The Roanoke men's soccer program has been around for over 60 years and is the second-longest active sport at the college. It has developed a long, proud tradition that has become one of the most storied programs in the ODAC, the state of Virginia and the South Region. The Maroons have produced 13 All-Americans, 37 NSCAA All-South Region Selections and seven ODAC Players of the Year. Roanoke soccer has claimed Eight ODAC Championships, two Mason-Dixon Titles and six Virginia State Titles.

The 2008 season was yet another solid season for the Maroons, as they captured the ODAC Regular Season title and finished with a 14-4-2 record. It was the ninth time the Maroons finished atop the ODAC. There was a school-record nine All-ODAC players selected this fall along with the program's first All-American since 2005, Michael Stark.

In addition, head coach Scott Allison was named ODAC Coach of the Year for a sixth time. The defense was nationally-ranked in goals against average and shutout percentage. The 10 shutouts were the third-most in school-history. The five-straight shutouts tie the 1993 and 1968 teams for the second-longest streak in school-history. The Maroons have won at least 14 games for only the sixth time in the 62-year history of the program. Roanoke finished with an 8-2-2 record against teams ranked in the NSCAA Regional polls.

The men were off to a great start as they claimed the Roanoke Invitational with wins over SUNY-Old Westbury (4-0) and Rutgers-Newark (1-0) and seemed primed to defend its 2007 ODAC Title. Old Westbury won its conference in 2007 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Roanoke rebounded from tough loss to Ferrum and defeated Franklin & Marshall, 4-0 in the Elizabethtown Blue Jay Classic. They were unable to compete against E-Town due to inclement weather, but the win over the Diplomats was big heading into a home contest with Mary Washington.

The Maroons had a tough four-game stretch as they played the Eagles, Virginia Wesleyan, Christopher Newport and Washington & Lee. Roanoke came out, 2-1-1 during that span, falling only to CNU, 1-0 and tied Mary Washington, 1-1. They defeated Washington & Lee (1-0) and Virginia Wesleyan (3-1).

Against VWC, senior Shaman Douglass scored all three goals in the win over the Marlins. Douglass was the offensive leader for the Maroons during the first half of the season, as he led the team in scoring and scored the only goal in the 1-0 win over nationally-ranked Salisbury. The senior from Charlottesville was nagged by injuries over the second part of the year. He was named First-Team All-ODAC and VaSID All-State.

After another tough overtime loss to Randolph-Macon, the Maroons finished the season winning the next 10 games heading into the ODAC Championship game. They did just that with some great mid-season adjustments from the coaching staff. They moved midfielder Michael Walter to the back and Chris Collins to the midfield and it paid off.

Collins, a defender/midfielder had 21 points with a team-high nine goals on the season. An ODAC Player of the Week during the last week of the season, Collins enjoyed an explosive streak during the last eight games where he scored eight goals and tallied two assists for 18 points. He is the team leader in shots on-goal (29) and goals (9) including two game winners, one of which was in the last minute of the second overtime to defeat Guilford. Collins, who was an honorable mention All-ODAC selection this fall, finished the second half of the season as the team's offensive leader.

Walter, a senior midfielder/defender, garnered second-team honors for the first time in his career. The team captain finished with six goals and two assists for 14 points on the season. He totaled 29 shots, 19 on goal for the year with three-game winners. His first goal of his career came against SUNY-Old Westbury in the season-opener which was also his first game-winner. His only hat trick of his career came against Bridgewater in the regular-season finale as he scored three goals in a 9-1 victory.

A Second-Team All-ODAC selection, Walter showed his leadership in the backfield the remainder of the season and was one of the most respected players in the conference. He had the heart of a lion, with a refuse to lose attitude, winning nearly every 50/50 ball that went his way.

They got revenge against Randolph-Macon, advancing to the semifinals with a convincing, 4-0 win over the Yellow Jackets. The most exciting game of the season came against Hampden-Sydney in the ODAC Semifinals. With the biggest crowd to see a game at Kerr Stadium, the Maroons defeated the Tigers, 2-1 with a last second shot from First-Team All-ODAC Michael Rouhana as it found the net with four-seconds left to win and look to defend its 2007 ODAC Championship against Virginia Wesleyan. Rouhana was also named to the All-Region and All-State teams as a senior.

