2004 Field Hockey Team of Distinction (2015) - Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame

2004 Field Hockey Team of Distinction

Induction:
2015
Class:
2004

In the midst of five consecutive Atlantic 10 titles and NCAA berths from 2002 through 2006, the 2004 Richmond field hockey team distinguished itself with record-setting performances, many of which still stand ten years later.

No other Spider hockey squad has won more than the 18 games captured by Coach Ange Bradley's team in 2004. Richmond was 18-3, 6-0 in the Atlantic 10, extending an A-10 winning streak to 24 games spanning three years. An .857 winning percentage still stands as the best in program history.

Out of conference, the Spiders signature win came with a 2-1 triumph over tenth-ranked and state rival Virginia. All three losses came to nationally-ranked teams, and the Spiders themselves earned a No. 10 national ranking, the program's highest ever.

Richmond standouts dominated A-10 accolades. Holly Cram earned Offensive Player of the Year; Allie Howard Defensive Player of the Year; Michelle Swartz Student-Athlete of the Year and Ange Bradley Coach of the Year for the second time in four seasons. Howard and Cram earned All-America honors. Howard also was named MVP of the Atlantic 10 tournament.

In the Spider record book, Swartz posted a school-best eleven shutouts, a mark that still stands. She had two streaks of more than 300 consecutive scoreless minutes in goal and stills sits at the top for individual goals against average at 0.73. The 2004 squad remains first or second in six team categories - wins (T1); winning percentage (1^st), fewest losses (T2); longest win streak (T2); most goals (2) and shutouts (1^st).