Maroons Picked to Win 14th ODAC Men’s Lax Title

SALEM, Va. --- After reaching the national semifinals a season ago, Roanoke College was chosen to repeat as conference champions and make a return trip to the NCAA tournament according to the 2007 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll.

The Maroons earned 46 total votes including five first place selections to place them atop the survey. Hampden-Sydney College comes in second with one first place nod, and Lynchburg College completes the top three selections with 36 total votes. Also receiving a first place selection was Washington & Lee University, who sits in fourth place.

Although Roanoke graduated the 2006 ODAC Player of the Year, Chris Keating, the Maroons return plenty of firepower in All-ODAC performer Jon Mason. The attacker scored 57goals to go with nine assists last season. Head coach Bill Pilat will also benefit from the return of his second leading scorer in All-ODAC second team attacker Zach Thomas. He accounted for 56 total points on 41 goals and 15 helpers.

Hampden-Sydney also returns two first team All-ODAC players in long-stick midfielder Colin Dunn and midfielder Thomas Jennings. Dunn, a strong part of the Tigers defense, snatched up 41 ground balls and caused seven turnovers. Jennings scored 19 goals, including three hat-tricks, to go with 10 assists on the year.

Lynchburg looks forward to a strong offensive season in returning two of its top three scorers, Johnny Black and Ryan Cranston. Black tallied 39 goals and posted a .481 shot percentage while Cranston put up 30 goals for the Hornets.