Soccer Tigers Name 2010 Captains

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA - With preseason underway and expectations high, head soccer coach Josh Laux has announced his four captains for the 2010 squad. Senior keeper John Robert Plyler (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park), senior midfielder Matt Hampton (Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam), senior defender Sam Turner (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) and junior forward Bryan Wharton (Glen Allen, VA/Deep Run) will look to lead the Tigers to their first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship.

Plyler, the 2007 ODAC and VaSID Rookie of the Year and 2009 Second Team All-ODAC honoree, returns for his fourth season as the starter between the pipes. Through three years, Plyler has been the anchor of the team and currently has the seventh best career goals against average in the ODAC (0.82) while his 19 shutouts are second all time on the Tigers' list. Last season, Plyler notched nine shutouts while stopping 69 shots in his 20 appearances. 

Hampton, another four year staple, will again be the anchor of the midfield. As one of the best creators and distributors on the team, Hampton sees much of the offense start with him. Last season, he had a career year statistically with six assists - good for second on the team - and one goal.

Turner becomes the most experienced defender on the Tiger roster with three years of significant playing time under his belt. A physical player, Turner is tough to get by and wins almost anything that comes his way in the air. Last season, he was a vital part of a defense that allowed just 0.60 goals per game while boasting 11 shutouts.

Wharton returns for his junior season after being named First Team All-ODAC, First Team All-State, and Second Team All-Region in 2009. The Glen Allen native is a scoring machine with 28 goals to his name after just two seasons. Wharton will be counted on as on of the main offensive threats on the roster and will be the focus of opponent's scouting reports.