Date: February 8, 2006
Contact: Chris Hodgson (540) 458-8674
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L WOMEN'S LACROSSE PICKED TO WIN ODAC
Generals Aiming for Fourth Straight ODAC Championship

Senior defender Rachel Wallick

SALEM, Va. -- The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) released its women's lacrosse preseason coaches poll on Wednesday and W&L was picked to win the league.

The Generals, the three-time defending ODAC Champions, garnered 81 points and all nine first-place votes. Virginia Wesleyan was picked second with 63 points and Randolph-Macon was third with 60 points.

W&L returns 18 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's 15-4 (8-0 ODAC) squad. The Generals also return four All-ODAC performers, including a pair of first team selections in senior attacker Amanda Strickler (Lexington, Va./Rockbridge County) and senior defender Rachel Wallick (Phoenix, Md./Notre Dame Prep).

Strickler led the team in scoring with 51 points on 25 goals and a team-best 26 assists, while Wallick notched three points, picked up 40 ground balls and had a team-high 23 caused turnovers.

Along with claiming their third consecutive ODAC Championship last year, the Generals also won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game with an 11-9 win over Amherst before falling to eventual NCAA runner-up Salisbury.

The 13th-ranked Generals open the 2006 season on Sat., Feb. 25 at No. 14 St. Mary's (Md.) at 3:00 pm.

2006 ODAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll

1. Washington and Lee 81 (9)
2. Virginia Wesleyan 63
3. Randolph-Macon 60
4. Roanoke 53
5. Sweet Briar 47
6. Lynchburg 42
7. Guilford 32
8. Bridgewater 17
9. Hollins 10

--GENERALS--