SALEM, Va. - Sophomore William Gardiner of the Roanoke College men's soccer team was selected to represent the Bahamas Senior Men's National Team at the 2025/26 CONCACAF FIFA International Friendly Series this month. 

Gardiner and the Bahamas are set to compete against Anguilla on Nov. 12 and the British Virgin Islands on Nov. 15 in the Cayman Islands. 

This is not the first time that Gardiner will compete for the senior team as he has nine caps for the team already. He most recently appeared with the Bahamas in the second stage of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Costa Rica and Grenada in June. 

Gardiner was a regular on the back line for the Maroons this past season. After transferring from the University of Tampa prior to the campaign, Gardiner made 17 appearances, including 14 starts, for RC as an outside back. 

"We are all very excited and proud for William to have earned the opportunity to represent his home county, the Bahamas, again at the Senior National Team level," said Roanoke's head men's soccer coach Ryan Pflugrad. "I am sure there will be a lot of Bahamas fans rooting for them from here in Roanoke next week."  

With his call up, Gardiner becomes the second Roanoke player to compete on a senior men's national team. He joins Alex Taitague '21 who has represented Guam across multiple competitions including international friendlies, Asian Cup matches, and World Cup qualifiers. 

Gardiner and Taitague are not the only Maroons to represent their countries. The following players have put on the crest for their respective countries on the youth levels as well: Adam Birch '00 (New Zealand - U17 National Team), Marc Dinkel '14 (Switzerland – U17, U20, and U21 National Teams), and Philani Mlotshwa '21 (Zimbabwe – U17 and U20 National Teams). 

Keep up with Gardiner and the RC men's soccer team by following them on X and Instagram @roanokemsoccer.