Luna was a dynamic offensive force up top for the , as he finished with team highs of five goals, five assists and 15 points.聽 He finished fourth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in assists and seventh in total points.聽 Luna also notched three game-winning goals in ODAC play, which led the league.聽 In 黑料正能量’s big road upset of preseason favorite Roanoke on Oct. 2, Luna scored the game’s only goal late in the first half.

This is the fifth straight year that the Royals have placed at least one men’s soccer player on an All-State team.聽 They have had 15 All-State honorees since 2008.

With a young team, Eastern Mennonite won three of their final four games in the regular season.聽 They lost to eventual ODAC Champion Washington and Lee in the conference tournament, giving the Generals their closest contest in the tourney.

The Royals finished 4-5-2 in the ODAC and 6-12-2 overall.

names 27 All-State teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university, college or conference in the state of Virginia.

2015 VaSID Men’s Soccer All-State Teams
Player of the Year: Ben Bayles, Washington and Lee University
Coach of the Year: Mike Singleton, Washington and Lee University
Rookie of the Year: Rick Perrault, Virginia Wesleyan College

All-State First Team
Forwards
Patrick Burns, Christopher Newport University
Troy Jurney, Randolph College
Freddy Flores, Lynchburg College

Midfielders
Ben Bayles, Washington and Lee University
BlakeHeatherly, Randolph College
Harry Nodwell, Christopher Newport University

Defenders
Sean Christein, Christopher Newport University
Patrick Barry, Washington and Lee University
Cristian Irigoyen, Randolph College
Dio Beck, Roanoke College
Nate Berning, Lynchburg College
Rodney Ngoh, Marymount University

Goalie
Nolan Mann, Christopher Newport University

All-State Second聽Team
Forwards
Rob Lentine, Roanoke College
Juan Luna, 黑料正能量
Ricky Perrault, Virginia Wesleyan College
Jordan Couch, Emory & Henry College

Midfielders
Mike Bennett, University of Mary Washington
Tyler Carbaugh, Roanoke College
Logan McHugh, Randolph-Macon College

Defenders
Kevin Gidari, Bridgewater College
Jack Maxey, Randolph-Macon College
Bobby Seifert, Christopher Newport University

Goalie
Matt Spencer, University of Mary Washington

(Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) is a junior transfer who has proven to be a great asset to the men鈥檚 soccer team. Dependable, dedicated and hardworking, Luna consistently shows passion for the game. His performance last week in games against Wesley and in a win over ODAC preseason favorite, Roanoke, earns him recognition as this week鈥檚 Royals Athlete of the Week.

鈥淲e hadn鈥檛 scored since Ferrum I believe, our last win. 聽I was in a scoring slump as well,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚t puts a lot of pressure on me because every game my team is like, 鈥極kay Juan, you have to cash some checks tonight.鈥� 聽But I feel like that first goal against Wesley really opened the gates, and we鈥檙e just flowing with it now.鈥�

Against Wesley College on Sept. 29, Luna scored 黑料正能量’s first goal in four games. 聽Although the match resulted in a 4-1 loss, they would achieve a great win to make up for it. Three days later the men played Roanoke, last year鈥檚 conference regular season champions. Luna scored in the 40th minute against the Maroons, putting them up 1-0 and sealing the win for the team.

He noted that Roanoke hadn鈥檛 had an ODAC loss since 2013, which made the win even sweeter.

鈥淚t felt really nice (beating Roanoke) although the weather was horrible,鈥� Luna said. 鈥淲e have a really young team, about half of them are freshmen. There鈥檚 no substitute for experience, so every game we get a little bit better, and that鈥檚 the only thing we ask. Everyone is clicking, and during the Roanoke game we all put the pieces together and finally got a good result.鈥�

Luna lived in the city of Morol茅on in Guanajuato, Mexico, until he was seven years old. With a father who was a former professional soccer player, Juan learned his skills at a young age.

鈥淗e filled my brain with soccer since I was little,鈥� Juan said. 鈥淲hen I was a baby, the first thing my dad gave me was a soccer ball. He was definitely a big influence. When I was in Mexico, my dad put me in soccer academies, so I鈥檝e grown up with it. It has always been around me.鈥�

Luna played for an academy called Morelia, a common experience for Mexican youth.

鈥淗ere in the States soccer is nothing compared to what it is in Mexico,鈥� he pointed out. 鈥淚n Mexico, all they do is eat, breath, and sleep soccer. Here, soccer is a big part of the culture, but it鈥檚 nothing compared to Mexico. Regular kids, well, pretty much every kid that鈥檚 there goes to school, and as soon as they get out, they go to the soccer academy. 聽They go home, do homework, sleep, and start the cycle again.鈥�

His commitment has paid off.聽 Utilizing a high IQ of the game, he’s developed strong skills as a playmaker.

