FOREST, Va. --- Shenandoah University collected a league-high 10 all-conference honors and the University of Lynchburg garnered three special individual laurels to headline the 2023 All-ODAC Field Hockey Awards.
Lynchburg forward
Marlou Wendriks earned ODAC Offensive Player of the Year recognition, while first-year teammate
Khanyisile Mzizi received ODAC Rookie of the Year honors. Retiring Lynchburg mentor
Enza Steele collected ODAC Coach of the Year distinction from her peers.
Shenandoah defender
Elise Velasquez was tabbed the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Washington and Lee University defender
Jenny Lerner was named the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the ODAC athletic communications personnel.
Wendriks, a sophomore from Utrecht, Netherlands, enters the NCAA Tournament leading the ODAC in several statistical categories including points (45), goals scored (18), shots (117), and shots on goal (64). She is fourth in the league in assists (9). Wendriks matched the conference-high of six points in a game twice in Lynchburg's ODAC wins over Ferrum and Sweet Briar. She posted three game-winning goals including the season-opener at Lebanon Valley and a key 2-1 triumph at Washington and Lee midway through the season.
Velasquez, a senior from Herndon, Va., is the second two-time winner of the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year award, joining former WLU keeper Sara Amil in both the spring and fall 2021 seasons. Velasquez anchors the SU defense from her centerback position, helping the Hornets allow just 15 goals in all games for a .786 goals against average. She has played every minute for Shenandoah the past two seasons, playing a key role on the Hornets defensive penalty corner unit and triggering the attack in transition. SU posted 11 shutouts this season and surrendered just six goals on 91 total penalty corners faced by its defense.
Steele is the midst of her 45th season guiding the Hornets field hockey program, which will be her last after announcing her retirement prior to the 2023 campaign. This is the 14th time Steele has been recognized as the ODAC Coach of the Year (1982, 84, 88-89, 2000, 04, 06, 08-09, 11, 18-19, 21 (spring)). She currently owns a 664-246-11 (.726) as the nationally 11th-ranked Hornets prepare to host a first round contest in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship against Keystone College on Wednesday. Steele has also coached women's lacrosse during her Lynchburg tenure. She earned 241 victories with the women's lacrosse team, giving her 905 overall collegiate wins.
Mzizi, a first-year from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, stepped into a championship-caliber team and has started 19-of-21 contests as a key cog in Lynchburg's midfield machine. Entering the NCAA Tournament, she has racked up 22 points on eight goals and six assists. Two of her goals went down as game-winners, including the clincher in a 2-1 non-conference win at Swarthmore.
Lerner, a senior from Mount Pleasant, S.C., stars on and off the field for Washington and Lee as she pairs this honor with an All-ODAC First Team selection for the second straight season. In the classroom, Lerner maintains a 3.849 grade point average as a biochemistry major with a minor in women, gender, and sexuality studies. She is a six-time WLU Scholar-Athlete and has three times seen her name appear on the ODAC All-Academic Team and on the NFHCA National Academic Squad. A President's List honoree in 2020-21 and 2022-23, Lerner has been honored as a NFHCA Scholar of Distinction. She is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta (health pre-professional) honor society. Lerner was the recipient of both the Mary Louise White Scholarship for Chemistry and Allen Grant Scholarship. She serves as the treasurer for the Chemistry Club, is a teaching assistant in Organic Chemistry, and volunteers with Rockbridge Area Relief Association, Campus Garden, and Lexington/Rockbridge Country SPCA.
On the turf, Lerner helped lead a Generals defense that allowed just 17 goals in all games and seven goals in their nine conference matches. Lerner started all 18 games and featured for more than 1,000 minutes. She was honored as WLU's defensive MVP last season.
2023 ALL-ODAC FIELD HOCKEY AWARDS
ODAC Offensive Player of the Year: Marlou Wendriks, So., F, Lynchburg
ODAC Defensive Player of the Year: Elise Velasquez, Sr., D, Shenandoah
ODAC Coach of the Year: Enza Steele, Lynchburg
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Khanyisile Mzizi, Fy., M,, Lynchburg
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Jenny Lerner, Sr., D, Washington and Lee
| ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM |
| Aaryn Boatwright * |
Sr. |
F |
Lynchburg |
| Marlou Wendriks + |
So. |
F |
Lynchburg |
| Grace Vernarelli ^ |
Sr. |
F |
Roanoke |
| Mairead McKibbin * |
Jr. |
F |
Shenandoah |
| Daphne Daymude ^ |
Jr. |
M |
Bridgewater |
| Khanyisile Mzizi |
Fy. |
M |
Lynchburg |
| Claudia Lenahan + |
So. |
M |
Shenandoah |
| Farren Winter ^ |
Sr. |
M |
Shenandoah |
| Maddy Duggleby + |
Jr. |
M |
Washington and Lee |
| Ryleigh Cameron * |
Sr. |
D |
Lynchburg |
| Elise Velasquez * |
Sr. |
D |
Shenandoah |
| Jenny Lerner * |
Sr. |
D |
Washington and Lee |
| Kayla Brady * |
Sr. |
GK |
Lynchburg |
| |
|
|
|
| ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM |
| Alaina McCoy ^ |
Jr. |
F |
Randolph-Macon |
| Cassidy Morrison * |
Sr. |
F |
Shenandoah |
| Elizabeth Ranberger |
Sr. |
F |
Shenandoah |
| Katherine Druiett |
Fy. |
F |
Virginia Wesleyan |
| Betty Boatwright ^ |
So. |
F |
Washington and Lee |
| Kylie Amberger |
So. |
M |
Bridgewater |
| Kessa Shaffer ^ |
5th |
M |
Lynchburg |
| Anna Stribling + |
Sr. |
M |
Randolph-Macon |
| Zoe Dolfis |
Fy. |
M |
Washington and Lee |
| Renee Van Thiel |
Fy. |
D |
Lynchburg |
| Ashlyn White |
Jr. |
D |
Randolph-Macon |
| Camryn DeLeva |
Fy. |
D |
Shenandoah |
| Valentina Ambrogi-Torres |
Fy. |
GK |
Randolph-Macon |
| |
|
|
|
| ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM |
| Emily Tyler + |
Jr. |
F |
Bridgewater |
| Olivia van Metre |
Jr. |
F |
Lynchburg |
| Lindsey Keyes |
Sr. |
F |
Roanoke |
| Gracie Wilkerson |
Jr. |
F |
Shenandoah |
| Lynn Giesken |
So. |
M |
Randolph-Macon |
| Isabella McNulty |
Jr. |
M |
Randolph-Macon |
| Lauren Hedspeth |
Jr. |
M |
Virginia Wesleyan |
| Paige Mammorella |
Sr. |
M |
Washington and Lee |
| Jade Buckles |
So. |
D |
Bridgewater |
| Riley Chandler |
So. |
D |
Bridgewater |
| Cassidy Armstrong |
Sr. |
D |
Eastern Mennonite |
| Madison Filson |
Sr. |
D |
Roanoke |
| Madison Short + |
So. |
D |
Shenandoah |
| Madalyn Miller |
So. |
GK |
Bridgewater |
| Taylor Swann ^ |
Jr. |
GK |
Shenandoah |
| |
|
|
|
* 2022 All-ODAC First Team
^ 2022 All-ODAC Second Team
+ 2022 All-ODAC Third Team |