Unfortunately, a ninth ODAC Championship wasn't meant to be as the Maroons fell to the Marlins and finished the season as the ODAC Runner-Up. The following day, Roanoke found its hopes for an at-large NCAA-berth vanished as the men ended a fabulous season. It was the sixth ODAC Runner-Up for Roanoke in its 32-years in the conference. Cameron Lee, Rouhana and Collinswere each tabbed All-ODAC Tournament honors.

For the Maroons, sophomore Stark was named only the 13^th All-American in the 60-year history of the program. A star defender, Stark was also named All-Region, All-State and the 2008 ODAC Rookie of the Year.

Allison, the 23-year coaching veteran, won his 250^th game this past fall and is recognized as one of the best coaches in the ODAC, the state of Virginia and the South Region. He was named ODAC Coach of the Year in 2008. Allison, who just completed his 23^rd season at Roanoke, won his third ODAC Coach of the Year since 2001. Also the athletic director at the college, he put together one of the best defenses he's ever had with a young squad. He is one win shy of 260 for his career, which ranks him among the top-45 all-time in Div. IIII for career wins.

The defense this season became one of the best in program history. This stifling backfield produced All-ODAC freshman Lee along with Collins and Walter. Also a major part of the defense is senior goalkeeper Adam Thompson, who was an All-ODAC selection for the first time in his career.

Lee, a freshman defender, was named All-ODAC second-team as a proven leader in the backfield. He stepped in quickly and filled the shoes of departed seniors Jake Underwood and Ivan Deyanov along with Stark. He had three shots with one shot on goal as a starter in all 20 games this fall.

Thompson, the senior goalkeeper has moved up one spot to ninth place in goals against average and up six spots to 49^th in save percentage (.837). Thompson has nine shutouts this season and 12 in his career to tie him for eighth all-time in the ODAC in both categories. His efforts have also placed him atop the ODAC in shutouts and goals against average.

Stark, an NSCAA All-American in his first-year with the Maroons, was a staple in the backfield for the Maroons all season. His field smarts and ability to win nearly every 50/50 ball made a big impact on the defense, which was nationally ranked all season long in goals against average and shutout percentage. His production led to 10 defensive shutouts, tied for third most in school-history.

The First-Team All-ODAC and NSCAA All-South Region selection started in all 20 games this season. He finished the year with a goal against Randolph-Macon in the ODAC Quarterfinals and an assist against Bridgewater in the regular-season finale. He had 16 shots, eight on goal for the season. His best day offensively came against the Yellow Jackets with four shots, three on goal.

Rouhana, an NSCAA All-South Region selection, was named all-state for the first time in his career. A Minnesota native, Rouhana was considered the most athletic player on the team and was uncanny in creating his own scoring opportunities. The Second-Team All-ODAC selection finished the year with three goals and four assists for 10 points. He led the team in shots (49) and tied for second in shots on goal (19) with all three of his goals as game-winners. One of those came on his final goal of the season with four-seconds left to defeat Hampden-Sydney, 2-1 in the ODAC Semifinals.

Douglass, a First-Team All-ODAC Selection, earns second-team all-state honors for the first time in his career. Douglass led the team most of the season offensively and finished second in goals (6), assists (7) and points (19). He finished with 29 shots, 15 on goal with a game-winner against nationally-ranked Salisbury on the road. He had two multi-goal games against Franklin & Marshall and eventual ODAC Champion Virginia Wesleyan.

Nate Wilson, an All-ODAC selection for the second-straight season, is now a two-time all-state selection. A Winchester, Va. native, he was a staple in the midfield, starting in all 18 games played. He finished with six shots, one on goal against Randolph. Wilson started 52 of 55 games in his three-year career at Roanoke.

Johnston, a junior forward, joins Douglass on the first-team for the first time in his career. He finished with four goals and two assists for 10 points on the season. He had 30 shots, 19 on goal for the year with a season-high four shots in the season-opener vs. SUNY-Old Westbury. He earned conference recognition after scoring three of his four goals along with both of his assists in ODAC play.