FOREST, Va. – The Old Dominion Athletic Conference released its 2022 preseason coaches poll for men's lacrosse on Friday afternoon and Washington and Lee was picked to finish second overall out of the 11 schools that sponsor the sport.
 
Defending champion Lynchburg leads the polling with 10 first-place votes and 100 points.  W&L is second with 91 points and the other first-place vote, while Hampden-Sydney is picked third with 81 points.  Roanoke is fourth with 70 points and Randolph-Macon sits in fifth with 62 points.  Bridgewater (59), Shenandoah (46), Guilford (34), Virginia Wesleyan (32), Ferrum (20) and Randolph (10) rounded out the poll.
 
Washington and Lee completed the 2021 season with an 11-5 overall record and the Generals earned the top seed for the ODAC Tournament for a fourth consecutive season after posting a 9-1 league mark. 
 
Lynchburg claimed the ODAC tournament crown in 2021, but the Blue & White has dominated the regular season in recent years.  The Generals are 45-3 in conference play dating back to the beginning of the 2016 campaign.
 
W&L begins the season ranked 20th in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 and the Blue & White returns six starters from a season ago, including two starting close defensemen.  Headlining the group is junior Harris Hubbard (Daniel Island, S.C. / Bishop England), who garnered First Team All-ODAC, Second Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-America laurels.  Hubbard started all 16 games, totaling 23 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers.  Senior Michael Horgan (Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Catholic) also returns after earning Third Team All-ODAC honors after posting 24 ground balls and leading the team with 18 caused turnovers.
 
Senior attackman Taylor Witherell (Wilmington, Del. / Salesianum) headlines the offensive players as he returns for a fifth season.  He earned Second Team All-ODAC accolades in 2021, tallying 36 points on 27 goals and nine assists. 
 
Midfielders Henry Holliday (Washington, D.C. / St. Albans) and Tommy MacCowatt (New Vernon, N.J. / Delbarton) are returning starters in the midfield.  A junior, Holliday garnered Third Team All-ODAC honors last season, registering 25 points on 18 goals and seven assists.  A senior, MacCowatt also scored 25 points, coming on 18 goals and seven assists.
 
The Generals open the 2022 season on February 12 when they host Catholic for a 2:00 pm contest.

 

2022 ODAC MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes First Place Votes
1. Lynchburg (10)	100 pts.
2. Washington and Lee (1)	91 pts.
3. Hampden-Sydney	81 pts.
4. Roanoke	70 pts.
5. Randolph-Macon	62 pts.
6. Bridgewater	59 pts.
7. Shenandoah	46 pts.
8. Guilford	34 pts.
9. Virginia Wesleyan	32 pts.
10. Ferrum	20 pts.
11. Randolph	10 pts.