Generals Receive Nine First Place Votes
FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee University has won seven straight conference titles, and the league's coaches see the Generals as the favorite to add to that number with W&L leading the ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. Washington and Lee earned nine first place votes on the way to a chart-topping 91 points. Randolph-Macon College picked up the remaining top nod towards 72 points to sit in second. Just two points separate Roanoke College and Lynchburg College for third, with the Maroons receiving 62 points.
The Generals registered 33 goals between victories in the ODAC Tournament semifinals and finals, capturing an ODAC record 17th title. W&L topped Roanoke, 17-8, in the semifinals, setting up a third straight meeting with Randolph-Macon for the conference hardware. The Yellow Jackets defeated Lynchburg, 17-7, to punch its ticket to the final. Washington and Lee scored early and often against R-MC, notching the game's first six goals on the way to a 10-1 halftime advantage and ultimately a 16-3 triumph.
Washington and Lee continued its season in the NCAA Division III Tournament, traveling to Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., for early round play. The Generals squared off with the University of Mount Union (Ohio) and saw the Purple Raiders open an 8-2 lead by the intermission. W&L turned the tides in the second half with an eight-goal outburst of its own, but UMU scored three times to pull out an 11-10 win.
ODAC fans will have plenty of familiar stars to follow with 23-of-39 All-ODAC standouts returning to conference rosters in 2017. Bridgewater College features a league-best four all-conference returners, including one of the seven athletes who picked up All-ODAC First Team honors in goalkeeper Rachel Gruber.
Both Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee feature two first teamers. The Yellow Jackets benefit from the 1-2 scoring punch of ODAC goals scored leader Alicia Hsieh and conference assists champion Alex Lightfoot. The Generals welcome back playmaking midfielder Haley Tucker, who earned ODAC Rookie of the Year honors, and defender Parker Hamill.
The remaining first team athlete wears Roanoke colors. Defender Emma Boris returns to spearhead the Hornets back line.
The 2017 season begins with non-conference play on Saturday, February 11. The first set of ODAC contests are slated for Wednesday, March 22. 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 2017 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 and odacathletics on Instagram.
2017 ODAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL | |
(#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
1. Washington and Lee University (9) | 81 pts. |
2. Randolph-Macon College (1) | 72 pts. |
3. Roanoke College | 62 pts. |
4. Lynchburg College | 60 pts. |
5. Shenandoah University | 45 pts. |
6. Bridgewater College | 39 pts. |
7. Guilford College | 37 pts. |
8. Virginia Wesleyan College | 28 pts. |
9. Randolph College | 17 pts. |
10. Sweet Briar College | 9 pts. |
*Save % and GAA noted for 2016 returning starter; if two keepers qualified for leaders, top values shown
2017 Poll Position: 6th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-9/4-4 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6 Seed/Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Colleen Shearer Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Rachel Gruber (GK) Second Team: Claire Palermo-Re (A), Kayla O'Sullivan (D) Third Team: Anna O'Hara (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 62 (6) -- Claire Palermo-Re Goals: 25 -- Anna O'Hara Assists: 40 (2) -- Claire Palermo-Re Ground Balls: 36 -- Anna O'Hara Draw Controls: 52 (7) -- Anna O'Hara Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Kayla O'Sullivan Saves: 172 (2) -- Rachel Gruber Save Pct.: .541 (1) -- Rachel Gruber Goals-Against-Avg.: 9.73 (4) -- Rachel Gruber |
2017 Poll Position: 3rd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-9/6-3 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4 Seed/Eliminated in Semifinals Head Coach: Mary Schwartz Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Emma Boris (D) Second Team: Courtney McCartin (A) Third Team: Julia Galanto (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 72 (4) -- Courtney McCartin Goals: 35 -- Courtney McCartin Assists: 37 (5) -- Courtney McCartin Ground Balls: 45 (6) -- Emma Boris Draw Controls: 28 -- Katie Clements Caused Turnovers: 34 (2) -- Emma Boris Saves: 70 -- Emma Blair Save Pct.: .429 (8) -- Victoria Smith Goals-Against-Avg.: 11.49 (8) -- Victoria Smith |
