Lynchburg Ranked Second, Randolph and Washington and Lee Close for Third
FOREST, Va. --- Roanoke College received first
place votes from 10 coaches on the way to racking up 119 total
points to lead the 2013 ODAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll.
Lynchburg College picked up one top consideration as part of a
101-point showing to sit in second. Randolph College with 95
tallies is one point clear of Washington and Lee University for
third, and Virginia Wesleyan College garnered the remaining first
place vote and 83 points for fifth in the annual coaches'
survey.
The 2012 campaign saw Roanoke hoist its ninth overall ODAC title
via a 1-0 double-overtime triumph over Virginia Wesleyan at Kerr
Stadium. The Maroons, who will be under new leadership in
2013 after longtime mentor Scott Allison stepped away from
coaching, continued their season in the NCAA Division III Men's
Soccer Tournament. RC's stay in the national field would only
last one game as the Maroons fell to Emory University, 4-1, in
first round action in Salem.
New head coach Ryan Pflugrad takes over the coaching reins at his
alma mater as he leads a Roanoke (13-5-1 overall, 8-2-1 in ODAC
play in 2012) squad that returns five all-conference performers
from a season ago. Senior forwards Patrick Bain (3 goals, 3
assists) and Brian White (5g, 4a) and sophomore midfielder Tyler
Carbaugh (3g, 2a) earned All-ODAC Second Team honors in 2012.
Carbaugh also received ODAC Rookie of the Year recognition.
Junior midfielder Garrett Eldridge (4g, 2a) and senior centerback
Carl Leist (1g) were selected to the All-ODAC Third Team. RC
also features the return of sophomore goalkeeper Cole Sinclair (54
saves, 0.93 goals-against-average).
Lynchburg (7-7-4, 7-2-2) has four all-league standouts in tow for
2013, including reigning ODAC Player of the Year, senior goalkeeper
Michael Releford (70 saves, 0.75 gaa). Junior forward Luke
Moore (8g, 1a) is back to lead the offense after joining Releford
on the All-ODAC First Team. Senior Michael Venegas (1g, 2a)
will provide support from the middle of the pitch, and fellow
second team choice, junior Josh Hinkle, will spearhead the Hornets'
defense.
Randolph (9-7-3, 6-3-2) brings back considerable firepower on
offense, including 2011 player of the year and two-time first team
forward, senior Corey Sindle (10g, 3a). Senior midfielder
Jacob Hood (4g) was a second team selection in 2012, as was senior
centerback Will Wolf (3g). Junior Coulton Watson, who pairs
with Wolf in the center of WildCats' defense, earned third team
accolades last season.
Washington and Lee (11-4-3, 7-2-2) junior forward Zach Colby
earned first team honors after leading the conference in goals
scored (13) and points (27). Classmate Albert Civitarese (41
saves) picked up second team laurels by leading the conference with
a 0.66 goals-against-average guarding the Generals' net.
Senior midfielders Parker Wolfinger (3g, 1a) and Alex Zelinski (3g,
1a) also return to Lexington.
Virginia Wesleyan (8-10-2, 6-5-0) will be under new leadership for
the second year running as former all-conference player, assistant
coach and associate head coach Chris Mills takes over the lead
role. He's got four all-conference athletes returning to
Virginia Beach, including first team senior midfielder Brian
Cornell (8g, 3a). Junior forward Isaac Arrington (6g, 5a) and
sophomore striker Travis Walke (8g, 1a) earned third team honors,
as did junior defender Stephen Sawicki. Sophomore midfielder
Josh Kemp (6g, 2a) provides VWC with four returning players that
scored at least six goals in 2012.
Hampden-Sydney College (6-11-0, 5-6-0) and Guilford College
(10-8-0, 7-4-0) welcome back one All-ODAC honoree each. H-SC
features senior third team midfielder Bryan Talbert (4g, 1a), who
finished third on the team in scoring. The Tigers also return
their top two finishers in juniors Robert Stephens (6g, 1a) and
James Lawrence (4g, 2a). The Quakers return just eight
veterans to this season's squad, but that includes third team
senior goalkeeper Michael MacVane (84 saves, 1.27 gaa).
Junior forward Matthew Poling (7g, 1a) was second on the team in
scoring in 2012.
Bridgewater College (10-8-0, 6-5-0) and Eastern Mennonite
University (8-11-1, 5-6-0) boast a pair of all-conference standouts
each. The Eagles enjoy the return of their leading scorer and
three starters on defense. Senior forward Sawyer Janes (5g,
5a) picked up third team accolades, as did classmate Zach Malpass
on defense. Senior Zach Holser (2g) and junior Derek Newsome
(1g, 2a) join Malpass on BC's backline. Royals' sophomore
forward Christian Rhine (9g, 1a) finished fourth in the league in
goals scored on the way to second team honors. Junior
midfielder Mark Mast (3g, 3a) garnered third team accolades.
Also back is junior goalkeeper Andrew Yoder (88 saves, 1.44
gaa).
Randolph-Macon College (2-12-3, 2-8-1) sophomore forward Andrew
Oakes (6g, 1a) leads the Yellow Jackets into the new season after
earning third team honors last year. R-MC also enjoys the
return of goalkeeper Chris Lowe (73 saves, 2.17 gaa).
Shenandoah University (3-13-2, 1-9-1) enters its second year
competing under the ODAC banner. The Hornets will look to
senior keeper James Dutcher (2.28 gaa), who led the league with 130
saves. Sophomore midfielder Eduardo Santiago (3g) also
returns.
Emory & Henry College (2-14-3, 0-8-3) joins Roanoke and
Virginia Wesleyan in entering the season with a new head
coach. Robert Richardson will guide the Wasps after spending
the past year at Brevard College (N.C.). His roster includes
the return of sophomore top scorer Tory Schneider (3g, 1a).
The 2013 men's soccer season begins on Friday, August 30, with
ODAC schools in action against non-conference opponents. 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 @odacathletics on
Twitter.
2013 ODAC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Roanoke (10) | 119 pts. |
2. Lynchburg (1) | 101 pts. |
3. Randolph | 95 pts. |
4. Washington and Lee | 94 pts. |
5. Virginia Wesleyan (1) | 83 pts. |
6. Hampden-Sydney | 63 pts. |
7. Guilford | 59 pts. |
8. Bridgewater | 57 pts. |
9. Eastern Mennonite | 52 pts. |
10. Randolph-Macon | 33 pts. |
11. Shenandoah | 22 pts. |
12. Emory & Henry | 14 pts. |