R-MC with Four First Place Votes, Tight for Second
FOREST, Va. --- Six-time defending ODAC champion Washington and Lee University is favored to lift its 17th overall conference trophy after collecting 78 total points and six first place votes to lead a tightly segmented ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. Trailing by just two points in second is 2015 runner-up Randolph-Macon College, which also garnered the remaining four top considerations. With 58 tallies, Roanoke College is just one point clear of Lynchburg College for third place in the annual head coaches survey.
W&L's road to the ODAC title included a 10-0 march thru its league slate, but also required a pair of one-goal victories in the ODAC Tournament. After earning a bye thru the quarterfinals as the top seed, the Generals needed an overtime goal from Sammy Yates to move past Lynchburg, 7-6, in the semifinals. The conference championship game provided much the same drama with Washington and Lee and Randolph-Macon locked 3-3 at the half. But the Generals had scored the first two goals of a five-goal string that spanned the intermission and provided the cushion needed to withstand a late three-goal run by the Yellow Jackets on the way to an 8-7 victory.
Washington and Lee, which climbed to 10th in the country in IWLCA coaches poll, continued its season with an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. Following a bye thru the first round, the Generals took down Sewanee, 18-4, at home in the second round. W&L traveled to Lancaster, Pa., and the campus of Franklin & Marshall College for regional play where it squared off with Fredonia State. The 17th-ranked Blue Devils eliminated the Generals via a 9-5 decision.
Teams will certainly not be short on talent in 2016, with 23-of-39 All-ODAC honorees set to return to conference fields. That list includes eight from the All-ODAC First Team with six wearing Lynchurg, Randolph-Macon or Washington and Lee colors. Attacker and ODAC points leader (78) Caroline Carozza and defender Grace Finnerty lead LC, while R-MC features midfielder Jenelle Whitman and defender Natalie Schnell. The Generals, which are slotted 14th in the Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Top-20 and 16th in the IWLCA Division III Preseason Poll, bring back attackers Melissa Coggins and Lauren Procaccino, who combined for 110 points a season ago.
The remaining two first teamers don Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan College jerseys. The Maroons enjoy the return of attacker Claire Feeney, while reigning ODAC Rookie of the Year and top goal-scorer (72), Megan Schallock, takes up her position in the Marlins midfield.
The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Sunday, February 14. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Thursday, March 17. 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 Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's lacrosse programs. For more information on ODAC women'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 ODAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL | |
(#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
1. Washington and Lee University (6) | 78 pts. |
2. Randolph-Macon College (4) | 76 pts. |
3. Roanoke College | 58 pts. |
4. Lynchburg College | 57 pts. |
5. Shenandoah University | 51 pts. |
6. Virginia Wesleyan College | 38 pts. |
7. Bridgewater College | 37 pts. |
8. Guilford College | 29 pts. |
9. Randolph College | 17 pts. |
10. Hollins University | 9 pts. |
2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-9/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Danielle Hawkins Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Claire Palermo-Re (A), Rachel Gruber (GK) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 53 (10) -- Claire Palermo-Re Goals: 26 -- Jenna Devilbiss Assists: 34 (3) -- Claire Palermo-Re Ground Balls: 24 -- Kayla O'Sullivan Draw Controls: 33 -- Jenna Devilbiss Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Jenna Devilbiss Saves: 144 (4) -- Rachel Gruber Save Pct.: .533 (1) -- Rachel Gruber Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.78 (2) -- Rachel Gruber |
2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 14-4/9-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/Eliminated in Finals Head Coach: MK Geratowski Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Jenelle Whitman (M), Natalie Schnell (D) Second Team: Alex Lightfoot (A), Alicia Hsieh (M) Third Team: Susie Snee (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 68 (4) -- Alicia Hsieh Goals: 56 (2) -- Alicia Hsieh Assists: 19 (5) -- Alex Lightfoot Ground Balls: 40 -- Jenelle Whitman Draw Controls: 107 (2) -- Jenelle Whitman Caused Turnovers: 33 (5) -- Jenelle Whitman Saves: 108 (7) -- Allie Walker Save Pct.: .443 (8) -- Allie Walker Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.00 (6) -- Allie Walker |
