Blythe-Wood Named A-10 Offensive Player Of Year, Lucido Named Coach Of Year; Spiders Have 6 All A-10 Picks

Dec. 5, 2009

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond senior Sarah Blythe-Wood was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and head coach Gina Lucido was named A-10 Coach of the Year, in voting conducted among the conference's coaches.

Six Spiders earned All-Atlantic 10 honors, with senior Megan Thompson, sophomore Katelin Peterson and senior Jess Weidner joining Blythe-Wood on the All A-10 First-Team, senior Jacki Raithel and junior Dani Pycroft making the Second-Team and freshman Catherine Ostoich being selected to the All-Rookie Team.

Blythe-Wood was named All-Atlantic 10 for the third-straight season, earning First-Team All A-10 for the second time. She was also named to the Academic All-Conference Team.

The Harare, Zimbabwe native led the Atlantic 10 and was 19th in the nation in goals per game (0.96), scoring 22 goals in her senior season, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Blythe-Wood was 18th in the nation in points per game (2.35), finishing with 53 points in 2009, which ranks third on Richmond's single-season list. She led the team and was tied for the conference lead in assists with 11.

She finished her career with 89 points, which ranks fifth on Richmond's all-time list and 35 goals, which ranks sixth.

"Sarah Blythe-Wood finished her career achieving every accolade she could get a look at," Richmond head coach Gina Lucido said. "She combined her passion for success with team centered focus and cemented her imprint on this program."

Gina Lucido was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.

Lucido was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year after leading the No. 19 ranked Spiders to the 2009 Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament titles. The Spiders (14-9, 5-1 Atlantic 10) won an NCAA Play-In Game against Ohio to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last eight years, where they lost to No. 2 ranked Virginia in the first round.

Richmond was in the top-25 in the nation in four statistical categories, ranking 17th in goals against average (1.62), 18th in scoring margin (1.15), 21st in both goals per game (2.83) and scoring average (2.77) and 25th in points per game (7.48).

"The fruit of this season has been nearly three years of commitment to a longstanding vision," Lucido said. "I believe in equipping young women to compete with gratitude, passion, and uncommon sacrifice. I am privileged to be among outstanding colleagues in the A-10 that inspire me to prepare my team to reach their unique potential. The recognition of this vision and `uncommon' program is a compliment I am thankful to receive."

Senior Megan Thompson was named First-Team All-Atlantic 10 for the second-straight year.

Peterson, Thompson and Weidner joined Blythe-Wood on the All-Conference First-Team.

Thompson was named First-Team All-Atlantic 10 for the second-straight year and earned all-conference honors for the third time in her career. She was fourth on the team with six goals and second on the team and fifth in the conference in assists with nine. Thompson finished her career eighth on Richmond's points list (79) and eighth on the goals list (31). The Gap, Pa. native is tied for 12th on the school's career list for assists (17).

"Megan Thompson ability to adapt to our defensive needs while complimenting a fierce attacking unit was crucial to our A-10 trophy and post-season success," Lucido said.

Weidner was named First-Team All A-10 Team after leading the Spider defense that was 17th in the nation in goals against average (1.62). The Harrisburg, Pa. native had five assists as a senior and finished her career fourth on Richmond's list for assists with 24 assists.

Senior Jess Weidner led the Spiders' defense and finished her career fourth at Richmond in career assists.

"Jess Weidner has left her mark," Lucido said. "The sheer dominance and passion she competed with is an enormous void in our backfield. Our season's success is linked with Jess's major contribution to our playing style."

Sophomore Katelin Peterson was named First-Team All A-10 for the second time in as many collegiate seasons.

Peterson, the 2008 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, was named First-Team All-Atlantic 10 for the second-straight year. She was second on the team and second in the conference in goals (13) and second on the team and fourth in the conference in points (30) in 2009. The Escondido, Calif. native led the Atlantic 10 in game-winning goals (5) and has 25 career goals through two seasons, which is just four out of the school's top-10 list. She has 59 career points, which is just eight points out of the top-10 on the school's career list.

"Katelin Peterson contributions in the goal and defending ours was vital to our success and staying alongside the nation's elite," Lucido said. "It's thrilling to know her potential is far from tapped."

Raithel was named Second-Team All-Atlantic 10 after leading the Atlantic 10 and ranking 23rd in the nation in goals against average (2.15). The Fairfax, Va. native made 94 saves and finished her career ranked third on Richmond's career list with a 2.41 goals against average.

Senior Jacki Raithle was named Second-Team All-Atlantic 10.

"Jacki Raithel finished her senior season at the top of her game with a jaw-dropping performance against Virginia," Lucido said. "She is one of the best examples of a Richmond student athlete pursuing excellence as a life path. I am so thankful for the privilege of coaching her."

Pycroft was named to the All Atlantic 10 Second-Team after finishing third on the team in goals (11) and points (27). The Harare, Zimbabwe native was seventh in the Atlantic 10 in points and tied for fifth in goals. Pycroft has 19 career goals and 12 assists for 50 career points.

Junior Dani Pycroft was named Second-Team All-Atlantic 10.

"Dani Pycroft scoring flare has lifted the team in timely moments, none so perfect as her game winning goal against Ohio to advance the Spiders to the NCAAs," Lucido said. "She will be dominant figure in the Spiders climb to new success in 2010."

Freshman Catherine Ostoich was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.

Ostoich was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team after playing a key role in the Spiders stingy defense, which ranked 17th in the nation in goals against average (1.62). The West Chester, Pa. native started all 22 games as a freshman.

"Catherine Ostoich had a phenomenal freshmen season," Lucido said. "She was one of the most consistent players on the team and rose to any challenge given. She has what it takes to be All-American during her career."

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