Roanoke's Allison and Carbaugh, Eastern Mennonite's Eshleman also Honored

FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College goalkeeper Michael Releford headlines the 2012 ODAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Awards as the Hornets' junior was tabbed the ODAC Player of the Year in a vote of the league's coaches.  Roanoke College mentor Scott Allison was named the ODAC Coach of the Year, while Maroons' midfielder Tyler Carbaugh took home Rookie of the Year honors.  Eastern Mennonite University defender Ryan Eshleman earned ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete recognition by the conference's sports information directors.

Releford, from Blacksburg, Va., is making his third appearance on the All-ODAC First Team as the league's top keeper.  He aided in the Hornets' efforts to post 10 combined shutouts and eight solo clean sheets on the season.  Lynchburg allowed just 15 goals this season, 14 of which came in Releford's time in net.  He posted 70 saves on the season and led the conference with an .833 save percentage.  His 0.75 goals-against-average ranked second in the ODAC.  Releford helped spearhead a pair of extended scoreless streaks for opponents this season.  LC went undefeated through four games (2-0-2) mid-way through the season as part of a 471:57-stretch without allowing a goal.  Heading into an ODAC quarterfinal matchup against Virginia Wesleyan College, Releford led the way during a 388:28 defensive stand that covered four straight victories.

Allison just completed his 27th season guiding the Maroons' men's soccer program, leading them to their ninth ODAC championship.  Roanoke posted a 13-5-1 overall record, including an 8-2-1 mark in league action to take possession of the top seed heading into the ODAC Tournament.  Allison recently announced this would be his final season coaching the Maroons, although he will stay on as Roanoke's Director of Athletics.  He will retire with a 309-162-40 (.644) career record, which includes 159 wins in ODAC contests.  He has been named ODAC Coach of the Year eight times, including this season's accolade.

Carbaugh, a freshman from Blacksburg, Va., stepped right in to the Maroons' midfield as he started 17-of-19 games played.  He registered eight points on the season on three goals and a pair of assists.  Early in the season against Virginia Wesleyan, Carbaugh tallied not only his first collegiate goal, but it went for the game-winner as he found the back of the net in the 88th minute for a 3-2 RC win.  His efforts helped lead Roanoke to the program's seventh appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, where he notched an assist in the Maroons' first round contest against Emory University.

Eshleman, a senior from Harrisonburg, Va., shines on and off the field for Eastern Mennonite.  In the classroom, Eshleman boasts a 3.81 cumulative grade point average as a Biology, Philosophy and Theology major with a minor in English.  A multi-member of the EMU Dean's List and the All-ODAC Academic Team, Eshleman has been named CoSIDA Academic All-District each of the past two seasons.  He has also garnered recognition as an NSCAA All-Region Scholar and on the VaSID Academic All-State Team.  On the field, Eshleman started all 77 games in which he played in the Royals' defense.  This season, he was named to the All-ODAC First Team for the second straight year.  He helped EMU post six shutouts that included a stretch of 369 minutes without allowing a goal.  He got forward to score one goal this season.

Listed below are the 2012 All-ODAC Men's Soccer Teams.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools' websites, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.  Check out the ODAC's YouTube channel.

2012 ALL-ODAC MEN'S SOCCER TEAMS
Player of the Year: Michael Releford, Jr., GK, Lynchburg
Coach of the Year: Scott Allison, Roanoke
Rookie of the Year: Tyler Carbaugh, Fr., M, Roanoke
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Ryan Eshleman, Sr., D, Eastern Mennonite