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2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-8/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Sarah Lamphier Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Demming Carlow (A) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 41 -- Demming Carlow Goals: 36 (9) -- Demming Carlow Assists: 5 -- Marina Bailey/Taylor Campellone/Demming Carlow Ground Balls: 39 -- Marina Bailey Draw Controls: 27 -- Marina Bailey Caused Turnovers: 24 -- Carter MacLeod Saves: 87 (9) -- Sammi Milbourn Save Pct.: .475 (5) -- Sammi Milbourn Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.57 (7) -- Sammi Milbourn |
2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-5/7-3 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Mary Schwartz Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Claire Feeney (A) Second Team: None Third Team: Meredith Bigelow (A) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 50 -- Claire Feeney Goals: 36 (9) -- Claire Feeney Assists: 14 (10) -- Claire Feeney Ground Balls: 20 -- Nicole Zelnik Draw Controls: 33 -- Meredith Bigelow Caused Turnovers: 9 -- Meredith Bigelow Saves: None Save Pct.: None Goals-Against-Avg.: None |
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2016 Poll Position: 10th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-13/0-10 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Danielle O'Leary Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: None Goals: None Assists: None Ground Balls: 41 -- Emily Lowther Draw Controls: 2 -- Allie Tambornini Caused Turnovers: 10 -- Allie Tamborini Saves: 127 (6) -- Emily Lowther Save Pct.: .367 (10) -- Emily Lowther Goals-Against-Avg.: 18.32 -- Emily Lowther |
2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-5/8-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/Eliminated in Quarterfinals Head Coach: Lindsey Lutz Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Miranda Rudacille (A) Third Team: Rache Levy (GK) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 45 -- Miranda Rudacille Goals: 32 -- Miranda Rudacille Assists: 13 -- Miranda Rudacille Ground Balls: 48 (5) -- Annie McCorry Draw Controls: 43 -- Annie McCorry Caused Turnovers: 27 -- Annie McCorry Saves: 137 (5) -- Rachel Levy Save Pct.: .489 (3) -- Rachel Levy Goals-Against-Avg.: 8.31 (3) -- Rachel Levy |
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2016 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-8/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Bruce Reid Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Caroline Carozza (A), Grace Finnerty (D) Second Team: Kat Francis (M) Third Team: Alexa Carey (A), Helen Boniface (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 78 (1) -- Caroline Carozza Goals: 44 (6) -- Kat Francis Assists: 39 (1) -- Caroline Carozza Ground Balls: 35 -- Grace Finnerty Draw Controls: 54 (9) -- Dorrie MacGregor Caused Turnovers: 16 -- Grace Finnerty Saves: 5 -- Chelsea Shultis Save Pct.: .500 -- Chelsea Shultis Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.05 -- Treva Tyson |
2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-9/4-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Meagan DiCave Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Megan Schallock (M - ROY) Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 77 (2) -- Megan Schallock Goals: 72 (1) -- Megan Schallock Assists: 5 -- Megan Schallock Ground Balls: 47 (6) -- Megan Schallock Draw Controls: 104 (3) -- Megan Schallock Caused Turnovers: 18 -- Megan Schallock Saves: 175 (2) -- Madison Carroll Save Pct.: .486 (4) -- Madison Carroll Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.85 (8) -- Madison Carroll |
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2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-12/1-9 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Alexis Waggoner Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 28 -- Taylor Riccardi Goals: 24 -- Taylor Riccardi Assists: 4 -- Ashton Ewers/Taylor Riccardi Ground Balls: 24 -- Taylor Riccardi Draw Controls: 25 -- Taylor Riccardi Caused Turnovers: 16 -- Taylor Riccardi Saves: None Save Pct.: None Goals-Against-Avg.: None |
2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 16-3/10-0 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/Champions Head Coach: Brooke O'Brien Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Melissa Coggins (A), Lauren Procaccino (A) Second Team: Olivia Sisson (M), Caroline Hutchinson (D) Third Team: Riley Garcia (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 56 (7) -- Melissa Coggins Goals: 42 (7) -- Lauren Procaccino Assists: 36 (2) -- Melissa Coggins Ground Balls: 37 -- Riley Garcia Draw Controls: 42 -- Hollis Tardy Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Riley Garcia/Olivia Sisson Saves: 3 -- Harleigh Bean Save Pct.: .500 -- Harleigh Bean Goals-Against-Avg.: 1.86 -- Harleigh Bean |