鈥淲hat I like about my play is I can find the gaps between people, which people normally wouldn鈥檛 see,鈥� Luna said. 鈥淚 can foresee a play that鈥檚 going to build up without the play even being there. 聽I can visualize it and that鈥檚 what really helps me to spread the ball and find other teammates.鈥�

Despite his love of soccer, it was not always his only sport. Luna started playing football his freshman year of high school. He eventually attended D-I James Madison University and was a kicker for the JMU football team.

Luna describes transferring to Eastern Mennonite as being one of the best decisions he has made. 鈥淚 like the community here more than at JMU,鈥� Luna explained. 聽鈥淓veryone here knows you and you鈥檙e not just another number.”

Luna, a Spanish major who is contemplating a career in law enforcement, also says he appreciates the availability of professors, especially coming from a larger school where he experienced bigger classes and less interaction with professors.

Academics are just as important to Luna as soccer is: his three goals for this academic year are raising his GPA, scoring 10 goals before the end of the season, and continuing to work hard in practice and games.

As of Monday, Sept. 22聽the team is 2-4-2, with several double overtime games under their belt.聽Mast聽hopes that competitive edge puts his team back into the postseason tourney for the 22nd time in his 24 years at the helm.

Lessons learned from 2013 season

“The 2013 season was one that I would capture as being one of near misses: one game out of making the ODAC Tournament and numerous one goal losses,” Mast explained. “That plays into our team this fall in that we will train to compete. Much of our training will be geared towards competition. We want to instill in our 2014 team a competitive will and work ethic that will turn those close matches into victories.”

The Royals had five one-goal losses last year, including four in conference play. Two of those were in overtime. A win in any of those games would have given 黑料正能量 the three points they needed to make a jump in the ODAC standings to make the tourney.

In Mast’s mind, his team needs to play their “A” game for every conference outing.

“The competitive balance in the ODAC is hardly fair,” he said. “We must come to play our best each time we have an ODAC opponent on our slate. There is not a team that we can take lightly. The preparation that it takes for each conference team is critical, but even more crucial is having the team intensity and work ethic at a high level for each of these matches.”

All-ODAC players return for new season

Headlining the returners is a pair of former All-ODAC honorees, although one was a pleasant surprise return.

惭颈诲蹿颈别濒诲别谤听聽(Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) is back for his senior season playing for his father. He had three goals and four assists last year, tying for the team lead with 10 points. Mast was an All-ODAC Third Team honoree as a sophomore.

顿别蹿别苍诲别谤听聽(Limon, Costa Rica/Colegio de Limon Diurno) is back to finish up his classwork under a fifth season. He scored three goals last year, but his suffocating presence in the middle of the backline earned him All-ODAC First Team and VaSID All-State First Team awards.

“Chris returns this season as a fifth year senior,” explained Coach Mast, “as he was a medical redshirt his freshman season at Old Dominion before transferring to 黑料正能量. Chris is a very good organizer of our back four defenders. He also brings good leadership to the team.”

The team also returns super-sub聽聽(Bluffton, Oh./Bluffton), with his three goals and one assist as a junior, as well as senior midfielder聽聽(Harleysville, Pa./Christopher Dock), who had two goals and an assist, and junior defender聽聽(Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), who had a goal and an assist.

Mast says his returning core will give this year’s team strength.

“We have good leadership in our upperclassmen,” he explained. “The work ethic of our upperclassmen is high. We also have depth in the goalkeeper position and we have strong enough numbers on our roster to create a competitive atmosphere for training and earning playing time.”

Senior keeper聽聽(Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) is a two-year starter with 188 career saves. He will give leadership to, but also be pushed by, some talented newcomers.

Freshman and transfer student add depth to team

“Matt Overacker聽(Mount Crawford, Va./Turner Ashby) and聽Ryan Zerkel聽(Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) are incoming freshmen who will add depth and compete for playing time in the goalkeeper position,” said Mast. “Andrew brings in some quality experience and our young keepers bring some athleticism and competitive desire.”

While the team must replace All-ODAC forward Christian Rhine (13 goals in two season before transferring to Penn State), along with seven graduated seniors and a handful of other role players, the Royals got a boost from the local schools.

“Juan Luna聽(Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) is returning to the soccer field after a stint as a place kicker at James Madison University,” Mast said, “and he has decided to transfer to 黑料正能量. Juan is a dynamic attacking player. Local freshmen players are聽Zach Sauder聽(Lyndhurst, Va./Stuarts Draft),聽Grayson Mast聽(Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite),聽Brandon Fern聽(Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial) and聽Braden Herman聽(Waynesboro, Va./Fort Defiance). In all, we have 37 players reporting for preseason and competing for 28-32 roster spots.”