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2017 Poll Position: 7th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-10/5-4 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5 Seed/Eliminated in quarterfinals Head Coach: Sarah Lamphier Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Sammi Milbourn (D) Third Team: Amanda Dionne (A), Demming Carlow (M) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 57 (9) -- Amanda Dionne Goals: 46 (6) -- Amanda Dionne Assists: 11 -- Demming Carlow/Amanda Dionne Ground Balls: 41 -- Carter MacLeod Draw Controls: 47 (9) -- Amanda Dionne Caused Turnovers: 38 (1) -- Summer Fowler Saves: 149 (3) -- Sammi Milbourn Save Pct.: .425 (9) -- Sammi Milbourn Goals-Against-Avg.: 14.07 (10) -- Sammi Milbourn |
2017 Poll Position: 5th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 5-12/3-6 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Lindsey Lutz Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Abby Zorrilla (A), Annie McCorry (M), Jackie Hemler (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 49 -- Abby Zorrilla Goals: 37 -- Annie McCorry Assists: 17 (8) -- Abby Zorrilla Ground Balls: 54 (1) -- Annie McCorry Draw Controls: 47 (9) -- Brittany Arndt Caused Turnovers: 21 (7) -- Annie McCorry Saves: 81 (9) -- Rachel Levy Save Pct.: .458 (5) -- Rachel Levy Goals-Against-Avg.: 10.51 (7) -- Rachel Levy |
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2017 Poll Position: 4th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-6/7-2 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3 Seed/Eliminated in semifinals Head Coach: Bruce Reid Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: Rachel Henderson (D) Third Team: Laura Meisner (A), Helen Boniface (D) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 38 -- Laura Meisner Goals: 32 -- Laura Meisner Assists: 6 -- Laura Meisner Ground Balls: 47 (3) -- Rachel Henderson Draw Controls: 47 (9) -- Maddie Koontz Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Helen Boniface/Rachel Henderson Saves: 8 -- Chelsea Shultis Save Pct.: .421 -- Chelsea Shultis Goals-Against-Avg.: 6.39 -- Chelsea Shultis |
2017 Poll Position: 10th 2016 Records - Overall: 1-7 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in the ODAC in 2016 Head Coach: Meredith Newman Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 3 -- Elizabeth Phaup Goals: 3 -- Elizabeth Phaup Assists: None Ground Balls: 9 -- Elizabeth Phaup Draw Controls: 3 -- Elizabeth Phaup Caused Turnovers: 4 -- Kiley Jolicoeur/Elizabeth Phaup Saves: None Save Pct.: None Goals-Against-Avg.: None |
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2017 Poll Position: 9th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 2-15/1-8 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Alexis Waggoner Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Nicole Dorton (A) Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 20 -- Nicole Dorton/Chelsea Marciniak Goals: 19 -- Chelsea Marciniak Assists: 3 -- Dana Cavallo Ground Balls: 21 -- Erin Campbell Draw Controls: 68 (3) -- Nicole Dorton Caused Turnovers: 18 -- Chelsea Marciniak Saves: 35 -- Anna Belliveau Save Pct.: .236 -- Anna Belliveau Goals-Against-Avg.: 15.64 -- Anna Belliveau |
2017 Poll Position: 8th 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 4-13/2-7 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Meagan DiCave Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Megan Schallock (M) Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 76 (3) -- Megan Schallock Goals: 61 (2) -- Megan Schallock Assists: 15 (9) -- Megan Schallock Ground Balls: 40 -- Megan Schallock Draw Controls: 125 (1) -- Megan Schallock Caused Turnovers: 32 (4) -- Megan Schallock Saves: None Save Pct.: None Goals-Against-Avg.: None |
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2017 Poll Position: 2nd 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-6/8-1 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2 Seed/Runner-up Head Coach: MK Geratowski Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Alex Lightfoot (A), Alicia Hsieh (M), Second Team: Susie Snee (M) Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 83 (2) -- Alicia Hsieh Goals: 74 (1) -- Alicia Hsieh Assists: 59 (1) -- Alex Lightfoot Ground Balls: 42 (9) -- Susie Snee Draw Controls: 73 (2) -- Susie Snee Caused Turnovers: 15 -- Susie Snee Saves: 138 (4) -- Allie Walker Save Pct.: .447 (6) -- Allie Walker Goals-Against-Avg.: 9.50 (3) -- Allie Walker |
2017 Poll Position: 1st 2016 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-6/9-0 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1 Seed/ODAC Champion Head Coach: Brooke O'Brien Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Haley Tucker (M-ROY), Parker Hamill (D) Second Team: None Third Team: None Returning Statistical Leaders -- (#) denotes ODAC top-10 Points: 35 -- Jess Castelo Goals: 34 -- Jess Castelo Assists: 8 -- Sara Holland Ground Balls: 28 -- Parker Hamill Draw Controls: 49 (8) -- Haley Tucker Caused Turnovers: 19 -- Parker Hamill/Lexi Sortisio Saves: 74 -- Ellie Aburn Save Pct.: .477 (3) -- Ellie Aburn Goals-Against-Avg.: 7.05 (1) -- Hannah Wiltshire |