Lynchburg, Va. Wesleyan Both in Top-25

KANSAS CITY, Kans. --- Lynchburg College and Virginia Wesleyan College both earned spots in the 2009 NSCAA/adidas Division III Preseason Top-25 Poll, as released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  The Hornets enter the season as the 10th ranked team nationally while the Marlins aren't far back in the 12th position.  Both teams made the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2008.

Lynchburg (21-1-3 in '08) won the ODAC title in dramatic fasion over VWC.  Ashley Hoath, the ODAC Player of the Year, netted three second half goals to overcome a 2-0 deficit.  LC went on to win two games in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Maryville, 3-0, and trouncing Emory, 1-0.  Both of those wins came in Lynchburg.  The Hornets then traveled to Williams College where they fell, 1-0, to Ithaca College in the Round of 16.

Virginia Wesleyan (14-3-4) owned a 2-0 lead in the ODAC title game on goals by Stacy Zeiler and Jerilyn Sweeney before Hoath notched her second half trio for Lynchburg.  The Marlins earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, drawing Richard Stockton in the opening round.  VWC needed extra time to get the job done, but the Marlins advanced past RSC on penalty kicks, 6-5.  Their season came to a close against N.C. Wesleyan in round two by virtue of a 1-0 scoreline.

For a look at the entire NSCAA/adidas Preseason Top-25 Poll, click on the following link: http://www.nscaa.com/seniorRes.php?it=967