Five Generals Honored on All-ODAC Field Hockey Teams

SALEM, Va. -- The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released its all-conference field hockey teams on Wednesday afternoon and Washington and Lee had five players honored.

Junior forward Sallie Armstrong (Houston, Texas/St. John's School), senior defender Liz Garson (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) and sophomore midfielder Emily Mathews (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) were all selected to the first team, while junior defender Grace McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam) and senior forward Christina Merchant (Midlothian, Va./Collegiate) were named to the second team.

Armstrong, who garnered first-team accolades for the third-straight year, started all 19 games this fall and led the team in scoring with 37 points. She scored 17 goals, including a team-high four game-winners, and tallied three assists. Armstrong's 17 goals rank second for a season at W&L, while her 37 points are good for third all-time. Additionally, she will enter her senior campaign ranked second all-time in career goals (39) and career points (93), while her 15 career assists are tied for third all-time at W&L.

Garson, who was tabbed to the second team a season ago, collected first-team honors this year. She started all 19 contests this fall and contributed eight points on three goals and two assists. Garson completed her career with 20 points on six goals and eight assists.

Mathews, the 2007 ODAC Rookie of the Year, was tabbed to the first team after earning honorable mention status last year. She started all 19 games this fall and finished third on the team in scoring with 12 points on two goals and eight assists.

McGee garnered second team laurels after receiving honorable mention honors as a sophomore. She started all 19 contests this year as a member of the W&L defense and recorded three points on one goal and one assist.

Merchant, who earned her first all-conference honor, started all 19 games this season and finished second on the team with 18 points. She totaled seven goals, including two game-winners, and dished out four assists. For her career, Merchant tallied 53 points on 20 goals and 13 assists. She finished her four years tied for fifth on the W&L career lists for points (53) and goals (20), while her 13 career assists rank fourth all-time.

Lynchburg College and Eastern Mennonite University swept the other major conference awards, as Allie Weir of LC and EMU's Alyssa Derstine were named the co-ODAC Player of the Year. Lynchburg's Kristina Morris was tabbed Rookie of the Year, while Enza Steele was named Coach of the Year. EMU's Kristina Landis received the league's Scholar-Athete of the Year award for field hockey.

Washington and Lee finished the 2008 season with a 10-9 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the ODAC. The Generals advanced to the ODAC Tournament Semifinals before falling to top-seeded Eastern Mennonite.

--GENERALS--