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