LC Receives 11 First Place Votes
FOREST, Va. --- Six-time defending ODAC champion Lynchburg College opens the 2016 season in a familiar position as the Hornets headline the ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. LC picked up 11 first place votes on the way to 142 total points, making it one of a record six programs to crack the 100-point plateau. Washington and Lee sits second with 131 points and one top nod.
The next four positions are separated by just seven points with Shenandoah University chiming in third at 108 tallies. Virginia Wesleyan College (106) is just one notch clear of Bridgewater College (105), with the Eagles receiving the remaining first place vote. Roanoke College, the 2015 conference runner-up, caps the century club with 101 points.
Coming off a national title in 2014, Lynchburg continued its strong play in 2015 despite seeing a long streak come to an end. A 1-1 tie with Shenandoah in mid-October snapped a string of 39 straight regular season ODAC victories, a run that dated back to the 2012 campaign. LC returned to its winning ways in the subsequent four games leading up to an ODAC title matchup with Roanoke. RC and LC played to a 1-1 draw thru 110 minutes of action, leaving the game result and conference hardware up to a penalty shootout. Lynchburg came out ahead from the spot, 5-3, to lock up its ODAC-record 14th women's soccer crown.
Lynchburg continued its season in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament, but its stay proved shorter than desired. Following a 1-0 opening round victory over Babson College, the Hornets were eliminated from the national field via the same scoreline by host Rowan University in round two.
The 2016 season kicks off with plenty of talent returning to fields across the conference as 25 All-ODAC honorees from 2015 dot league rosters. Nine of those athletes earned All-ODAC First Team laurels last year, including reigning ODAC Player of the Year Emily Maxwell from Lynchburg. She's joined by fellow LC defender Natalie Deacon and forward Hannah Olds. Shenandoah and Washington and Lee both feature a pair of first team returners. Centerback Michelle Krause and goalkeeper Erin Septer spearhead SU's defensive third, while forward Tricia Jessee and fullback Ashley Hogan boost both ends of the pitch for the Generals. Bridgewater features goal-scorer Keri Rager, while Virginia Wesleyan welcomes back midfielder Zoe Traficante.
The 2016 season begins with non-conference play on Tuesday, September 1. The first ODAC game is slated for September 17 as Emory & Henry College welcomes Sweet Briar College back to the ODAC following a one year hiatus from full-time conference competition. If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistics links.
Listed below is the 2016 ODAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC women's soccer programs. For more information on ODAC women's soccer, 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.
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2016 Poll Position: 5th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-8-1/6-4-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Lost in Quarterfinals (VWC, 2-1) Head Coach: Mike Van Horn Overall Record/Yrs: 89-58-8 (.589)/8 Record at BC/Yrs: 89-58-8 (.589)/8 ODAC Record/Yrs: 58-30-3 (.654)/8 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Keri Rager (F) Second Team: None (of two) Third Team: Sarah Brennan (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 30 - Keri Rager Goals: 14 - Keri Rager Assists: 8 - Isabella Krider Saves: 64 - Hayley Talbot |
2016 Poll Position: 7th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-9/5-6 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7/Lost in Quarterfinals (SU, 1-0) Head Coach: Jay Howell Overall Record/Yrs: 17-17-1 (.500)/2 Record at RMC/Yrs: 17-17-1 (.500)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 11-12-0 (.478)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: Caroline Hollandsworth (D) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 7 - Jenna Burns Goals: 3 - Jenna Burns Assists: 1 - TaylorAnne Barry/Jenna Burns/Olivia Maust Saves: 4 - Lindsay Zachman |
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2016 Poll Position: 11th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 2-15-1/1-9-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Ted Erickson Overall Record/Yrs: 8-27-2 (.243)/2 Record at EMU/Yrs: 8-27-2 (.243)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 5-17-1 (.239)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 12 - Amanda Williams Goals: 5 - Amanda Williams Assists: 4 - Emma Petersheim Saves: 10 - Briana Stanard |
2016 Poll Position: 6th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-7-3/6-5-0 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Finals (LC, 1-1, 5-3 on PKs) Head Coach: Phil Benne Overall Record/Yrs: 309-178-40 (.624)/27 Record at RC/Yrs: 309-178-40 (.624)/27 ODAC Record/Yrs: 184-69-17 (.713)/27 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: NOne Second Team: Laura Sullivan (D) Third Team: Linnea Kremer (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 12 - Linnea Kremer Goals: 4 - Linnea Kremer Assists: 4 - Linnea Kremer Saves: 4 - Caroline Liebel/Sydney Sherman |
