University of Richmond Athletics
Field Hockey Earns All-Conference Honors
11/07/2002 | Field Hockey
Nov. 7, 2002
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - For only the third time in Atlantic 10 history, one school swept all four major awards as Richmond senior Jill Murphy (Williamsburg, Va.) was named Offensive Player of the Year, junior Lydia Decembrino (Hummelstown, Pa.) was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year, Michelle Swartz (Severna Park, Md.) was honored as Rookie of the Year and Ange Bradley was named Coach of the Year in voting conducted among the Conference's coaches.
Murphy enters this weekend's Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Championship leading the league and tied for second in the nation with 17 assists. She holds Richmond's all-time career assist record (29) and is listed twice for assists in a single season. As a co-captain, she has assisted on 38 percent of the Spiders' 45 goals in 2002. The senior forward scored the game-winning goal, her first of the season, in Richmond's 2-1 double overtime victory over VCU.
Decembrino anchors the Spider defense, which has posted eight shutouts in 20 games this season. The junior back was a major force in Atlantic 10 play as Richmond allowed just three goals in conference action on their way to a perfect 6-0 record. Decembrino has nine points on the season, scoring two goals and registering five assists.
Joining Murphy and Decembrino on the All-Conference Team is junior Brittney Parrish (Louisville, Ky.). Parrish leads the conference in points (28), recording eight assists in addition to a conference-high 10 goals this season.
Swartz earns Rookie of the Year honors after gathering three Rookie of the Week citations throughout the course of the season. The freshman goalkeeper leads the Atlantic 10 with 14 wins, including eight shutouts, and a 1.17 GAA, which ranks 10th in the nation. In Atlantic 10 action, Swartz leads all goalies with a save percentage of .850 and a GAA of 0.50.
Bradley earns Coach of the Year after leading Richmond to a perfect 6-0 Atlantic 10 record and the top seed in this weekend's conference tournament. In just her second season leading the Spiders, Bradley has guided Richmond to a 14-6 season, recording the most wins in the program's history.
