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 women's lacrosse programs.
ODAC women's lacrosse continues to grow throughout the league with recent strong campaigns from Randolph-Macon College, Shenandoah University, University of Lynchburg, and Roanoke College. But it is Washington and Lee University's unprecedented run that has put the sport on the map.
The Generals, who have appeared in every ODAC title game since 2001, have won 10 straight ODAC championships, having matched up with Randolph-Macon in each of the past five final games. That run has led to 10 consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament for W&L with this year's senior class playing a major role in the program's most successful stretch over the past three years.
RELATED: ODAC Tournament History | ODAC Women's Lacrosse NCAA History
Washington and Lee, which set ODAC records for points (539) and goals (351) in a season in 2019, has posted at least one win in each of the past three NCAA Division III Tournaments. The Generals defeated Ithaca College, 18-9, before bowing out to Wesleyan (Conn.), 13-7, in 2019. They took down Cabrini College, 27-7, before a setback to York (Pa.) College, 10-3, in 2018.
The 2017 season, however, was different as all five Generals' 2020 seniors -- Caitlin Anderson, Elliot Gilbert, Giddings Harrison, Collette Murray, and Dani Murray -- helped W&L to a national semifinal berth. Washington and Lee posted wins over Mary Washington (8-2) and Catholic University (9-6) to punch its ticket to the final eight. The Generals then outlasted a strong William Smith squad on the way to a 7-6 victory in overtime.
In the semifinals -- which happened to be hosted by the ODAC, Roanoke College, and the City of Salem, Va., at RC's Kerr Stadium -- W&L squared off with The College of New Jersey. W&L owned a 3-1 lead midway thru the second half, but the Lions erased that margin and took a 4-3 lead with 4:16 to play. The Generals scored with 0:47 on the clock to force not one but two overtime periods. In the second extra frame, TCNJ tallied the winner for a 5-4 result.
The Generals finish marked the first time an ODAC team advanced to a national semifinal since Roanoke in 1990.
RELATED: IWLCA Coaches Poll
The 2020 season had the makings of a banner season. Shenandoah sported a 7-0 record, while Ferrum College had posted a 4-0 mark. Washington and Lee climbed to #4 in the country by the IWLCA, with three of the Generals' five wins and their lone loss coming to teams ranked in the final coaches' survey.
Statistically, several ODAC seniors were having strong starts to their seasons. Below are those that ranked inside the ODAC's top-five at the close of the season.
- Bridgewater's Dwyer Neal was 2nd in ground balls (22) and 4th in caused turnovers (14)
- Bridgewater's Mackenzie Parcell was 3rd in caused turnovers (15)
- Guilford's Madison Iandoli was 1st in draw controls (69), 2nd in points (34), 3rd in goals (23), T-3rd in ground balls (21), and 5th in assists (11)
- Randolph's Chrissy Shackleford was 3rd in saves (53)
- Randolph-Macon's Elicia Wells was 5th in saves (44) and save percentage (48.4)
- Shenandoah's Nikki Zerna was 2nd in assists (15)
- Virginia Wesleyan's Tori Manahan was 5th in draw controls (29)
- W&L's Caitlin Anderson was 1st in ground balls (24), 2nd in caused turnovers (18), and 3rd in draw controls (34)
- W&L's Elliot Gilbert was 3rd in goals against average (7.56) and save percentage (51.2)
- W&L's Dani Murray was 5th in points (25)
RELATED: ODAC Statistical Leaders
All-ODAC awards for the 2020 seniors are numerous with 23 overall honors shared plus one special award. Anderson heads that charge as a three-time All-ODAC honoree as well as the 2019 ODAC Defensive Player of the Year. Teammates Elliot Gilbert and Dani Murray were two-time selections with Gilbert picking up second team honors in 2017 and 2019 and Murray a first and third teamer in each of the past two years, respectively. Collette Murray was a third team choice in 2018.
Randolph-Macon keeper Elicia Wells was twice a first team honoree in 2018 and 2019. Fellow Yellow Jacket Mary Castle was a third team pick last year.
Lynchburg's Kelsi Trevisan was a second team pick in 2018 and 2019, while teammate Erin Gardner earned a third team assignment last year. Guilford College's Madison Ianoli earned third team honors in 2018 and 2019, while Virginia Wesleyan University's Tori Manahan was a third team choice in 2018 and a second team selection in 2019.
Four Shenandoah seniors earned all-league status during their careers. Emma Hardisky was a first team honoree in 2019 with Jess Spindler and Nikki Zerna picking up second team laurels last season. Cassie Arndt was a third teamer in 2018.
The remaining all-conference honor belong's to Bridgewater College's Mackenzie Parcell. She garnered third team recognition in 2018.
RELATED: All-ODAC Awards -- 2017 | 2018 | 2019
A few of this year's seniors enjoyed extra postseason recognition from the IWLCA as All-Chesapeake Region honorees and/or All-Americans. W&L's Anderson is the lone member of this class to earn an All-American award, with that distinction coming in 2019.
Anderson and R-MC keeper Elicia Wells earned all-region honors in 2019. W&L's Dani Murray was an all-region pick in 2018.
RELATED: IWLCA Awards Platform
Showcased below are videos introducing you to each of the women'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 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 following @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.