Sports
Top 11 of '11
By The Collegian | December 31, 2011With the start of 2012 only a few hours away, The Collegian took a look back at the top 11 stories of 2011.
With the start of 2012 only a few hours away, The Collegian took a look back at the top 11 stories of 2011.
After starting the year 6-2, Richmond men's basketball team began to show its youth in three-straight losses to small-conference opponents. In danger of falling to .500, the Spiders were able to eke out an overtime win, 90-82, at home over Old Dominion University on Tuesday.
Two-sport sophomore Becca Wann was named a first-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America this past weekend. Wann is one of just four sophomores on the 15-member team, which is composed of players from all over the country, and the only representative from the Atlantic-10 Conference. She is just the second women's soccer player from Richmond to receive the honor, the other being Jaclyn Raveia in 2000.
After losing to the University of Virginia Cavaliers, 69-56, the Spiders had a chance Saturday to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd, playing the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and they did just that, winning 75-60. While the Spiders led throughout the majority of the game and won every statistical category, they struggled early during the first half. The Spartans employed a full-court press and kept the game close, forcing five Richmond turnovers in the first nine minutes. "We weren't being very aggressive early on when the press was put on us," Spiders coach Michael Shafer said.
Two big scoring runs by Virginia Commonwealth University, one in each half, killed any chance the Spiders had at coming out victorious Friday night on their rival's home court. The Rams went on a 14-0 run midway through the first half and a 20-4 run towards the end of the second half after University of Richmond had pulled to within two points of the lead, 47-45. Richmond point guard Cedrick Lindsay's near-perfect night shooting wasn't enough to overcome his team's turnover and foul issues.
The main concern on everyone's minds at Wednesday evening's press conference introducing the University of Richmond's new head football coach was obvious, and understandable. After making his opening remarks, Danny Rocco, who was announced as Richmond's 35th football coach in school history, was hounded by questions regarding stability.
As if facing an Atlantic Coast Conference team wasn't tough enough, the University of Richmond women's basketball team had to do it hours after it was announced that two players, including the starting point guard, were leaving the team. Despite all that, the Spiders kept the University of Virginia Cavaliers, who defeated then No.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? The sluggish first half of Richmond's game against the University of Illinois seems like a distant memory.
Each time the University of Richmond football team took the field this season, the man who assembled it was absent. Instead of leading the team during an injury-filled 3-8 season, he watched or listened to the games on the radio. "I felt like I should have been there," said Latrell Scott, the former UR coach who resigned 10 days before the start of the season after getting arrested for a DWI.
Early season tournaments gave Richmond the opportunity to play high-quality teams in previous years, such as the University of Missouri and Purdue University.
It was a fitting end to the University of Richmond football's disappointing season. After overcoming a 19-11 deficit to begin the fourth quarter, the Spiders gave up a touchdown with two seconds remaining to give the College of William and Mary the victory, 25-23. The loss is Richmond's eighth straight to end its season, a season that began with a three wins that included a victory over FBS-foe Duke University. Spiders' fullback Kendall Gaskins paced his team's fourth-quarter comeback, finding the end zone twice in the final frame. William & Mary tailback Jonathan Grimes was the Tribe's main offensive threat, rushing for over 200 yards and and a touchdown. This story will be updated later with quotes. Contact staff writer David Weissman at david.weissman@richmond.edu
4th Quarter, 0:00- The Spiders' season comes to an end, as Corp's Hail Mary pass falls to the ground.
In previous years, with an offense centered around guard Brittani Shells, the University of Richmond women's basketball team may not have been able to win a game like Friday night's against Boston University. Guard Abby Oliver, who has taken over the role of leading scorer following the graduation of Shells, did not score until there was a little more than two minutes left in the game.
Now that baseball season is over, the best part of the year for every fan whose team didn't win the World Series has begun.
The first two games of the year, the University of Richmond had to rely on a small freshman guard and a sophomore point guard with no career starts entering this year for scoring.
A few Saturdays ago, I woke up to find my Facebook news feed blown up by statuses from "Roll Tide!" to "Geaux Tigers!" reminding me the Alabama versus LSU game was on that night.
Q: What were your expectations before the home opener against American? A: Just to contribute and win the game. Q: How does it feel to be the first player at Richmond since 1961 to score 20 or more points in his college debut? A: It's an honor and a blessing from God.
While I was leaving the University of Delaware last weekend, I was reminded that at one point this year, Richmond was ranked in the top five in the nation.
"What's up dudes!" Pat clamors in the door, with a Yankees cap and McNabb jersey on. My godfather has always had that New York Sinatra-esque moxy, to come in a room and light up the mood.
The University of Richmond women's basketball team is 2-0 this season after beating The College of William & Mary, 77-57, Monday night in the team's home opener. Senior guard Abby Oliver led the Spiders with 19 points; 14 of them coming in the second half. "I tried to relax more [in the second half] but really, I think it was just a team thing," Oliver said.