FOREST, Va. --- Excitement surrounding the ODAC's women's lacrosse programs has been simmering since the conference's 11 teams rattled off a .633 winning percentage powered by 38 combined wins over 60 games last spring. With schools prepping to return to league fields for the first time since March 2020, the conference's coaches tried their hand at benchmarking the league with the 2021 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll.

Washington and Lee University, winner of 10 consecutive ODAC titles, enters the season heavily favored to lift an 11th trophy after picking up 98 total points including nine first place votes. Randolph-Macon College chimes in second with 81 tallies, but Shenandoah University is just one marker back in third position after garnering the remaining two top nods.

Roanoke College collected 78 points to keep the top-four closely packed. The University of Lynchburg rounds out the top-five with 69 points.

STORYLINES: PICKING UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
The 2020 season was abruptly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic with several developing storylines that teams will look reestablish as they open play in 2020.

• Title Streaks | The numbers are staggering when you consider Washington and Lee's ODAC championship history in women's lacrosse. The Generals look to add to streaks that include 10 straight conference crowns and appearances in each ODAC title games since 2001. They have won 17 of their ODAC record 20 championships since that season. Randolph-Macon also looks to continue its own conference championship run as the Yellow Jackets go in search of their first piece of ODAC hardware since 2002. R-MC has qualified for each of the past five ODAC championship games, coming closest to a title in 2015 via an 8-7 result to W&L.
• Could the Best Defense Be a Good Offense? | Last season, Washington and Lee's back line was stacked with talent led by two-time ODAC Defensive Player of the Year Caitlin Anderson, goalkeeper Elliot Gilbert, and defensive stalwarts Catherine Arrix, Caroline Hall, and Giddings Harrison. Arrix and Hall return in 2021, with the former standout touted as a Preseason All-American by US Lacrosse Magazine. With spots to fill at the back, might the Generals' attack lead the charge this year? W&L's offense was an up-and-coming unit surrounding veteran Dani Murray in 2020. Senior Landon Shelley (3 g, 14 a) leads a group of four players that registered 15 or more points against some of the nation's best defenses last spring. That group includes Allie Schwab (14 g, 7 a), Christina Cavallo (15 g), and former ODAC Rookie of the Year Katherine Faria (13 g, 6 a).
• Speaking of Offense... | Shenandoah blistered out of the gates to a 7-0 record last season, including signature wins over Christopher Newport (11-10) and Stevens (9-6). The offense was humming behind Alyson Bittinger and Nikki Zerna as the two combined for 39 goals and 18 assists. Zerna's production will need to be replaced this season, but Bittinger will look to continue building upon last season's momentum that saw her lead the ODAC in points (36), goals scored (33), and free-position conversions (12-of-14). Her 33 goals ranked eighth in Division III.
• Now for a Proper Beginning... | Eastern Mennonite kicked off its first collegiate varsity season in 2020, only to see it halted after two games. Head coach Katie Russo and her Royals get another crack at their first ODAC season in 2021 after getting a small taste of non-conference action that included the program's first win over Bethany College, 15-10, at home.
• New Coaches | A pair of new coaches walk ODAC sidelines this season. Lottie Meadows moves across town from Greensboro College to take over the reins at Guilford College. Bernadette Connor is now in charge at Randolph College following successful assistant coaching stints at her alma mater, The College of New Jersey, and Kean University.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING NATIONALLY ENTERING 2021

• Washington and Lee features in a pair of national preseason polls to kickoff the 2021 season. In the IWLCA Division III Preseason Coaches Poll, the Generals pick up where they left off in 2020 with a fourth-place assignment. They trail Middlebury College, Tufts University, and Franklin & Marshall College, sequentially.
• The Generals appear two spots lower in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women's Preseason Top-20 published by US Lacrosse Magazine. Middlebury, Tufts, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg College, and Amherst College stand in the way of a top billing for W&L.
• Washington and Lee defender Catherine Arrix was tabbed a Preseason All-American by US Lacrosse Magazine. She spearheads a Generals' defense that allowed just 44 goals against one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in NCAA Division III. She helped W&L take down three-ranked opponents -- #14 Mary Washington (17-10), #7 Salisbury (10-7) and #6 Gettysburg (12-9). A narrow 9-8 setback to #4 Franklin & Marshall marked W&L's fourth ranked contest of 2020.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2021
Several standouts return to each squad in 2021. Listed below are a few players to keep your eyes on this season with a more in-depth look at each team in the capsules found at the bottom of this article.

   ATTACKERS

• Kaitlyn Harley, FC | 20 points on 17 goals (9th in ODAC) and 3 assists in 2020
• Audrey Helfenbein, GC | led the ODAC in assists (17) in 2020, which ranked 12th in NCAA D3
• Kelsi Travisan, LYN | 2x All-ODAC; 2018-19 2nd Team; 7th in the ODAC with 7 assists in 2020; 159 career points on 113 goals and 46 assists
• Natalie Webster, R-MC | 7th in the ODAC in assists (7) to go with 11 goals in 2020
• Bella Samper, R-MC | 17 points on 14 goals and 3 assists in 2020
• Ellie Armstrong, RC | 2x All-ODAC; 2018-19 2nd Team; 150 career points on 121 goals and 29 assists; 41-of-68 on career free-position attempts
• Lilly Blair, RC | 2019 All-ODAC 3rd Team; led the ODAC in shots (52), 2nd in goals scored (26), and 4th in points (28) in 2020
• Reilley Cisar, SU | limited to 9 draw controls in 1 game in 1st season in 2020; will handle main draw responsibilities in 2021
• Emma Stiffler, SU | 12 goals, 2 assists, 12 GBs, 9 DCs and 6 CTs in 2020
• Katherine Faria, W&L | 2019 All-ODAC 1st Team and ROY; 19 points (13 g, 6 a) in 2020; 47 goals and 16 assists in ROY season in 2019
• Allie Schwab, W&L | 21 points on 14 goals and 7 assists and 5-of-8 on free-positions attempts in 1st collegiate season in 2020
• Landon Shelley, W&L | 2019 All-ODAC 2nd Team; 3rd in the ODAC in assists (14) in 2020; 133 career points on 42 goals and 91 assists; 14-of-22 all-time in free-position attempts

