Roanoke, Randolph-Macon Round Out Top Three

SALEM, Va. --- Washington & Lee University picked up 77 total votes and six first place votes as the Generals came out on top of the 2008 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll.  Roanoke College received a pair of first place considerations and 73 overall votes.  Randolph-Macon College rounded out the top three with 59 total tallies and the remaining first place nod.

Washington & Lee (15-4, 8-0 ODAC) tied a league record with its ninth overall ODAC title and fifth straight dating back to 2003.  Head coach Brooke Diamond take over the blue and white from Jan Hathorn, the 2007 selection as ODAC coach of the year who has since become W&L's new Athletics Director.  The Generals return four All-ODAC selections in second teamers Megan Slosson and Sarah Tilbor and first team honorees Kelsi Robinson and Kat Michaels.  Robinson led W&L and finished second in the ODAC in scoring with 67 points, collecting 33 goals and dishing out 34 assists.  Slosson notched 40 points on 32 goals and eight helpers, while Michaels led the team with 43 caused turnovers to go with 37 ground balls.  Tilbor, a former first team selection, started all 19 games and posted a 5.67 goals-against-average in split time amongst two other goalkeepers.  The Generals welcome back six starters in total from a team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.  On a national level, Lacrosse Magazine ranked Washington & Lee 13^th in its annual preseason NCAA Division III poll.

Roanoke (15-4, 6-2 ODAC) looks to make a run at its first title since the 1999 campaign.  The Maroons have also won nine overall ODAC championships.  Junior goalie Katlyn Scarlett, the ODAC Player of the Year and a Division III All-American in 2007, returns between the pipes for the Maroons in addition to All-ODAC selections Amanda Hutchins (42 goals, 3 assists) and Alida Haslett (45 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers).  Scarlett was second in the league with a 6.77 goals-against-average, having also made 167 saves.  Hutchins tallied 45 points on 42 goals and three assists, and Haslett picked up a team second-best 45 ground balls to go with 21 caused turnovers.  ODAC Rookie of the Year, Brooks Laufman is also back in action for her second go-around after recording 46 points on 36 goals and 10 assists.  Roanoke begins the season with high expectations as Lacrosse Magazine ranked the Maroons 20^th preseason poll.

Randolph-Macon (10-5, 6-2 ODAC) was the last team not named Washington & Lee to win the league title, a feat the Yellow Jackets accomplished in an overtime win over the Generals in 2002.  Randolph-Macon heads into the new season with 10 returning starters featuring five All-ODAC selections including first teamer Tracy Phipps. Phipps finished third in the ODAC with 66 points on 37 goals and 29 assists.  Midfielder Lacey Phelps and attacker Kelly Cramer add more firepower to the R-MC front after combining for 58 points on 44 goals and 14 assists.

Listed below you'll find the entire 2008 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll.  For more information, visit the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.

2008 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
(#) Denotes first place votes