FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bryan Hicks, Hampden-Sydney
(434) 223-6156
  
December 13, 2007


VWC’S MASSIE NAMED VASID MEN’S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR, H-SC’S PLYLER AND LAUX EARN ROOKIE AND COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (December 12, 2007)—Virginia Wesleyan sophomore forward Brandon Massie (Chesapeake, VA) has been named the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) College Division Men’s Soccer Player of the Year as voted on by sports information directors at colleges and universities throughout the Commonwealth.  Hampden-Sydney freshman goalkeeper  John Robert Plyler (Charlotte, NC) was named Rookie of the Year, while H-SC head coach Josh Laux was picked as the VaSID Coach of the Year.

2007 VaSID College Division Men's Soccer All-State Team

Massie had a standout season for the Marlins in 2007.  The Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year earned first team all-conference nods after leading his team with 18 goals, nine assists, and 45 points.  Massie also tallied eight game-winning goals to lead the Marlins to a 17-4-1 record and a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Plyler earns VaSID Rookie of the Year honors after posting a 10-2-2 record in the net for the Tigers.  The Old Dominion Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year ranked fourth in the ODAC with a 0.96 goals against average, while his six shutouts placed him second in the league.

Meanwhile, Josh Laux was named VaSID Coach of the Year after leading his team to an 11-6-3 overall record and 6-1-2 mark in the conference.  The ODAC Coach of the Year helped Hampden-Sydney advance to the conference semifinals for the first time in six years.

Joining Massie on the VaSID All-State First Team are Christopher Newport’s Michael Caro (Alexandria, VA) and Bridgewater’s  Chris Thomas (Bowie, MD) at forward.  In the midfield, Hampden-Sydney’s Jason Butler (Richmond, VA), Washington and Lee’s Josh Dodds (Marion, IA), Roanoke’s Eric Eversole (Blacksburg, VA) and Nate Wilson (Winchester, VA) earned first team honors.  Roanoke’s Andy Bickel (Towson, MD), Lynchburg’s Pat Brown (Williamsburg, VA), VWC’s Travis Cober (Morgantown, WV), and CNU’s Matt Page (Newport News, VA) were first team honorees as defenders, while W&L’s Ted Sheedy (Pittsburgh, PA) earned first team honors in goal.

Hampden-Sydney forwards Jason Powell (Marietta, GA) and Will Robertson (Charlotte, NC) along with Washington and Lee’s Jack Palmer (Williamsburg, VA) earned VaSID All-State Second Team honors at forward.  Earning second team honors in the midfield were VWC’s Bryan Harris (Hockessin, DE), Lynchburg’s Modou Jobarteh (Silver Spring, MD), Southern Virginia’s Sevy Price (Fremont, CA), Mary Washington’s Ryan Taibl (Centreville, VA) and CNU’s Brian Tweed (Springfield, VA).  CNU’s Bryan Davis (Barhamsville, VA), Virginia Wesleyan’s Mike Karr (Virginia Beach, VA), Washington and Lee’s Fletcher McCraw (Greensville, SC), Randolph-Macon’s Kevan Quinn (Ontario, Canada), and Hampden-Sydney’s Sam Turner (Richmond, VA) earned second team nods at defender, while H-SC’s Plyler was named second team goalkeeper.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.