LC, RC, WLU Separated by 15 Points from the Top
SALEM, Va. --- Only 15 points separate
the first team from the fourth squad in the 2008 ODAC Women's
Soccer Preseason Poll. Virginia Wesleyan College picked up a
half-dozen first place votes on its way to leading the annual
coaches' survey with 134 points. Lynchburg, the 2007
conference champion, collected 127 points and four top tallies with
Roanoke College and Washington and Lee University each receiving
one first place nod towards 123 and 119 points, respectively.
Lynchburg proved the eventual champion of the 2007 ODAC tournament
by a 2-0 score at Roanoke. The Hornets were joined by
at-large selections Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan in the NCAA
tournament. All three squads made it through the first round
with Lynchburg beating Maryville (1-0), Roanoke trouncing Methodist
(3-1) and Virginia Wesleyan defeating Johns Hopkins (2-0).
York got the best of the Marlins in the second round, 1-0, and a
Betsy Kwiatkowski second-half goal sent the Hornets past the
Maroons into the Round of 16. Lynchburg continued its march
in the tournament on its home turf with a 2-1 victory over Emory,
but its run ended just one win away from the national semifinals
with a 1-0 loss to The College of New Jersey.
Virginia Wesleyan (15-2-4 overall, 10-0-1 ODAC in 2007) put six
players on the All-ODAC teams last year including five first team
choices, but the Marlins only return junior forward Jen Colwell
from that group. She tallied four goals to go with three
assists. The cupboard is far from bare after Colwell as VWC
welcomes back five other double-digit scorers from 2007.
Juniors Nicki Mazzoccone (5 goals, 2 asst.) and Stacy Zeiler (4
goals, 5 asst.) return to the midfield along with sophomore Bonnie
Braziel (7 goals, 1 asst.). Fellow second year standouts
Courtney Whorten (7 goals, 8 asst.) and Kelly Higgins (7 goals)
join Colwell up front.
Lynchburg (19-4-3, 8-2-1) also saw six athletes garner All-ODAC
honors including a pair of first teamers. The Hornets welcome
back Betsy Kwiatkowski, the 2007 Rookie of the Year and first team
choice. The second year striker led the league in points (54)
and goals scored (22) while sharing the assists crown with three
other players (10). Lynchburg also returns a pair of junior
second team selections in midfielder Ashley Hoath (9 goals, 3
asst.) and defender Katelyn LeRiche (1 assist).
Roanoke (18-4-1, 10-1-0) and 2007 ODAC Coach of the Year, Phil
Benne, return the top six scorers from a season ago including
All-ODAC first team senior forwards, Meredith Grunewald (11 goals,
10 asst.) and Kristen McCoy (15 goals, 1 asst). Junior
Margaret Houston (10 goals, 1 asst) and seniors Tami Alcalde (6
goals, 2 asst.) and Melissa Laughlin (3 goals, 5 asst.) join the
attack up top while sophomore McKenzie Garst (5 goals, 3 asst.)
provides a force from her defensive role. Sophomore
midfielder Jessica Welfare (3 goals, 1 asst.) joined Grunewald and
McCoy on the All-ODAC first team.
Washington and Lee (16-4-0, 9-2-0) also greets three returning
first team performers including leading scorer, Anne Van
Devender. The senior striker finished second in the
conference with 40 points on 15 goals and 10 assists. She was
joined on the first team by junior Roz Klann (8 goals, 1 asst.) and
senior Marisa Van Brunt (5 goals, 1 asst.).
The 2008 campaign kicks off on Friday, August 29. The ODAC
Championship is set for Saturday, November 8 at a site to be
determined by the season's outcome.
Listed below is the 2008 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.
For more information on women's soccer, visit the ODAC on the
Internet at www.odaconline.com or any of the
school websites.
2008 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Virginia Wesleyan |
134 (6) |
2. Lynchburg |
127 (4) |
3. Roanoke |
123 (1) |
4. Washington and Lee |
119 (1) |
5. Eastern Mennonite |
90 |
6. Guilford |
89 |
7. Randolph-Macon |
66 |
8. Bridgewater |
58 |
9. Emory & Henry |
57 |
10. Randolph |
28 |
11. Sweet Briar |
23 |
12. Hollins |
22 |