Posted: Jan 14, 2010
Four players from Roanoke were represented on the 2009 VaSID College Division All-State Team announced this week. Chris Collins (Vinton, VA, William Byrd)and Michael Stark (Newport News, VA, Menchville)were named First-Team. Taylor Johnston (Charleston, WV, Capital)and Cameron Lee (Roanoke, VA, Cave Spring)garnered second-team honors.
Stark, named a NSCAA Second-Team All-American selection last month, became the 14th player to earn such an honor. He joined Andy Mosen (1961-62), Scott Anderson (1966-69) and Ted Delledera (1984-85) as the only Roanoke men's soccer players to earn All-American honors at least twice. The Menchville product was voted First-Team All-ODAC and NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region for the second-straight season.
A team captain, Stark proved his worth as a vocal leader in the back for the Maroons. At center back, he finished third on the team in scoring with six goals, five off of headers. He totaled 31 shots, 11 shots on goal.
The Newport News, VA native had three game-winners on the year, second on the team. One came off a header from a corner kick with less than a minute remaining in a 3-2 victory over Virginia Wesleyan on 9/26. Stark was named to the 2009 Roanoke Invitational and Cialella Soccer Classic All-Tournament Teams during the season.
Collins led the Maroons in scoring this season battling most of the season with a back injury. An honorable mention All-ODAC selection a year ago, he earned First-Team All-ODAC honors this fall. The senior midfielder finished the season with 11 goals and four assists for 21 points. His point and goal totals both ranked fifth in the ODAC this season. Collins led the team and fourth in the conference in shots (63), including 29 shots on goal.
Collins converted on both penalty kick attempts in addition to one to help advance to the ODAC Championship game over top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan. He scored off a penalty kick with five minutes left to win the ODAC Quarterfinal match vs. Eastern Mennonite. The Vinton native scored the only goal for Roanoke in the ODAC Championship against Lynchburg.
Johnston earned all-state honors for the first time in his career. The senior team captain was named First-Team All-ODAC for the second-straight season. From Charleston, WV, Johnston scored four goals and led Roanoke (fifth in the ODAC) with five assists for 13 points on the season. He was third in scoring, shots (38) and shots on goal with 19.
A product of Capital High School, Johnston scored a goal and dished out a season- best two assist in a win over Philadelphia Bible. For his efforts the midfielder earned a spot on the 2009 Roanoke Invitational All-Tournament Team. He had a goal and an assist against Randolph and converted off a penalty kick to help the Maroons defeat top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in a shootout to advance to the ODAC Championship game.
Lee was a mainstay in the backfield for the Maroons all season. The Cave Spring product was named First-Team All-ODAC in his second-straight year on the post-season squad. He started in all 22 matches, 42 over his first two seasons. The sophomore defender from Roanoke scored his only goal of the season off a header in the regular season finale vs. Hampden-Sydney. His play in the back was instrumental, helping goalkeeper Ryan Russell (Danville, VA, GW Danville)and the Roanoke defense with 10 shutouts on the season.
Roanoke finished 13-6-3 on the season and 7-2-1 in the ODAC. It's the third-straight season with at least 12 wins and an ODAC Championship game appearance. The Maroons finished with 10 shutouts for the second-straight season.
Scott Allison completed his 24th season at Roanoke with 272 career wins. The 1979 graduate of Roanoke is four wins shy of passing Washington & Lee's Rolf Piranian (276) to become the overall wins leader in ODAC History. Lynchburg's William H. Shellenberger has 371 career wins (1956-57, 59-88), but has only 144 since joining the ODAC in 1976. Virginia Wesleyan's Sonny Travis totaled 270 career wins from 1989-2006 and sits third on that list.
