Roanoke on Top of ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Poll

Roanoke on Top of ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Poll
Lynchburg, Washington & Lee Sit Second and Third
February 15, 2008
Story courtesy of the ODAC sports information office

SALEM, Va. --- Roanoke College picked up four first place selections and 45 total votes as the Maroons headline the tight 2008 ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll.  Lynchburg College sits just two votes shy of Roanoke, having earned 43 total nods including a pair of first place considerations.  Washington & Lee University received the remaining first place vote and 35 total tallies.

 The preseason has been an active one for the ODAC with four teams regularly appearing in various preseason polls.  In the LAXnews.com national preseason poll, Roanoke and Lynchburg were picked to finish tied for fourth.  Washington & Lee was chosen 14th, and Hampden-Sydney College was picked to finish 20th.  According to United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), Roanoke was again selected fourth with Lynchburg in the five spot, Washington & Lee in 15th position, and Hampden-Sydney as the 17th choice.  In the Inside Lacrosse Face-off Yearbook preseason poll, Lynchburg was selected third with Roanoke 5th, Washington & Lee 14th and Hampden-Sydney 16th.

Roanoke (15-5, 5-1 ODAC) won its league-best 14th conference championship, its second straight with both wins coming against Lynchburg College.  The Maroons must replace the talents of all-time leading scorer and former national and ODAC player of the year, Jon Mason, to make a run at a third straight league crown.  Zach Thomas and Chaz Carlson return from All-ODAC first team campaigns a year ago.  The duo combined for 138 points on 62 goals and 76 assists.  ODAC Rookie of the Year, Pat March, looks to continue his strong run after posting 49 points on 34 goals and 15 assists last year.  Also back is sophomore goalkeeper Jake Dorsey, who finished the 2007 season with an 11-2 record.  Billy Cameron will handle face-off duties after winning 182-of-314 opportunities.  He also tied for the league lead in ground balls with 112.

Lynchburg (13-4, 4-2 ODAC) fell just short of winning its third ODAC championship after having won the 2003 and 2005 titles.  Tyler Tolson and Ryan Cranston return to the attack and midfield of the Hornets’ line-up after enjoying All-ODAC first team success last season.  Tolson finished fifth in the league with 61 points on 57 goals and four assists, and Cranston wasn’t far back in seventh with 31 scores and 19 helpers for 50 points.  Stephen Weis and Johnny Black return from All-ODAC second team campaigns and bring an extra 80 points combined (44 goals, 36 assists) to the table for the Hornets.  Garret Curran is back for his senior season between the pipes after posting a 7.96 goals-against-average in 2007.

Washington & Lee (9-6, 2-2 ODAC), winner of eight ODAC crowns in its history, has a pair of All-ODAC first team selections to replace in defenseman Peter Goodwin and goalkeeper Chris Lalli.  Three of the Generals top four scorers are back in action in hopes of adding a little more scoring punch while the defense adjusts to its newcomers.  Juniors Harry St. John and Tim Skeen (both All-ODAC second team choices in 2007) are joined by sophomore Will Keigler to form a trio that notched 91 points on 49 goals and 42 assists.  Junior Seldon Clarke was excellent on face-offs, converting 62.7-percent of his chances (160-of-255).  He also tied for the ODAC lead in ground balls with 112.

Listed below you’ll find the entire 2008 ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll.  For more information, visit the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.

2008 ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Poll

(#) Denotes first place votes