FOREST, Va. --- Washington and Lee earned a league-high seven all-conference honors and Lynchburg placed five players on the All-ODAC First Team as part of the All-ODAC Men's Soccer Awards. Generals' striker Dylan Ritch received ODAC Player of the Year laurels, while Lynchburg mentor Chris Yeager was tabbed the ODAC Coach of the Year. Roanoke centerback Marc Hoppler picked up ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades. W&L goalkeeper Gillen Beck secured the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award from the conference's sports informatoin directors.
The 2016 All-ODAC teams feature 20 repeat honorees with eight of those standouts earning All-ODAC First Team recognition. LC forward Fredy Flores and midfielder Nate Berning along with Roanoke midfielder Fortune Sibanda appear on the first team for a second straight season. Eastern Mennonite defender Emmanuel Boamah, Randolp-Macon playmaker Logan McHugh, W&L's Ritch, and Roanoke centerback Sam Rauf all moved up from the 2015 All-ODAC Second Team. Lynchburg forward Ben Grossfuss made a two-team leap from last season's All-ODAC Third Team.
Ritch, a sophomore from Mint Hill, N.C., helped power an offense that scored 27 goals in league play, 10 more than second place. Ritch finished second in the ODAC with 30 points and 12 goals scored, but led all players with 19 points and eight goals in conference games. He found the back of the net in nine different games and registered at least one point on 12 occasions. Ritch posted a season-high five points on two goals and one assist in a win at Shenandoah. He had a trio of two-goal outings, recorded braces in wins over Southern Virginia and Emory & Henry. He and the Generals open play in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday against St. Lawrence University at Franklin & Marshall College.
Yeager is in his 15th season guiding the Lynchburg men's soccer program. A two-time All-ODAC First Team defender during his playing days at Virginia Wesleyan, Yeager enjoys his fifth conference top-coaching honor, adding this season's honor to his recognition in 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2010. He owns a 167-96-35 (.619) career record, which includes a 16-1-4 mark this season. The Hornets, currently ranked 11th in the country by the NSCAA and third in the South Atlantic Region in NCAA Division III regional rankings (as of 11/7), secured a record 15th ODAC title last weekend in its 2-1 win over Washington and Lee. LC begins play in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday against John Carroll University at Shellenberger Field.
Hoppler, a freshman from Lucerne, Switzerland, proved as much a key member of the Maroons defense as their offense. He helped RC surrender just 19 overall goals and six in conference play, while also notching eight shutouts. On attack, Hoppler led Roanoke with five goals scored and 10 points with four of those goals coming against ODAC opponents. He opened the scorebook or notched the game-winning goal on four occasions, including the lone tally in a 1-0 win over Guilford late in the regular season.
Beck, a junior from Blacksburg, Va., stands out both on and off the field for the Generals. In the classroom, Beck maintains a 3.928 grade point average as a Mathematics and Physics double major. He is a W&L Scholar as well as a multi-honoree on the All-ODAC Academic Team. A member of Phi Eta Sigma (first year) and Sigma Pi Sigma (physics) honor societies, Beck was recently named CoSIDA Academic All-District, which makes him eligible for Academic All-America consideration. On the field, Beck adds this honor to an All-ODAC Second Team award this season. He is second in the ODAC in goals allowed with 15 and boasts the third-best goals-against-average at 1.00. He has made 49 saves and owns a .766 save percentage.
Listed below are the 2016 All-ODAC Men's Soccer Awards. 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 and Instagram.
ODAC Player of the Year: Dylan Ritch, So., Forward, Washington and Lee
ODAC Coach of the Year: Chris Yeager, Lynchburg
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Marc Hoppler, Fr., Defender, Roanoke
ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Gillen Beck, Jr., Goalkeeper, Washington and Lee
ALL-ODAC FIRST TEAM |
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ALL-ODAC SECOND TEAM | ||||
Forwards |
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Forwards | ||||
Fredy Flores | Jr. | Lynchburg |
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Juan Luna | Jr. | Eastern Mennonite |
Ben Grossfuss | Sr. | Lynchburg |
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Jordan Couch | Jr. | Emory & Henry |
Dylan Ritch | So. | Washington and Lee |
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Jackson Goyette | Sr. | Roanoke |
Midfielders |
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Ricky Perrault | So. | Virginia Wesleyan | ||
Nate Berning | Jr. | Lynchburg |
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Midfielders | ||
Logan McHugh | Sr. | Randolph-Macon |
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Blake Heatherly | Sr. | Randolph |
Fortune Sibanda | Jr. | Roanoke |
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Adam Watson | So. | Randolph |
Tanner Martin | Sr. | Virginia Wesleyan |
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Will Hamryka | So. | Washington and Lee |
Defenders |
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Kevin Molnar | Jr. | Washington and Lee | ||
Emmanuel Boamah | So. | Eastern Mennonite |
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Defenders | ||
Thomas Salamone | Sr. | Lynchburg |
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Cristian Irigoyen | Jr. | Randolph |
Sam Rauf | Jr. | Roanoke |
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Marc Hoppler | Fr. | Roanoke |
Oliver Dolberg | Fr. | Washington and Lee |
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Patrick Barry | Sr. | Washington and Lee |
Goalkeeper |
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Goalkeeper | ||||
Dylan McLaurin | So. | Lynchburg |
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Gillen Beck | Jr. | Washington and Lee |
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ALL-ODAC THIRD TEAM |
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Forwards |
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Tyequis Stallins | So. | Emory & Henry |
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Travis Brown | Jr. | Randolph |
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Anthony Astruc | Fr. | Randolph-Macon |
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Geinda Smith | Sr. | Washington and Lee |
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Midfielders |
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Thomas White | Fr. | Bridgewater |
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Dylan Polley | Sr. | Eastern Mennonite |
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Ricky Aguilar | Fr. | Guilford |
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Defenders |
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Matthew Pagano | So. | Bridgewater |
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Ryan Pikunas | So. | Lynchburg |
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Jack Maxey | Sr. | Randolph-Macon |
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Tim Mahabir | Jr. | Roanoke |
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Goalkeeper |
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Nick Tadros | Jr. | Roanoke |
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Jay Fox | So. | Virginia Wesleyan |
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