   MIDFIELDERS

• Dwyer Neal, BC | 2nd in the ODAC in GBs (22) and 4th in CTs (14) in 2020; 125 career points (114 g, 11 a) with 92 GBs, 75 DCs and 65 CTs
• Morgan Tricarico, EMU | 9 points on 7 goals and 2 assists with 12 DCs in EMU's inaugural season
• Mykenzie Davis, EMU | all-around midfielder with 3 points (2 g, 1 a) and 2 CTs in EMU's inaugural season
• Erin Reynolds, FC | 5th in the ODAC with 12 CTs in 2020; 19 points (16 g, 3 a) with 17 DCs and 15 GBs in 2020
• Nia Gill, GC | 3rd in the ODAC in GBs (21) in 2020; 64 career points (54 g, 10 a) with 124 DCs, 77 GBs, and 52 CTs
• Leah Dumas, LYN | 11 points (10 g, 1 a) with 10 GBs, 11 DCs and 5 CTs in 2020
• Sarah Perry, RAND | led the ODAC in shooting pct. (.808), 4th in goals (21) and DCs (31) in 2020; 99 career points on 75 goals and 24 assists with 148 DCs, 84 GBs and 36 CTs
• Kaylyn Hewes, R-MC | 2019 All-ODAC 2nd Team; 6th in the ODAC in DCs (27) in 2020; 164 career DCs with 54 GBs and 27 CTs; 51 career points on 38 goals and 13 assists
• McKenzie Hynson, R-MC | 2nd in the ODAC in DC's (35), 4th in free-position goals (7-of-13) in 2020
• Maggie Lewis, RC | 2018 All-ODAC 1st Team; 58 career points (49 g, 9 a) including 41 in 2018
• Allyson Bittinger, SU | 2x All-ODAC; 2018 2nd Team and ROY; 2019 1st Team; led the ODAC in points (36), goals (33) and free-position goals (12-of-14) in 2020; 33 goals was #8 in NCAA D3
• Maddie Re, SU | 15 DCs and 6 CTs to go with 3 points (1 g, 2 a) in 1st collegiate season in 2020
• Natalie Dunn, VWU | 5 goals, 12 GBs and 4 CTs in her 1st collegiate season in 2020
• Christina Cavallo, W&L | 15 goals and 3 caused turnovers in her 1st collegiate season in 2020

   DEFENDERS

• Erin Gardner, LYN | 2019 All-ODAC 3rd Team; 95 career GBs with 76 DCs and 46 CTs; went for 34, 48 and 15 in 2019
• Katie Sheehan, R-MC | 6 GBs and 4 CTs along back line in 2020
• Emerson Foster, RC | 2019 All-ODAC 1st Team; 4th in the ODAC in goals (21) and 6th in DCs (27) in 2020
• Caroline King, SU | 5 GBs and 3 CTs in 1st extended action (started all 7 games) of career in 2020
• Catherine Arrix, W&L | 2019 All-ODAC 2nd Team; 2021 US Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American; 8 caused turnovers and 8 ground balls in 2020; 41 career ground balls and 34 career caused turnovers
• Caroline Hall, W&L | in 23 career games, 26 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers

   GOALKEEPERS
   Goalkeeper Minimums | played in 33% of team goalkeeper minutes (GA, GAA, Save Pct.)

• Mikaela Brooks, BC | 2018 All-ODAC 2nd Team; led the ODAC in GK minutes (361:27) and saves (66), 2nd in save pct. (.528) in 2020
• Kersten Daneau, GC | 2nd in the ODAC in GK minutes (343:46) and GAA (7.51) in 2020
• Ashley MacFarlane, SU | led the ODAC in GAA (5.89) and save pct. (.613) in 2020; save pct. was #6 in NCAA D3
• Jordan Moilanen, VWU | 2019 All-ODAC 3rd Team; 2nd in the ODAC in saves (62) in 2020; 294 career saves with a 12.20 GAA

THE SCHEDULE AND TOURNAMENT

• The ODAC conference schedule is unaltered from previous seasons with teams slated to play 8 league games in an unbalanced format against other league opponents.
• As is consistent with all ODAC sports, the number of non-conference games played will be determined by each school. The maximum number of games -- conference plus non-conference -- remains at 18 events.
• The 2021 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Tournament will still feature seven teams, but the format will alter slightly. The first round will be competed on Monday, April 26 at the #6 seed. The quarterfinals will feature at the #3 and #4 seeds on Wednesday, April 28. The semifinals will be hosted by the #1 and #2 seeds on Friday, April 29. The championship will be played at the highest remaining seed on Sunday, May 2.
• The selections for the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament will be announced on Monday, May 3.

Listed below is the 2021 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Coaches Poll. Be sure to check out the preseason capsules for more details on each team.

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 Instagram.

2021 ODAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE COACHES POLL