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Men's Soccer

Lynchburg Headlines ODAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll

Hornets, Generals Garner First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- Defending ODAC champion University of Lynchburg returns to the top of the ODAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll for the first time since 2018 as the coaches' favorite entering the 2024 campaign.

Lynchburg garnered eight first place votes on the way to a chart-topping 140 points. Washington and Lee University, which headlined this survey each of the past four years, is just four markers behind Lynchburg after collecting the remaining five top nods.

Three additional squads received at least 100 points. Virginia Wesleyan University sits third with 121 markers, while Roanoke College slots fourth with 107 tallies. Shenandoah University rounds out the top-five with a team ODAC-era best 100 points.

In the sections below, we look back to the 2023 season to set the tone for this year and then dive into some features of ODAC men's soccer for the upcoming 2024 campaign.

2024 ODAC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(#) denotes first place votes received

1.University of Lynchburg (8)140 pts.
2.Washington and Lee University (5)136 pts.
3.Virginia Wesleyan University121 pts.
4.Roanoke College107 pts.
5.Shenandoah University100 pts.
6.Hampden-Sydney College88 pts.
7.Randolph-Macon College71 pts.
8.Averett University67 pts.
9.Bridgewater College50 pts.
9.Eastern Mennonite University50 pts.
11.Randolph College37 pts.
12.Ferrum College34 pts.
13.Guilford College13 pts.
    • Eight of the ODAC's 13 sponsoring schools finished with .500 or better overall records including four squads with a better than .600 winning percentage
      • Those eight teams combined for a 78-37-38 (.634) overall record
    • Eight teams qualified for the ODAC Tournament with Washington and Lee commanding the top seed; Lynchburg, Virginia Wesleyan, Shenandoah, EMU, Roanoke, Hampden-Sydney, and Averett completed the field in that order
      • Quarterfinals: WLU def. AU, 6-0; SU def. EMU, 4-0; VWU def. RC, 2-0; LYN def. HSC, 2-0
      • Semifinals: WLU def. SU, 4-2; LYN def. VWU, 3-2 (OT)
      • Championship: LYN def. WLU, 3-1
    • Lynchburg increased is record total of ODAC men's soccer titles to 19
      • the Hornets have won three of the past four ODAC trophies and competed in four of the past five championship games
    • ODAC champion Lynchburg earned the conference's automatic entry to the NCAA Tournament field; the Hornets were selected to host early round competition
    • Washington and Lee received an at-large bid via selection by the Division III Men's Soccer Championship Committee; the Generals were selected to host early round competition
    • Lynchburg
      • 1st Round: tied Ohio Northern University, 2-2; ONU advanced after an extended penalty kick tiebreaker, 7-6
    • Washington and Lee
      • 1st Round: defeated Western Connecticut State University, 2-0
      • 2nd Round: defeated SUNY Oneonta, 2-1
      • 3rd Round: defeated host Tufts University, 1-0
      • Quarterfinals: tied Colorado College, 0-0; WLU advanced 5-4 on a penalty kick shootout
      • Semifinals: tied Amherst College, 2-2; AC advanced 2-0 on a penalty kick shootout
    • The Generals run to the semifinals marked their second semifinals appearance in the last three years
    • ODAC teams are now 35-43-10 (.455) all-time in the Division III men's soccer playoffs
    • United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top-25
      • Washington and Lee is the lone ODAC school to feature in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Preseason Top-25 Poll
      • The Generals are slotted third in the annual survey behind defending national champion St. Olaf College as the chart-topper and 2023 runner-up Amherst College in second position

  • ODAC men's soccer fans will see a whopping 27-of-36 All-ODAC honorees from a season ago return to league fields in 2024. Eight members of the All-ODAC First Team are back, while 11-of-12 standouts on the All-ODAC Second Team return for another run. Eight stars from the All-ODAC Third Team feature on conference rosters.

    Four of the five special individual award winners are among the stars returning to ODAC pitches. WLU forward Weyimi Agbeyegbe earned ODAC Offensive Player of the Year laurels, while Lynchburg centerback Benjamin Velasquez claimed the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year plaque. Hampden-Sydney forward Mo Wumpini received ODAC Rookie of the Year plaudits. Head coach Brandon Kates returns to Shenandoah's sideline after leading the Hornets to an 11-point improvement in the ODAC standings to pave the way to his first ODAC Coach of the Year award.

    • FORWARDS (9-of-11)
      • Mo Wumpini – Hampden-Sydney (1st Team)
      • Chinedu Ikem – Shenandoah (1st Team)
      • Weyimi Agbeyegbe – Washington and Lee (1st Team)
      • Daniel Starr – Averett (2nd Team)
      • Dylan Matheny – Randolph-Macon (2nd Team)
      • Zach Bittler – Virginia Wesleyan (2nd Team)
      • Riley Queen – Bridgewater (3rd Team)
      • Ford DeVault – Eastern Mennonite (3rd Team)
      • Patrick Figaro – Lynchburg (3rd Team)
    • MIDFIELDERS (7-of-11)
      • Nathan Yared – Shenandoah (1st Team)
      • Alex Moody – Virginia Wesleyan (1st Team)
      • Manzi Shalita – Lynchburg (2nd Team)
      • Ilan Mejia – Virginia Wesleyan (2nd Team)
      • Matteo Adler – Washington and Lee (2nd Team)
      • Jonthomas Buckley – Averett (3rd Team)
      • Zach Whelan – Lynchburg (3rd Team)
    • DEFENDERS (9-of-11)
      • Benjamin Velasquez – Lynchburg (1st Team)
      • PJ Ryan – Washington and Lee (1st Team)
      • Oliver Kousholt – Averett (2nd Team)
      • Josh Condit – Virginia Wesleyan (2nd Team)
      • JaMarhe Wills – Virginia Wesleyan (2nd Team)
      • Willy Hall – Washington and Lee (2nd Team)
      • Justin Varela – Hampden-Sydney (3rd Team)
      • Ayden Cass – Lynchburg (3rd Team)
      • Will Luik – Washington and Lee (3rd Team)
    • GOALKEEPERS (2-of-3)
      • Will Joseph – Washington and Lee (1st Team)
      • Thomas Viscuso – Lynchburg (2nd Team)

