GC’s Page, W&L’s Paldino also Honored

FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College placed five players on the first team and took home a pair of individual honors as part of the 2010 All-ODAC Men’s Soccer Teams.  Hornets’ defender Hunter Smith earned the ODAC Player of the Year award and was joined by mentor Chris Yeager as the ODAC Coach of the Year.  Guilford College midfielder Richard Page was tabbed the ODAC Rookie of the Year, and Washington and Lee midfielder Jamie Paldino was selected as the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete.

Smith, a senior from Goode, Va., helped lead the Hornets to the #1 seed in the ODAC Tournament, culminating in the program’s second straight and 13^th overall conference crown.  Smith is now a three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree as a Hornets’ center back, helping to anchor a defense that has allowed just 47 goals in the past 64 games covering the last three seasons.  The Hornets have surrendered only 16 goals in 22 games this year.  A second team All-South Region choice in 2009, Smith made his way forward to score two goals and assist on another this season.  He and his teammates are currently preparing for a third round game against Trinity University (Texas) in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Yeager enjoys his fourth overall and second straight ODAC top coaching honor.  In the midst of his ninth year guiding LC men’s soccer, Yeager has led the Hornets to back-to-back 17-win seasons, a program record.  In 2009, Lynchburg won its first game in the NCAA Division III Tournament, a trend that has translated into two more NCAA postseason wins this season with at least one game left to play.  Lynchburg’s win over Emory this past weekend marked the 100^th for Yeager at LC.  He currently boasts a 100-61-16 (.610) career record.

Page, a sophomore from Tobaccoville, N.C., made an immediate impact in solidifying the Quakers’ midfield following his transfer from Greensboro College.  Page notched three goals and assisted on two others in his first ODAC season.  His play in the midfield helped setup and support the conference’s second highest-scoring offense (40 goals, 2.11 per game).  Guilford played its way to the fifth seed in the 2010 ODAC Tournament and an appearance in the quarterfinals.

Paldino, a junior from Kensington, Conn., is a solid performer both in the classroom and on the field.  Paldino boasts a 3.983 grade point average as a Mathematics major.  He has twice been recognized on the All-ODAC Academic Team, as well as being named a W&L scholar-athlete.  On the pitch as an attacking player, Paldino finished second on the team in scoring with seven points on three goals and one assist.

Listed below are the complete 2010 All-ODAC Men’s Soccer Teams.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.

2010 MEN’S SOCCER ALL-ODAC TEAMS
ODAC Player of the Year: Hunter Smith, Lynchburg
ODAC Coach of the Year: Chris Yeager, Lynchburg
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Richard Page, Guilford
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Jamie Paldino, Washington and Lee