University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Increase Lead In Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Cup
03/11/2003 | General
March 11, 2003
After claiming Atlantic 10 championships in women's track and field and swimming this winter, the University of Richmond increased its lead in the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Cup race to 11.5 points in the overall standings.
The Spiders, who lead the women's standings by 14 points over second-place Rhode Island, have amassed 76.5 points as of March 9. La Salle and Rhode Island are tied for second with 65 points.
Richmond enjoyed an outstanding fall season to take the lead in a race that saw the Spiders finish third in their inaugural Atlantic 10 campaign (2001-02). Head Coach Ange Bradley's field hockey team finished 6-0 in regular-season conference play and then won the tournament championship. The Spiders advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Rider before falling to Old Dominion.
The success continued when Peter Albright's women's soccer team captured its first Atlantic 10 Tournament championship and then advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Richmond finished third in the regular-season standings.
Head Coach Jeff Gettler's men's soccer team also finished third in the regular-season standings, but earned an NCAA Tournament at-large berth by winning matches against some of the nation's elite programs.
The cross country teams earned valuable points for Richmond. The women's team finished a close second at the conference meet, and the men's team finished eighth. Richmond is currently eighth in the overall men's standings with 23 points.
When the winter championships surfaced, it was Richmond, again, that moved to the top. Matt Kredich and his swimming and diving team broke eight conference records and won 13 of 20 total events in a commanding championship performance.
Lori Taylor and her women's track and field team provided the most exciting championship to date, as the title came down to the last race. The Spiders outran host Rhode Island to claim Richmond's first-ever indoor track conference title.
Richmond has earned four Atlantic 10 Championships and three NCAA Tournament berths so far in 2002-03. Ange Bradley, Matt Kredich and Lori Taylor were named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors. Senior Ruth Chege (track), junior Lydia Decembrino (field hockey) and sophomores Mary Adams (swimming) and Meghan Ogilvie (women's soccer) were honored as being the most outstanding performer in their respective championships.
As we head to the spring, the outlook is just as promising.
Both the men's and women's basketball teams completed successful regular-season campaigns and are expecting to continue the Spider tradition of post-season play. The Spider baseball and lacrosse teams have both earned national rankings, while the men's and women's tennis teams aim to defend their conference championships this spring.
Overall Standings
1. Richmond - 76.5
2. La Sale - 65
2. Rhode Island - 65
4. George Washington - 61.5
5. Massachusetts - 61
6. Saint Joseph's - 60
7. Dayton - 57
8. Duquesne - 52
9. Xavier - 46.5
10. Temple - 43.5
11. Fordham - 30
12. St. Bonaventure - 26
Women's Standings
1. Richmond - 53.5
2. Rhode Island - 39.5
3. George Washington - 37
4. Saint Joseph's - 33.5
5. Dayton - 33
6. La Salle - 29.5
6. Massachusetts - 29.5
6. Temple - 29.5
9. Duquesne - 28
10. Xavier - 23.5
11. Fordham - 18
12. St. Bonaventure - 14.5
Men's Standings
1. La Salle 35.5
2. Massachusetts - 31.5
3. Saint Joseph's - 26.5
4. Rhode Island - 25.5
5. George Washington - 24.5
6. Dayton - 24
6. Duquesne - 24
8. Richmond - 23
9. Xavier - 23
10. Temple - 14
11. Fordham - 12
12. St. Bonaventure - 11.5
* The Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Cup is a compilation of points awarded in descending order of finish in each of the league's 22 championship sports.
