2003 was a glorious year for the Hornets, as they won the first ODAC title in program history. The team went 12-5 and 4-2 in ODAC play. The squad beat Roanoke 13-10 in the first round of the ODAC playoffs that set up a final with Washington and Lee on Shellenberger Field. Regulation wasn't enough time to declare one team the winner, but the Hornets eventually prevailed in overtime to take a 6-5 win to capture the ODAC championship. As a result of the win, the squad gained an automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs for just the second time in program history and had a first-round bye, only to lose to Franklin & Marshall 12-13 in overtime.
Billy McCulloch had an explosive offensive season, tallying 61 points (41g, 20a) which places him ninth in program history for that category. Kevin Reinecke led the Hornets with 45 goals, good for seventh in school history, and Scott McAlee controlled the faceoff x, winning 209 of 393 attempts along with 113 groundballs, which is tenth best in the record books. Nick Braun started 13 games in net for the Hornets and had a 7.82 goals against average and a save percentage of 56.8%.
All-ODAC:
Brandon Childs (1st Team)
Paul Venturella (1st Team)
Ryan Johnson (1st Team)
Reinecke (2nd Team)
McCulloch (2nd Team)
Joe Matta (2nd Team)
All-America:
Paul Venturella
Brandon Childs
Ryan Johnson
Kevin Reinecke
Billy McCulloch
Memories from 2003:
From Billy McCulloch- '05 Graduate
Everyone will always remember taking down the Evil Empire on their turf. A bitter cold day when our team came together and was determined to take down the champs. Joe Matta going thru the whole Salisbury defense to crank home the game winner. Nick Braun's heroics against the Gulls making countless saves in the last minute. Beating Roanoke in back-to-back games and ending their season on their field. I will remember winning the program's first ODAC Championship on Shellenberger Field against W&L 6-5 in overtime. With 965 sets of eyes on him, Kevin Reinecke put the ball past the keeper to win it. That is the best way to win a championship! I will remember what a great senior class we had in 2003!
From Chris Johnson 2004 Grad
Heavy snow hit Lynchburg in the week leading up to our first home game of the year against St. Mary's. Our would be early Saturday morning lifting session / field house practice turns into the great Shellenberger Snow Shovel off of '03. I still remember the look on people's faces in McWane when they awoke to 40 guys dressed in red shoveling snow off a grass field on a Saturday morning. Added bonus, this was the day of the "Snowball from the Grassy Knoll" that hit Coach Koudelka square in the back of the head. (Many years later a photo was found that revealed the identity of the lone snow ball thrower).
2003 (12-5)
Ohio Wesleyan L, 13-16
St. Mary's W, 9-8
Widener W, 9-8
Stevens Tech W, 10-9
Limestone L, 6-7
Hamilton W, 13-6
Randolph-Macon W, 19-8
Greensboro W, 14-6
Washington and Lee L, 9-12
Guilford W, 22-6
Salisbury W 13-12
Virginia Wesleyan , 15-4
Hampden-Sydney L, 7-8
Roanoke W, 17-9
Roanoke W, 13-10
Washington & Lee, W 6-5
Franklin & Marshall L 12-13
