FOREST, Va. -- The Bridgewater College field hockey team was picked to finish sixth in the 2023 ODAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll, which the league office released on Tuesday afternoon.

Lynchburg garnered four first-place votes and 74 total points to top the head coaches survey, while Washington and Lee received three top tallies and 73 points for second. Shenandoah gained the final three first-place votes and 72 points of third. Roanoke (56 points) and Randolph Macon (49) rounded out the top five.

The Eagles, who finished last season at 6-10 and advanced to the ODAC Tournament, earned 40 points for sixth place. Sweet Briar got 27 points in seventh, while Eastern Mennonite (25), Virginia Wesleyan (23) and Ferrum (11) to finish up the 10-team listing.

For Bridgewater, the team returns its top seven scores from last season, including three of its four All-ODAC picks in Daphne Daymude, Meredyth Rankin and Emily Tyler. Daymude led the team with nine goals and two assists, while Carynn Klingler is also back after pacing the squad with five assists. 

The Eagles start off the season on the road at Meredith on Sept. 1 at 6 pm before opening their home slate against Mary Washington on Sept. 6 at 7 pm.