  • The athletes listed below represent the top-three returning statistical leaders for major statistical categories from the 2023 season.

     PLAYER #1PLAYER #2PLAYER #3
    FIELD PLAYERS
    Points32Weyimi Agbeyegbe, WLU27Nathan Yared, SU19Dylan Matheny, RMC
    Goals13Weyimi Agbeyegbe, WLU11Nathan Yared, SU8Dylan Matheny, RMC
    Assists8Buster Couhig, WLU7Ilan Mejia, VWU7Payton Rausch, FC
    Shots (on goal)79 (37)Weyimi Agbeyegbe, WLU53 (21)Dylan Matheny, RMC47 (20)
    47 (18)    		Mo Wumpini, HSC
    Nathan Yared, SU
    GOALKEEPERS (min. 33% of team goalkeeper minutes played for Save Pct./GAA)
    GK Minutes2221:59Will Joseph, WLU1869:36Thomas Viscuso, LYN1505:28Andrew Arledge, EMU
    Saves71Will Joseph, WLU60Thomas Viscuso, LYN59Charles Schweinefuss, BC
    Save Pct..769Thomas Viscuso, LYN.755Will Joseph, WLU.747Charles Schweinefuss, BC
    GAA.866Thomas Viscuso, LYN.932Will Joseph, WLU1.371Charles Schweinefuss, BC
    Shutouts9Will Joseph, WLU8Thomas Viscuso, LYN5Andrew Arledge, EMU

  • Below are the win-loss records for each coach entering the 2024 season.

    COACHSCHOOLSEASON (AT SCHOOL)OVERALL (PCT.)AT SCHOOL (PCT.)
    Phillip WilsonAverett11th (11th)57-92-22 (.398)57-92-22 (.398)
    Ryan BennisonBridgewater14th (14th)94-111-23 (.463)94-111-23 (.463)
    Justin CareyEastern Mennonite3rd (3rd)8-17-10 (.371)8-17-10 (.371)
    Matt CuretonFerrum4th (4th)10-35-3 (.240)10-35-3 (.240)
    Mike BairGuilford6th (3rd)21-47-8 (.329)8-22-5 (.300)
    Tom DiNuzzoHampden-Sydney12th (8th)73-92-21 (.449)58-42-16 (.569)
    Chris YeagerLynchburg23rd (23rd)256-120-55 (.658)256-120-55 (.658)
    Sheldon BlueRandolph2nd (2nd)4-5-6 (.467)4-5-6 (.467)
    Josh LauxRandolph-Macon21st (10th)182-133-35 (.570)78-54-15 (.582)
    Ryan PflugradRoanoke12th (12th)111-56-30 (.640)111-56-30 (.640)
    Brandon KatesShenandoah3rd (3rd)13-11-10 (.529)13-11-10 (.529)
    Shane KohlerVirginia Wesleyan2nd (2nd)13-3-3 (.763)13-3-3 (.763)
    Lumumba ShabazzWashington and Lee13th (1st)100-82-28 (.543)1st Season
    • ODAC teams get underway with a series of non-conference games and tournaments weekend of Friday-Sunday, August 30-September 1
    • The first set of conference games are slated for the Wednesday, September 25
    • The ODAC Tournament will feature an eight-team bracket competed in a traditional bracket format
      • Quarterfinals: Saturday, November 2 at the #1-4 Seeds
      • Semifinals: Wednesday, November 6 at the two higher seeds in bracket progression
      • Championship: Saturday, November 9 at the highest remaining seed
    • The Division III Women's Soccer Championship bracket will be announced on NCAA.com on Monday, November 11
      • First/Second Rounds: Saturday-Sunday, November 16-17
      • Sectional Rounds: Saturday-Sunday, November 23-24
      • Semifinals: Thursday, December 5 at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas, Nev.
      • Championship: Saturday, December 7 at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas, Nev.
    • The NCAA is moving to a new process to determine at-large qualifiers to most Division III team-based tournaments
      • The NCAA Power Index (NPI) closely follows a model used by all divisions of ice hockey called Pairwise
      • A computer ranking will be generated for each team sponsoring the sport in Division III using criteria established by each sport's championship committee and confirmed by the overall Division III Championships Committee
      • After all automatic qualifiers have been determined, the NPI rankings will be used to select the remaining teams at-large to fill out tournament fields
      • Pool B, previously reserved for independent schools or those from conferences that do not have automatic qualifiers, has been eliminated, so all teams not receiving automatic bids will be included in the at-large pool
      • NPI rankings will likely be published 3-4 weeks out from NCAA tournament field selections to allow for enough games to be played for proper representation before public display