Difficult non-conference schedule sets the stage for ODAC wins

Once again, Mast scheduled a number of quality non-conference sides to get his men ready for the rigors of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

“We have added Johns Hopkins, Gettysburg, Frostburg State, Southern Virginia and Ferrum to our non-conference venue,” said 黑料正能量’s coach. “We also have teams that we played in 2013 such as Lebanon Valley, Mary Washington and Marymount. We have chosen to play a difficult non-conference schedule to help to prepare our team for our ODAC opponents.”

Coaching changes at assistant level

There are also some changes on the sidelines, as assistant coach Ted Erickson was hired as 黑料正能量’s head women’s soccer coach. Juan Flores, who played in 17 games in his final season of eligibility last fall, and Patrick Bain, an All-ODAC and All-Region player at Roanoke, join the staff this year.

“I look forward to working with Patrick and Juan,” said Mast in late August.聽“Our goal is to have the players working very hard on both sides of the ball and to be professional in all aspects of our soccer program.”

Learn more about 黑料正能量 , , and the on the .

And to competitors around the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Jo茫o 鈥淐hris鈥� Downs is regarded as one of the top defenders in the league.

The Costa Rican-born Old Dominion University transfer, who joined 黑料正能量 following a freshman campaign with the Monarchs that was completely wiped out when he tore the ACL in his right knee, earned first-team all-league honors last year and will begin his senior season when the Royals visit Mary Washington in Fredericksburg on Friday.

鈥淭here are a couple things that Chris does really, really well: He鈥檚 very athletic 鈥� he鈥檚 a Division I athlete. He鈥檚 strong,鈥� longtime Royals coach Roger Mast said. 鈥淚 think his speed may have been affected a little bit from his ACL injury, but physically, he鈥檚 strong. 鈥� He鈥檚 very composed on the ball. Even under pressure, you never see him panic.鈥�

Pronounced JAY-ow, Jo茫o 鈥� a Portuguese surname 鈥� is what the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Downs said he prefers to go by. But the difficult spelling and pronunciation of the name led him to adopt 鈥淐hris鈥� in Harrisonburg for the sake of simplicity.

Downs was born in rural Lim贸n, Costa Rica, and his father, Cristobal, who now works as a port agent in the Central American country, has raised cattle for both dairy and meat products as a hobby since Chris was a boy.

In fact, Chris Downs said his father sold 鈥渁 couple鈥� of his livestock to pay for his son鈥檚 plane ticket to the United States when he left for ODU prior to the 2011 season.

That background, Mast said, made Downs鈥� transition to the beach life in Norfolk 鈥� his first time being in the United States 鈥� immensely more challenging.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say growing up in Costa Rica was as hard for me as other kids because I had both parents that worked and provided for me all the time,鈥� Downs said. 鈥淚 can guarantee you that I was one of the kids playing in the streets that had shoes because my dad used to be like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 want you messing up your feet. You鈥檙e going to wear shoes, no matter if they cheap shoes or whatever. Whenever you need shoes, we have to buy you shoes.鈥欌��

Downs said he ended up with the Royals after his one-year scholarship at ODU was not renewed following his ACL injury. 黑料正能量 turned out to be the one and only program Downs visited after leaving ODU, too, and Mast credited that to the down-to-earth atmosphere in Harrisonburg and its surrounding rural areas.

Now at age 24, Downs 鈥� who admits his knee still gives him problems from time to time 鈥� is ready to play his final competitive season of soccer before hoping to parlay his eventual liberal arts degree into a sports management career.

鈥淪ince I was like a 1-year-old, I can remember being obsessed with the game,鈥� Downs said. 鈥淎nd for me, to keep playing, it鈥檚 just the passion. No matter how hurt I am, I鈥檒l just try to recover and keep playing.鈥�

Eastern Mennonite, picked to finish ninth this fall in the 12-team ODAC, was 5-13 a year ago and is entering its 24th season under Mast. During that time, Mast said he鈥檚 had 鈥渁t least鈥� 20 foreign-born players compete at his program.

Mast added another international athlete prior to this season in sophomore attacker Juan Luna, a Mexican-born former kicker on the Stonewall Jackson High School and James Madison football teams.

Luna and Downs, who along with student assistant Juan Flores are the only Spanish-first speakers in 黑料正能量鈥檚 program, often find themselves battling head-to-head in practice.

鈥淗e鈥檚 very physical, very vocal,鈥� Luna said of Downs. 鈥淚鈥檇 say he鈥檚 the general of his troops 鈥� he definitely knows how to rally everybody up. 鈥� His timing is just so precise, and that鈥檚 something that really, really helps him.鈥�

Courtesy of the Daily News Record, Aug. 28, 2014