University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Announces Team Captains
10/17/2006 | Women's Lacrosse
Oct. 17, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond women's lacrosse head coach Sue Murphy announced last week that seniors Jackie Swansburg, Sara Allen, Ashley Friend and Megan Riedy will serve as the Spiders' team captains for the 2006-07 season.
"This is a very strong group of young women, let alone players," stated Murphy. "Obviously, having Jackie and Sara in the program for five years helps in so many ways, both on and off the field. Compliment that with four-year starters and impact players Ashley and Megan, and we are headed in the right direction."
Swansburg, a redshirt-senior goalkeeper from Beverly, Mass., led the conference in saves, save percentage and goals against average last season, ranking fourth in the country in save percentage and seventh in GAA. After anchoring a backline that, on seven occasions, held its opponents to five goals or less, Swansburg was named A-10 Player of the Week (3/6) and an Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention, in addition to being selected to the A-10 All-Conference and VaSID first teams, the IWLCA Division I All-Regional second team and the A-10 Championship Team.
Allen, a redshirt senior from Rosemont, Pa., has played 50 games in a Spider uniform. She has scored 25 goals in her career at Richmond, including netting 12 last season. Allen scored multiple goals in three games and recorded a four-goal performance against Massachusetts in 2006.
Friend, a midfielder from Canandaigua, N.Y., has scored 97 career goals, including 47 last season, ranking her fourth in the program record book for most goals in a season. Friend enjoyed a standout season last year, when she was twice named A-10 Player of the Week (3/27, 4/3) and an Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention (3/27), in addition to being named to the A-10 All Conference first team, the A-10 Championship team for the second year in a row and the IWLCA Division I All-Regional and VaSID second teams.
Riedy, a defender from Ellicott City, Md., has been a vital member of the Richmond lacrosse squad, starting 52 contests in her career thus far. Last season, she was a key part of defense that, on average, allowed only 8.05 gpg, and on seven occasions, held its opponents to five goals or less. The third team preseason All-American was named to the A-10 All-Conference honorable mention team and named to the VaSID second team for her tremendous play in the back last season.
Murphy has the utmost confidence that these four leaders will carry the Spiders to yet another record-breaking season.
"We return such valuable game experience on this roster as we lost only two starters," continued Murphy. "Although we will greatly miss Caroline McGuire and Allison Nuzzi, we return nine seniors, including two 5th-year players. Couple that with five juniors that have seen major game minutes, and we are finally 'not young'. We look forward to having a great season, one of which we plan on making a significant impact nationally and within the A-10."
