FOREST, Va. — Washington and Lee University sophomore forward
Madeline Lancione was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Offensive Player of the Year, while head coach
Gina Wills earned her fifth career ODAC Coach of the Year honor to headline the Generals' eight All-Conference selections, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Lancione was joined on the All-ODAC First Team by senior forward
Zoe Dolfis and junior midfielder
Margaret Scheurer. Senior midfielder
Anne Burns Fiveash, senior defender
Elaina Bellone and first-year defender
Ellen Buckwalter earned second-team recognition, while sophomore midfielder
Libby Bowers and first-year goalkeeper
Helenka Chodakiewicz garnered third-team honors.
The postseason recognition follows a championship campaign in which Washington and Lee captured its fifth ODAC title and first since 2022. The 19th-ranked Generals enter the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 14-4 overall record, having won 10 of their last 11 contests, including a 2-0 shutout of top-seeded Lynchburg in the conference championship game.
ODAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — MADELINE LANCIONE
Lancione earned the conference's top offensive honor following a standout sophomore season in which she led Washington and Lee with 29 points on 10 goals and nine assists. Her 10 goals tied for the team lead, while her nine assists paced the Generals. She also led W&L with five game-winning goals and ranked second on the team with 63 shots, including 40 on goal.
The Severna Park, Md., native earned ODAC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 26 after totaling eight points on two goals and four assists in a pair of road victories. Lancione assisted on two goals in a 4-0 conference win at Randolph-Macon before recording a career-high six points on two goals and two assists in a 6-3 victory at Meredith. She contributed to six of the Generals' 10 goals during the week as W&L extended its winning streak to seven games.
Lancione's offensive production helped Washington and Lee score 59 goals in 18 games, averaging 3.28 per contest. The Generals generated 365 shots, including 211 on goal, and held a 143-80 advantage in penalty corners.
In addition to earning the conference's top offensive honor, Lancione was selected to the All-ODAC First Team.
ODAC COACH OF THE YEAR — GINA WILLS
Wills earned her fifth ODAC Coach of the Year honor and first since 2022 after guiding Washington and Lee to its fifth conference championship in program history and fourth during her tenure. She previously received the conference's top coaching recognition in 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2022.
In her 12th season leading the Generals, Wills guided W&L to a 14-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in conference play, securing the No. 2 seed in the ODAC Tournament. Washington and Lee defeated Randolph-Macon, 3-1, in the semifinals before shutting out top-seeded Lynchburg, 2-0, in the championship game to earn the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The championship victory marked a historic milestone for the program, as Washington and Lee earned its first win at Lynchburg's Shellenberger Field after entering the contest with an 0-17 record at the venue. The Generals have now claimed ODAC championships in 2005, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2026, with Wills leading the program to each of its last four titles.
Under Wills' leadership, Washington and Lee returned to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III national rankings for the first time since the 2023 preseason poll, climbing as high as No. 17 during the campaign. The Generals earned nationally ranked victories over No. 9 Dickinson, No. 22 Mary Washington and No. 19 Shenandoah while navigating a challenging schedule that also featured third-ranked Christopher Newport, No. 8 Johns Hopkins and No. 10 Rowan.
The Generals have been equally effective on both ends of the field, outscoring opponents, 59-16, and holding advantages of 365-132 in shots and 143-80 in penalty corners through 18 contests. Washington and Lee has also recorded 10 team shutouts while limiting opponents to 0.89 goals and 7.3 shots per game.
FIRST TEAM ALL-ODAC
Zoe Dolfis | Senior | Forward
Dolfis earned first-team recognition after serving as one of the Generals' primary offensive contributors throughout the season, following a move to forward. The Fairfax, Va., native totaled 24 points on 10 goals and four assists across 18 games, tying for the team lead in goals. She ranked third on the team in points and recorded three game-winning goals while converting 10 of her 42 shots for a team-leading .238 shooting percentage among players with at least 20 attempts.
Margaret Scheurer | Junior | Midfielder
Scheurer joined Dolfis and Lancione on the first team after establishing herself as a central contributor to the Generals' offensive attack as a center midfielder. She ranked second on the team with 26 points on 10 goals and six assists across 17 games, tying for the team lead in goals. Scheurer paced W&L with 83 shots, including 45 on goal, and scored four game-winning goals while helping the Generals generate 59 goals during the campaign.
SECOND TEAM ALL-ODAC
Anne Burns Fiveash | Senior | Midfielder
Fiveash earned second-team recognition after contributing to Washington and Lee's defensive midfield throughout her senior campaign. She appeared in 15 contests, recording two goals on 24 shots, including 11 on goal. Fiveash helped the Generals maintain possession and generate scoring opportunities as part of an offense that averaged 20.3 shots per game and served on both corner units.
Elaina Bellone | Senior | Defender
Bellone collected second-team honors after anchoring a Washington and Lee defensive unit that allowed just 16 goals in 18 contests. The senior started all 18 games and helped the Generals limit opponents to 132 shots, including 62 on goal, while recording 10 team shutouts. W&L held opponents to an average of 7.3 shots per game during the campaign.
Ellen Buckwalter | First Year | Defender
Buckwalter earned second-team recognition in her debut collegiate season. The first-year defender appeared in 17 contests and contributed to a Generals back line that limited opponents to 0.89 goals per game and helped Washington and Lee record 10 team shutouts. The defensive unit also held opponents to 80 penalty corners compared to 143 for the Generals.
THIRD TEAM ALL-ODAC
Libby Bowers | Sophomore | Midfielder
Bowers received third-team recognition after contributing to Washington and Lee's midfield throughout her sophomore campaign. She appeared in all 18 contests, totaling eight points on three goals and two assists. Bowers converted three of her 11 shots and placed nine attempts on goal for an .818 shots-on-goal percentage. She also scored her first collegiate goal in the Generals' road victory over Catholic in September.
Helenka Chodakiewicz | First Year | Goalkeeper
Chodakiewicz earned third-team honors following an impressive debut season in goal for the Generals. Appearing in all 18 contests, she recorded a 13-4 record, allowing 14 goals in 1,032 minutes of action. She posted a 0.81 goals-against average and recorded 46 saves with a .767 save percentage while registering nine shutouts.
Her performance helped Washington and Lee establish one of the conference's strongest defensive units, as the Generals recorded 10 team shutouts and allowed just 16 goals through 18 contests.
UP NEXT
Washington and Lee (14-4) will face No. 14 York (Pa.) (16-4) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. at Kinsley Field in York, Pa.
The Generals earned the ODAC's automatic bid following their 2-0 victory over Lynchburg in the conference championship game.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
