FOREST, Va. --- This an unprecendented time in the world of collegiate athletics, with spring sports and championships canceled due to the landscape surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The stoppage of competition, while affecting all student-athletes, was especially painful for the senior class of 2020 with an abrupt end to their careers. In a new series of features, the ODAC would like to honor this class of athletes and celebrate them for their years of contributions to their respective programs at each of the conference's 15 member schools.
In this installment of our "Saluting the Class of 2020" features, the ODAC showcases the seniors from our men's lacrosse programs.
ODAC men's lacrosse has a storied history of success on the national stage. An ODAC team has won at least one game in 24-of-36 NCAA Tournaments since 1981 with 11 semifinal berths and a trio of championship game appearances. Roanoke College has twice finished as the national runner-up in 1983 and 1992. The University of Lynchburg (then Lynchburg College) added its name to that list as the 2015 national runner-up.
The members of this year's senior class have played in 13 NCAA Tournament games. Lynchburg's class reached the quarterfinals in 2017 and went 3-3 over the past three years. Hampden-Sydney's seniors went 1-1 in 2017 after capturing the ODAC title. Washington and Lee University went 2-2 with 1-1 showings in both 2018 and 2019. Roanoke entered the 2018 field and dropped its contest despite a strong season.
RELATED: ODAC Tournament History | ODAC Men's Lacrosse NCAA History
The fight for the ODAC's automatic NCAA qualifier has been nothing short of fierce with a margin of five goals or fewer deciding the conference champion eight times since 2009.
Several members of the senior class have been involved in deciding league champions since 2017. Lynchburg has been a mainstay, playing in all three championship games -- not to mention appearing in six consecutive title contests since 2014 -- and winning the 2018 league crown via a 13-8 score over Roanoke. Hampden-Sydney College broke thru with its first trophy since 2001 with a 14-9 win over Lynchburg in 2017. Washington and Lee captured the 2019 hardware by the narrowest of margins via an 8-7 decision over Lynchburg.
In total, members of the class of 2020 accounted for 27 overall appearances in ODAC championship games.
RELATED: USILA/Warrior and New Balance Coaches Poll
A few teams were off to solid if not outstanding starts to the 2020 campaign. Randolph-Macon College held six of its seven opponents under 10 goals on the way to opening with a 7-0 record. Guilford College and Virginia Wesleyan University won their first three games each on the way to 6-2 and 5-1 starts, respectively. Hampden-Sydney and Shenandoah University sported 4-2 records.
Nationally, Lynchburg maintained a spot in the USILA/Warrior and New Balance Coaches Poll as the 17th-rated program. Washington and Lee (19), Randolph-Macon (12), and Hampden-Sydney (6) all received votes towards the table.
Statistically, several ODAC seniors were having strong starts to their seasons. Two players that stand out are Lynchburg midfielder Kevin Rogers and Washington and Lee face-off man Jack Hodgson. Rogers has a running streak of 39 straight games with at least one point recorded dating back to March 24, 2018. In fact, in 65 career games, he has failed to notch a point just three times.
Hodgson registered 866 career face-off wins thru 65 games played. That ranks 11th all-time in NCAA history, just two short of moving into the top-10.
Below are those that ranked inside the ODAC's top-five in major statistical categories at the close of the season.
- Ferrum's Austin Nowlin was 4th in face-offs won (61)
- Guilford's Connor Sweeney was 2nd in points (41) and T-3rd in goals (20)
- Guilford's Brennan Sweeney was 2nd in goals (22) and 3rd in points (39)
- Guilford's Derek Zacatenco was T-3rd in goas (20)
- Hampden-Sydney's Nick Arcuri was 2nd in save percentage (59.0), 3rd in saves (79), and 5th in goals against average (10.51)
- Randolph's Corey Boswell was T-4th in saves (78)
- Randolph-Macon's Colin DiSesa led the ODAC in points (42) and goals (28)
- Randolph-Macon's Tyler Flora was T-5th in ground balls (34)
- Randolph-Macon's Camden Stramanak was 3rd in caused turnovers (18)
- Roanoke's Parker Gann was 5th in face-offs won (59)
- Roanoke's Jason Sarro was T-4th in points (35)
- Roanoke's Josh Vetter was T-1st in caused turnovers (19)
- Shenandoah's Jason Simpson was 4th in save percentage (56.1) and T-4th in saves (78)
- Virginia Wesleyan's Dante Castillo was T-3rd in ground balls (42)
- Virginia Wesleyan's Thomas Potter was 4th in caused turnovers (11)
- Washington and Lee's Jack Hodgson was T-1st in face-offs won (95) and T-3rd in ground balls (42)
RELATED: ODAC Statistical Leaders
The class of 2020 accounts for 26 overall All-ODAC honors plus two special awards. Lynchburg defender Tyler Gallagher, Roanoke attackman Jason Sarro and W&L's Hodgson highlight this list. Both Sarro and Hodgson earned All-ODAC First Team honors all three seasons with Sarro adding an ODAC Rookie of the Year award to his resumé. Gallagher was a third team choice his first two seasons and then jumped to the first team in 2019.
Lynchburg midfielders Colin Dean and Rogers were first teamers a year ago with Rogers adding a second team nod in 2018. W&L midfielders Hudson Hamill and Jed Londrey were two-time honorees with Hamill earning two first team assignments and Londrey a second and third team selection in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Fellow Generals' midfielder Jack Ware was a third team pick last year.
Randolph-Macon features six seniors with All-ODAC pedigree. Attackman Ryan Tiffey is a two-time honoree with third team distinctions in 2018 and 2019. Both short-stick middie Tyler Flora and defenseman Camden Stramanak were first team picks last season, while attackman Colin DiSesa and defenseman Merrick Wood joined Tiffey on the third team. Midfielder Brendan Markovic was tabbed the 2019 ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The remaining two honorees don Hampden-Sydney and Virginia Wesleyan University jerseys. Tigers' attackman Jack Hayden was a second team pick last year, while Marlins' defenseman Thomas Potter earned a third team nod.
RELATED: All-ODAC Awards -- 2017 | 2018 | 2019
When it comes to national awards, several players from the senior class have been recognized by the USILA. Sarro is the most common name appearing in a final listing as he earned All-America Honorable Mention honors all three seasons. Hodgson was a two-time honoree, picking up honorable mention laurels in 2018 and 2019.
Rogers earned the highest assignment of all players, picking up second team honors last year. Hamill was a third team choice, while Flora and Gallagher joined Hodgson and Sarro on the honorable mention list.
RELATED: USILA Awards Platform
Showcased below are videos introducing you to each of the men's lacrosse players from the class of 2020. Click on one of the links below a video to be sent to that player's bio to learn more about them. Be sure to check out the senior features published by ODAC member athletic departments throughout the spring.
For more 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 following @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.