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2016 Poll Position: 9th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 3-12-3/1-8-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Linda Schirmeister-Gess Overall Record/Yrs: 17-48-5 (.279)/4 Record at E&H/Yrs: 17-48-5 (.279)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 13-30-4 (.319)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 9 - Christina Ameen/Gillian Hogg/Samantha Sampson Goals: 4 - Gillian Hogg Assists: 3 - Christina Ameen/Lauren Fleming/Samantha Sampson Saves: 82 - Kayla Wright |
2016 Poll Position: 3rd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-7-1/9-1-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Lost in Semifinals (RC, 1-0) Head Coach: Liz Pike Overall Record/Yrs: 91-79-15 (.532)/9 Record at SU/Yrs: 91-79-15 (.532)/9 ODAC Record/Yrs: 30-13-4 (.681)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Michelle Krause (D), Erin Septer (GK) Second Team: None Third Team: Elizabeth Bellido (M), Jennifer Nguyen (F) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 16 - Rebecca Collimore Goals: 6 - Rebecca Collimore Assists: 6 - Alysha McCleaf Saves: 83 - Erin Septer |
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2016 Poll Position: 8th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-10-1/4-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Michael Shenigo Overall Record/Yrs: 10-44-2 (.196)/3 Record at GC/Yrs: 10-44-2 (.196)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 7-28-0 (.200)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 12 - Juliana Evans-Anfom Goals: 4 - Juliana Evans-Anfom Assists: 4 - Juliana Evans-Anfom Saves: 39 - Maggie Albert |
2016 Poll Position: 12th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-8 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not compete in the ODAC Head Coach: Amy Dahlin Overall Record/Yrs: 0-8-0 (.000)/1 Record at SU/Yrs: 0-8-0 (.000)/1 ODAC Record/Yrs: First ODAC Season Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: N/A Second Team: N/A Third Team: N/A Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 3 - Des'rae Davis Goals: 1 - Jona Cumani/Des'rae Davis/Alicia Wooten Assists: 1 - Des'rae Davis Saves: 2 - Caroline Thomas |
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2016 Poll Position: 13th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 0-17/0-11 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Robin Ramirez Overall Record/Yrs: 11-74-1 (.134)/4 Record at HU/Yrs: 0-33-0 (.000)/2 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-23-0 (.000)/2 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 2 - Ciera Morris Goals: 1 - Ciera Morris Assists: 1 - MacKenzie Roberts Saves: 175 - Audrey Haisley |
2016 Poll Position: 4th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-10/8-3 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Lost in Semifinals (LC, 4-0) Head Coach: Jeff Bowers Overall Record/Yrs: 237-73-32 (.740)/16 Record at VWC/Yrs: 237-73-32 (.740)/16 ODAC Record/Yrs: 145-23-12 (.839)/16 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Zoe Traficante (M) Second Team: Ann Marie Moffett (D) Third Team: Julia Downing (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 6 - Annie Hartman/Katie Roberts/Madison Sanders/Zoe Traficante Goals: 3 - Katie Roberts/Madison Sanders Assists: 2 - Catherine Galway/Annie Hartman/Abigail Nickle/Zoe Traficante/Brittany Wentzel Saves: 36 - Megan Gerhart |
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2016 Poll Position: 1st 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 20-3-2/10-0-1 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Champion (W&L, 1-1, 5-3 on PKs) 2015 NCAA Tournament: Lost in 2nd Round (def. Babson, 1-0; lost to Rowan, 1-0) Head Coach: Dr. Todd Olsen Overall Record/Yrs: 384-85-44 (.791)/22 Record at LC/Yrs: 384-85-44 (.791)/22 ODAC Record/Yrs: 191-25-16 (.858)/22 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Natalie Deacon (D), Hannah Olds (F), Emily Maxwell (D - POY) Second Team: Camille Bartley (M), Tess Frelick (GK) Third Team: Kelley Smith (M) Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 35 - Hannah Olds Goals: 14 - Hannah Olds Assists: 7 - Hannah Olds Saves: 40 - Tess Frelick |
2016 Poll Position: 2nd 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 13-3-1/9-2 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (RC, 1-1, 5-3 on PKs) Head Coach: Neil Cunningham Overall Record/Yrs: 277-78-31 (.758)/21 Record at W&L/Yrs: 215-48-27 (.788)/15 ODAC Record/Yrs: 134-20-14 (.839) /15 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: Ashley Hogan (D), Tricia Jessee (F) Second Team: Caroline Peters (F), Katie Pettit (M), Danielle Spickard (M - ROY), Hollis Tardy (D) Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 26 - Caroline Peters Goals: 11 - Caroline Peters Assists: 7 - Tricia Jessee Saves: 3 - Maggie Nolan |
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2016 Poll Position: 10th 2015 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-12-1/4-7 2015 Tournament - Seed/Result: #8/Lost in Quarterfinals (LC, 10-0) Head Coach: Kevin Porterfield Overall Record/Yrs: 77-161-6 (.328)/14 Record at RAND/Yrs: 77-161-6 (.328)/14 ODAC Record/Yrs: 32-122-3 (.213)/14 Returning All-ODAC Players First Team: None Second Team: None Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders Points: 13 - Sam Hablas Goals: 6 - Sam Hablas Assists: 3 - Meghan Curtin Saves: 119 - Stephanie Quirk |