Hornets Followed by Virginia Wesleyan, Washington and Lee in Top Three

 FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College secured a dozen first place votes on the way to 144 total points to top the 2012 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.  Virginia Wesleyan College secured the remaining top nod as part of 130 tallies.  Washington and Lee University sits third with 118 points while Roanoke College (110) and Bridgewater College (106) also eclipsed the century mark in fourth and fifth position, respectively (full poll results below).

Lynchburg (19-2-2, 10-0-1), who is ranked 15^th in the 2012 NSCAA Preseason Poll, has won two straight and six of the past eight ODAC women's soccer titles, picked up its 10th overall crown with a 1-0 triumph over Virginia Wesleyan in the 2011 ODAC Tournament title game.  Both teams were joined by Roanoke in the NCAA Division III Tournament, but none would advance past the first round.  The Marlins fell 1-0 to Williams College, while both LC and RC were eliminated in penalty shootouts following 0-0 ties through regulation and extra time. 

Todd Olsen, the 2010 and 2011 ODAC Coach of the Year, welcomes back four All-ODAC Hornets from last season, including ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year, Dessi Dupuy.  Dupuy, a first-teamer at the forward position, led the conference in points (60) and goals (27).  Joining Dupuy on the first team is classmate Angela Bosco.  Bosco, also a forward, was second in the league in points (41) and goals (18).  The defense will have fellow second team honoree Tori Dott (1a) back in action, while second-teamer Jessie Gonzalez (3g) will add to the midfield.

Virginia Wesleyan (18-4, 9-2) is ranked 20^th in the NSCAA Preseason Poll and returns five all-conference players to Virginia Beach for the 2012 campaign.  Senior forward Jessica Edelman earned first team honors and was also named the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete after posting 38 points on 12 goals and a league-best 14 assists.  Her 12 goals ranked fourth in the conference, while her 38 points was the third best mark.  Joining Edelman on the first team is senior defender Krista Witmer (3g).  Senior forward Christina Fernandes (9g, 8a) collected second-team honors, while senior forward Bre Ingargiola (11g, 7a) was named to the All-ODAC Third Team.  Junior goalkeeper Erica Keil (0.47gaa, 58sv) is back in goal after garnering third team honors last season.

Washington and Lee (13-4-2, 7-2-2) will be without a familiar face in two-time first team and 2009 ODAC Player of the Year, goalkeeper Emily Leary, but two All-ODAC First Team players return to the mountains this season.  The Generals enjoy the return of the 2011 ODAC Co-Rookie of the Year, midfielder Holley Beasley (12g, 4a), and sophomore forward Katherine Rush (12g, 5a).  Beasley's 12 goals tied for the fourth best conference total, while Rush finished with 29 points, which was good enough for fifth in the league.

Roanoke (14-5-2, 8-3) welcomes back four all-conference selections from last season.  Senior midfielder Carmen Graves (9g, 3a) and junior defender Maya Kantor (1a) were two Maroons named to the first team.  Senior forward Rebekah Adams (6g, 5a) garnered second team accolades, while senior midfielder Stephanie Parenteau (5g,5a) collected third team honors.

Bridgewater (13-5-1, 8-3) returns a wealth of talent including three second team selections and two third team picks.  Junior forward Melanie Waters (12g, 5a), sophomore midfielder Anna Theisen (7g, 3a), and sophomore defender Elizabeth Stump all earned second team honors.  Sophomore forward Mari Marotta (4g, 11a) and sophomore defender Erin Holden collected third team accolades.  Marotta's 11 assists were the third best mark in the conference.

Shenandoah University (15-7-1, 7-2 USA South) enters the ODAC with three returning All-USA South Conference players.  The Hornets are looking to make their first post season appearance in the ODAC.  Junior midfielder Hannah Oakes (3g, 1a) earned first team honors along with senior defender Sarah Hensley (2g, 2a).  Junior defender Jenna Kline (1g, 4a) was tabbed to the third team.

Guilford College (10-8-2, 5-4-2) has two key components returning for the 2012 campaign in sophomore forward Hannah Schiltz and senior midfielder Jaclyn Nucci.  Schiltz led the Quakers in scoring with 21 points on 10 goals and one assist, while Nucci tallied six goals and dished out four assists.

Randolph-Macon College (7-9-1, 5-6), Eastern Mennonite University (3-15, 3-8), and Emory & Henry College (9-8-1, 4-6-1) are all looking to make strides towards an ODAC postseason berth.  The Yellow Jackets welcome back their leading scorer in senior forward Erin Hauser, who totaled 28 points on 12 goals and four assists.  The Royals return junior goalkeeper Jenni Beck, who started 17 games last season and recorded a 2.70 goals against average and notched 133 saves, which were second in the league.  Also returning in the back for EMU is sophomore defender Naomi Good, who started all 18 games.  The Wasps welcome back their top two leading scorers in sophomore forward Erica Merriman (11g) and junior forward Bethany Myer (7g, 3a).  Senior forward Kellie Flaherty (3g, 1a) will also contribute up top, while junior goalkeeper Sarah Jerome (1.99gaa, 44sv) returns to direct the backline.

Randolph College (5-10, 2-9), Hollins University (4-13, 2-9), and Sweet Briar College (1-13, 0-11) also look to continue their upward trends in the conference rankings.  Junior forward Marielle Rando (5g, 5a) and sophomore forward Brittany Hammons (6g, 2a) return as the two leading scorers for the WildCats.  Sophomore goalkeeper Hunter Gibson (2.99gaa, 138sv) is also back in the net.  Gibson led the league with her 138 saves.  HU welcomes back junior midfielder Dani Franklin, who registered five points on two goals and one assist, while Sweet Briar returns senior forward Alison Lifka (2g) and sophomore forward Nina Kappel to the Vixens' offense.

Listed below is the 2012 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools' websites, 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.

2012 ODAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes