As we flip the calendars to August, only a couple of weeks remain until the Lynchburg College fall athletic teams will take to the field. The fall student-athletes report back as early as August 18 for tryouts, pre-season paperwork, workouts, and early practices. How do the Hornet 2009 teams look for upcoming fall play?
The field hockey team has expectations set high after three-straight Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) titles and four-consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. The 2008 team finished 18-6 with a 6-1 record in regular-season conference play. The team lost no starters to graduation, and returns honorable mention All-American Allie Weir. The junior attack led the country with 35 goals and is closing in on the career mark at the college, just five tallies shy of the record.
The volleyball team has a strong returning nucleus as well, as last year's squad had no seniors on the roster, and nine of the team's 11 players were freshmen and sophomores. Lynchburg picked up steam at the end of the season in 2008, upsetting second-seeded Randolph-Macon College and #3 seed Virginia Wesleyan College to earn a spot in the ODAC Tournament title game for the first time in history. Sophomore libero Savannah Tinsley was the top award winner, nabbing first-team All-OAC and second-team All-State honors.
The men's cross country team won its 13th ODAC title in program history last fall, despite fielding another Hornet roster with no seniors. LC placed sixth at the South/Southeast Regionals in a 19-team field, with junior Ricky Flynn taking third place to advance to national competition. Flynn finished 14th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country nationals to earn All-American honors.
The women's cross country team took third at the ODAC Championships in 2008, just a few points behind the second spot. The LC women placed eighth at the NCAA Regional out of 24 teams, with junior Ashley Meyer finishing 21st and sophomore Jennie Pernisi taking 23rd to earn All-Region honors. With only one senior on the roster last fall, a very competitive squad is expected in 2009.
The men's soccer team also had an outstanding season in 2008, ending the campaign with a 14-2-4 record and 7-0-3 in regular-season conference action. Pat Brown, a junior defender/midfielder, and Hunter Smith, a sophomore defender, both earned first-team all-conference accolades. Junior midfielder Josh Reed captured first-team All-State honors. The Hornets take a 13-game unbeaten streak into the start of the 2009 season.
The women's soccer team has dominated the conference the last several seasons, winning the last two ODAC titles and four of the last five. LC was 21-1-3 in 2008 and 9-0-2 in the conference, advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament's Sweet 16 for the second-straight season. The Hornets were young last fall, as only one senior is lost to graduation entering a promising 2009 season. Junior Ashley Hoath earned third-team All-American and ODAC Player of the Year honors last fall and sister Beverly Hoath was voted the Rookie of the Year.
Last year's fall teams won three conference titles, while the other three teams had outstanding seasons. With only 10 seniors on the combined six squads - Hornet fans should be looking ahead to an exciting fall!