final result came down to a late goal as John Broderick's tally with 0:04.7 on the game clock locked up the Generals' 11th league crown.

RELATED: 2019 ODAC Tournament Bracket

The campaign continued for both Washington and Lee and at-large pick Lynchburg in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams go off to great starts with resounding first round victories in the second round after earning byes thru round one. Lynchburg thumped Transylvania, 15-5, while Washington and Lee made easy work of Piedmont, 23-2.

Both ODAC teams' seasons came to a close in round three. Lynchburg came up on the wrong side of an 18-10 decision to Salisbury, while Washington and Lee dropped a tighter outing, 14-12, to York (Pa.).

RELATED: 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament Bracket

ODAC teams and players are well-represented by various national outlets entering the 2020 campaign. Washington and Lee and Lynchburg both feature in a trio of preseason team rankings. In the USILA/Warrior New Balance Preseason Poll, Washington and Lee is slotted 13th with Lynchburg in 16th position. The pair are flipped in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Preseason Top-20 with Lynchburg ranked 13th and Washington and Lee chiming in 18th. The rankings by Inside Lacrosse's Face-Off Yearbook have yet another take on W&L and Lynchburg's positioning. The Generals were picked 10th in that listing, while the Hornets are slotted 16th.

Several players have been named Preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse. Lynchburg midfielder Kevin Rogers leads the ODAC's contingent with a first team selection. Teammate and defenseman Tyler Gallagher along with W&L midfielder Hudson Hamill were tabbed to the third team.

The honorable mention list is dotted with several ODAC players. By position, that includes...

• Attack | Eric Husselbaugh (BC), Jason Sarro (RC)
• Midfield | Colin Dean (LYN)
• Face-off | Jack Hodgson (W&L)
• Short-Stick Def. Midfield | Tyler Flora (R-MC)
• Defense | Camden Stramanak (R-MC)

RELATED: USILA/Warrior and New Balance Preseason Poll | Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Preseason Top-20
RELATED: Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Rankings | Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-Americans

There is no shortage of returning All-ODAC talent on 2020 rosters with 26 of the 49 award winners from 2019 back in action this season. Hampden-Sydney and Washington and Lee lead the way with six all-conference returners. The Tigers welcome back all five All-ODAC Second Team choices in attackman Jared Medwar, midfielders Sean Duffy and Jack Hayden, face-off man Jake Brummett, and defenseman Canevin Wallace. Duffy doubled as the 2019 ODAC Rookie of the Year. All-ODAC Third Team defenseman Henry Hitt also returns.

The Generals and reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Gene McCabe feature two players from each of last year's awards teams. Hamill and face-off specialist Hodgson were All-ODAC First Team picks, while midifielder Ben Mulholland and keeper Jack Taylor were selected to the second team. Midfielder Jack Ware and short-stick specialist Jed Londrey were All-ODAC Third Team honorees.

Randolph-Macon welcomes five all-conference standouts including a pair of first teamers in Flora and Stramanak. Attackman Colin DiSesa, midfielder Ryan Tiffey, and defenseman Merrick Wood were all third team choices. Also returning is midfielder Brendan Markovic, who was tabbed the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year last season.

Lynchburg's list of all-conference returnees were noted as preseason All-Americans -- Rogers, Dean, and Gallagher. Bridgewater College and Roanoke feature a pair of returners each. The Eagles are led by second team attackman Husselbaugh and third team face-off specialist Mason Gauntt. The Maroons look to first team attackman Sarro and second team defenseman Sam Balch.

The remaining two All-ODAC returners -- both defenseman -- wear Shenandoah University and Virginia Wesleyan University jerseys. The Hornets benefit from Jason Morgan patrolling the back third, as do the Marlins with Thomas Potter returning to Virginia Beach.

RELATED: 2019 All-ODAC Men's Lacrosse Awards

The 2020 season begins with non-conference play on Saturday, February 8. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Wednesday, March 4. The conference tournament begins with quarterfinal action on Tuesday, April 28. The semifinals and finals will be hosted by the top seed on Friday and Saturday, May 1-2.

Listed below is the complete 2020 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Preseason Pol.  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 and Instagram.