W&L's Spickard, SU's Burris also Honored

FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College centerback Emily Maxwell and Roanoke College mentor Phil Benne headline the 2015 ODAC Women's Soccer awards, as the pair garnered ODAC Player of the Year and ODAC Coach of the Year honors.  Washington and Lee University midfielder Danielle Spickard earned ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades, while Shenandoah University midfielder Danielle Burris received the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award.

The 2015 All-ODAC Teams feature 20 repeat honorees of the 39 selections.  The All-ODAC First Team is dotted with 11 former selections, including 2014 first teamers Maxwell, forward Tricia Jessee (W&L), midfielder Jade Woll (LC), and defender Ashley Hogan (W&L).  Forwards Keri Rager (BC) and Morgan Singer (LC), midfielder Michelle Viegas (BC), and defender Natalie Deacon (LC) were All-ODAC Second Team choices last year.  A trio from Shenandoah made the jump from All-ODAC Third Team including Burris, defender Michelle Krause, and goalkeeper Erin Septer.

Maxwell, a sophomore from Quantico, Va., became a stalwart in Lynchburg's run to the national title on the way to earning top rookie recognition in 2014 and continued her progression to player of the year this season.  She anchored the ODAC's best defensive unit, which allowed just one goal in conference play and eight goals overall.  Maxwell was at the heart of the Hornets' defense for all 23 games leading to their upcoming appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  Her efforts helped the Hornets preserve four one-goal victories on the season.  Aside from shutting down opposing attacks, Maxwell also got forward to register six points on two goals and two assists.

Benne just completed his 26th season holding the reins of the Maroons women's program.  This is the fifth time he's been honored as the league's top coach, joining his recognition in 1990, 1992, 1998 and 2007.  Benne's 2015 squad posted an 11-7-3 overall record and a 6-5 league mark on the way to the sixth seed in the ODAC Tournament.  Six of his team's losses were by one goal with three of those decisions coming in overtime.  Despite the low-tournament seeding, Roanoke topped the second and third-seeded teams on the way to the program's 14th ODAC title game appearance, it's first since 2007.  The Maroons played to a 1-1 draw thru regulation and overtime with top-seeded Lynchburg, the Maroons second double-overtime contest with the defending national champions on the season.  The Hornets would go on to claim the conference title via penalty kicks.

Spickard, a freshman from Valencia, Calif., stepped right into the Generals' midfield as the holding center-half in front of the back line.  Her linking play helped the Washington and Lee attack register a league-best 50 goals against ODAC opponents and 60 goals overall.  She got forward to score once and dish out one assist.  Spickard also had considerable defensive responsibilities in anchoring the middle of the field, helping W&L allow an ODAC second-best 12 goals overall and six goals against league foes, which ranked third in the conference.

Burris, a senior from Cooksville, Md., repeats as the scholar-athlete award winner and adds this honor to an All-ODAC First Team selection.  In the classroom, Burris boasts a 3.99 grade point average as she continues the pursuit of a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.  A two-time Capital One Academic All-District V First Team honoree, Burris is active in her community, donating her time to Habitat for Humanity, Hungry Hearts, the Salvation Army, and as a reading mentor at Quarles Elementary School.   She's a member of the health and life sciences club, as well as SU's chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta academic and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor societies.  On the pitch, Burris led Shenandoah with 23 points on nine goals and five assists.  Her nine tallies rank sixth in the ODAC.  She scored two goals in a game twice this season, including the game-winner in a 3-1 win over Guilford.  She also notched the game's lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Washington and Lee, which was ranked fifth in the region at the time (Oct. 14).

Listed below are the 2015 All-ODAC Women's Soccer Awards.  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 the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.  Check out the ODAC's YouTube channel.

ODAC Player of the Year: Emily Maxwell, So., D, Lynchburg
ODAC Coach of the Year: Phil Benne, Roanoke
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Danielle Spickard, Fr., M, Washington and Lee
ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Danielle Burris, Sr., M, Shenandoah