University of Richmond Athletics
Fall Sports Prepare for Seasons
08/18/2004 | Cross Country
Aug. 18, 2004
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond fall sports teams are back on campus and have started preparing for their 2004 seasons. The men's and women's soccer teams and field hockey team reported early last week and began practicing on Thursday.
In 2003, the field hockey team extended its conference win streak to 16-0 over two seasons and garnered its second-straight NCAA tournament bid. The 2004 Spider squad returns eight starters from last year's nationally-ranked team including junior midfielder Allie Howard, the 2004 Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year. Howard, along with junior forward Whitney Wells and junior goalkeeper Michelle Swartz, anchor a Richmond squad poised to take the next step in NCAA postseason play. The team begins exhibition play Sunday, August 22 when it hosts Calgary at 8:00 a.m. at Crenshaw Field. The Spiders begin regular season play at home as they host Monmouth Saturday, August 28 at noon at Crenshaw Field.
The men's soccer team will have a new look in 2004 as head coach Jeff Gettler has added over 10 new faces to the roster. After finishing 10-5-5 overall and 7-0-4 in conference play last season, the Spiders look to get back to the NCAA College Cup which eluded them in 2003. Preseason All-Atlantic 10 honoree junior Colin Vint returns after scoring eight goals to lead the squad. Junior Chris Lahoud, another preseason Atlantic 10 pick, will be counted on in the Spider backfield. Gettler's squad gets underway with the first of two exhibitions Saturday, August 21 versus Longwood at 7 p.m. at Lacrosse Field. A week later, the Spiders travel to William and Mary for their final tune-up before opening the season at the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill., September 3-4. Richmond's first regular season match begins at 5 p.m. against the Drake Bulldogs at Bradley's Shea Stadium.
The women's soccer team returns eight starters from the 2003 squad that posted an 11-9-2 record and advanced to the title contest of the Atlantic 10 Championships. The Spiders, with a league-high four preseason All-Conference honorees, will be led by senior captains Jessica Marino, Meghan Ogilvie and Olina Vidarsdottir. The team will play two exhibition games, traveling to Maryland on Friday, August 20 for a 5:00 p.m. contest and then hosting George Mason on Sunday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m. Richmond opens the regular season on Friday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. when they host James Madison.
The cross country team also begins action next month as the reigning 2003 A-10 Champion women take part the Spider Alumni Open, Sept. 4. The Spider men will be taking part in the Richmond event, one of two races held in Richmond during the 2004 season.
