University of Richmond Athletics
Rice and Alexander Claim Atlantic 10 Honors
09/04/2001 | General
Click here to listen to a conversation with Shawn Alexander
University of Richmond, Va. (September 4) - University of Richmond seniors Shawn Alexander (Southfield, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) and Heather Rice (Oklahoma City, Okla./Heritage) were each honored as Atlantic 10 conference Players of the Week for men's soccer and field hockey, respectively. In doing so, both became the first Spiders bestowed athlete of the week honors in the new conference.
Alexander was fantastic in net for the Spiders as he led them to the Nike/ALLTEL Classic championship last weekend, hosted by Virginia Commonwealth. On Friday, August 31, versus 18th ranked Seton Hall, Alexander made a career-high nine saves, most of them in spectacular fashion, to help the Spiders (1-0-1) secure a 0-0 tie. Then on Sunday, September 2, the netminder recorded his second shutout in as many games as Richmond defeated Adelphi 3-0.
In 210 minutes of play this season, Alexander has made 10 saves without allowing a goal. Including the two shutouts he has posted this year, Alexander has 14 for his career, placing him fourth all-time on Richmond's career shutouts list. He also entered this season as the school's career leader in goals against average (1.10). In addition to being honored by the Atlantic 10, Alexander was also selected as the national goalkeeper of the week by Mad Dog Soccer.
Rice scored four goals, including two game-winners in a 6-2 shellacking of Longwood on August 29 and in a convincing 3-1 win at Appalachian State on September 2. When she was not scoring, Rice was creating opportunities, as she dished three assists, including the game-winning assist in a 2-0 victory vs. Radford on September 1.
Rice also inched closer to personal records, as she now stands only five goals away from eclipsing Richmond's all-time goals scoring record. Rice's four goals and three assists accounted for 11 points on the week, which moved her within 19 of becoming Richmond's all-time points scored leader.
Rice and the Spiders hope for continued success when they return to action against Cornell, Noon on Saturday September 8, in Newark, Del. Alexander and the men's soccer team return to action at the Duke/adidas Soccer Classic in Durham, N.C. Richmond will face Duke at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 7 and then N.C. State at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8.
