FOREST, Va. — The Old Dominion Athletic Conference announced its 2022 women's lacrosse preseason coaches' poll on Friday, and fifth-ranked Washington and Lee was selected to finish first in the league out of 10 teams.
 
The Generals garnered 81 points and nine first-place votes. W&L has won 11 straight ODAC titles and 17 of the last 18. Roanoke was second with 69 points and the other first-place nod. Shenandoah was picked third with 65 points, Lynchburg was fourth (58 points) and Randolph-Macon rounded out the Top 5 with 52 points.
 
Bridgewater (35 points), Ferrum (33 points), Guilford (25 points), Virginia Wesleyan (23 points) and Randolph (9 points) completed the poll.
 
The Generals ended 2021 with a 14-1 overall record and the team went a perfect 8-0 in conference play. Along with winning the ODAC title, the Blue and White advanced to the regional semifinal in the NCAA Tournament. Washington and Lee returns 25 players from last season's squad, including one All-America honoree, three all-region players and nine All-ODAC recipients.
 
Junior attacker Allie Schwab (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Harriton) was named a USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American in December after earning IWLCA Second Team All-America, First Team All-Region and First Team All-ODAC honors last spring. She led the Blue and White in points (69) in 2021, totaling 35 goals and 34 assists.
 
Along with Schwab, W&L returns two other All-ODAC attackers from last season in senior Katherine Faria (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) and sophomore Hanna Bishop (Bronxville, N.Y./Bronxville). A Second Team All-ODAC selection last year, Faria was second on the team with 41 goals and fourth on the squad in points (53). The ODAC Rookie of the Year and Third Team All-ODAC in 2021, Bishop tallied a team-high 46 goals to go with seven assists for 53 points.
 
In the midfield, the Generals bring back second team all-conference performers in juniors Christina Cavallo (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephens & St. Agnes' School) and Jenny Lisovicz (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge). Cavallo notched 25 goals and four assists for 29 points, while Lisovicz registered 12 goals, seven assists, 41 draw controls and 23 ground balls.
 
Senior defender Caroline Hall (Henrico, Va./Collegiate School), junior defender Sam Van Belle (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon), sophomore defender Allie Doyle (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) and sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Kranich (State College, Pa./Mercersburg Academy) all return for a defensive unit that allowed just 5.53 goals per game last season, which was the sixth-best average in Division III. In 2021, Hall and Van Belle were Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ODAC, Kranich was First Team All-ODAC and Doyle was Third Team All-ODAC.
  
W&L opens the season on February 19 at seventh-ranked Franklin & Marshall at 12:00 pm.
 
ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Washington and Lee (9) - 81 pts.
2. Roanoke College (1) - 69 pts.
3. Shenandoah University - 65 pts.
4. University of Lynchburg - 58 pts.
5. Randolph-Macon College - 52 pts.
6. Bridgewater College - 35 pts.
7. Ferrum College - 33 pts.
8. Guilford College - 25 pts.
9. Virginia Wesleyan University - 23 pts.
10. Randolph College - 9 pts.