Dragons picked co-champs in GMAC preseason poll

Ashley Osbeck and the Dragons have been picked co-champs in the preseason GMAC poll.
Ashley Osbeck and the Dragons have been picked co-champs in the preseason GMAC poll.
Posted: Jan 27, 2020

Tiffin University and Findlay were picked as preseason co-champions in the GMAC preseason coaches poll, with each team garnering 23 points and 3 first place votes each.

The Dragons, who finished 2019 with a 12-7 mark, were unbeaten in the regular season in 2019 with a 7-0 mark to win the regular season championship, It was the Oilers, however, who escaped Tiffin with a narrow 9-8 victory in the GMAC Tournament Championship game.

Expectations are high again for both teams, leading to the split decision. Walsh was also close to the top with 17 points for third place, while Lake Erie was fourth with 13 points.

The Dragons are led by All Region standout and GMAC Player of the Year Elle Hamilton. Hamilton was a IWLCA Second Team All Midwest Region pick, and was an offensive machine throughout the season for the Dragons. She led the GMAC with 76 goals and finished second in goals per game (4.42). She was also second in the G-MAC in total points with 88 and was third in overall points (4.89). The junior played all over the field as well, ranking fourth in the conference with 3.22 ground balls per game (58 total), third with 5.61 draw controls per game (101 total), and seventh with 1.33 caused turnovers per game (24 total). Her goals per game mark is also 13th in Division II, and points per game is 37th.

Also returning are First Team defender Hannah Casey and Second Team forward Ashley Osbeck. Casey anchored a staunch Dragon defense that led the conference in goals against average at 8.80 goals allowed per game, and has held all but one conference opponent to single digits in scoring, including three to four or less goals. On the season, Casey had 10 caused turnovers and 19 ground balls. Casey was also named Second Team All-GLIAC in 2018.

Osbeck has been a great facilitator for TU, leading the team with 23 assists to go with 22 goals. She recorded an assist in all but six games on the year, including a career-high four helpers against Davis & Elkins.

Other top returners for the Dragons include defender Nini Wagner, midfielder Leah Davis (14 goals), and defender Maria Boccia.

Tiffin opens its season on Feb. 23 at home against Ashland at 1 pm.