ALLISON NAMED ODAC COACH OF THE YEAR

SALEM, VA--Roanoke College men’s soccer head coach Scott Allison was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year and freshman Austin Rose (Blacksburg, VA/Blacksburg) was named the conference’s Rookie of the Year, both highlighting Roanoke’s selections to the 2004 All-ODAC squads. Rose, who was an Honorable Mention All-League selection, was joined on the All-Conference teams by Chris Keating (Chatham, NJ/Chatham), Elliott Stallings (Blacksburg, VA/Blacksburg), and Donny Smith (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry) who were all First Team selections. In addition to those picks, senior Dave DeMello (Shreveport, LA/Caddo Magnet) was named to the Second Team.

After leading his team to its third ODAC championship in the past four seasons, and also to the NCAA tournament for the third time in recent years, Allison was honored by his fellow coaches for the third time in the same time span. He also received the award following both the 2001 and 2002 seasons, years also capped by ODAC titles and NCAA appearances.

To earn his Rookie of the Year honor, Rose started all but two matches for the team this season. In 19 contests, the freshman made 71 saves, posted a .789 save percentage, and recorded eight shutouts (also getting time in a ninth ‘team’ shutout).

Stallings finished the season with a team-high 23 points on nine goals and five assists. Of his nine goals, four were scored in the ODAC semifinals and championship match, three coming in the semis against Bridgewater. He also had three game-winning goals and led the team in scoring for the third consecutive season.

In his first year with the program, Keating, a junior, scored nine goals and added two assists for 20 points. Five of his goals were game-winning strikes. In his first week with the team Keating was named the ODAC Player of the Week.

Smith played in all but one of Roanoke’s matches this season, missing only a match at power Messiah College. As the anchor of the Maroon defensive unit, Smith helped the team post 10 shutouts, including a stretch of four straight midway through the year, and allow just 20 goals in 21 contests. He also had one goal and two assists.

DeMello, who was one of two seniors on the team that were a part of each of the team’s past three ODAC titles, started 20 matches in the midfield for the Maroons. The Shreveport, LA native scored four goals, including two game-winners, and had one assist for nine points.

The Maroons completed their season with a 12-7-2 overall record, won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship with a 2-0 win over Lynchburg College, and advanced to the NCAA Division III national tournament.

» New & Improved - Exciting Changes on Campus Trout Hall, the new home of the sociology department, opens for Spring 2005 classes plus the new entrance and residence halls are on track. Read more and see the pics!