Shepherd University Athletics

TEN RAMS EARN CONFERENCE HONORS

PRINCETON, W.Va. -- Ten members of the Shepherd University men's soccer team were recently named to the 2004 All-WVIAC Men's Soccer Team. Junior forward Jamie Ritchie (Remington, VA/Liberty HS) and junior defender Ian Newman (Kingston, Jamaica/Campion College) grabbed first team honors, while sophomore forward Richard Smith (Gaithersburg, MD/Magruder HS) was a second team choice. Senior defender Baboucarr Cham (Banjul, The Gambia/Marina International School), junior goalkeeper Robert Pence (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge HS), junior forward/midfielder Donald Fon (Silver Spring, MD/Montgomery Blair HS), sophomore midfielder Dan Merold (Oak Hill, VA/Oakton HS), sophomore midfielder Mikus Rubenis (Gulbene, Latvia/Mercersburg Academy), freshman midfielder Alie Basma (Frederick, MD/Thomas Johnson HS/Frederick CC), and freshman midfielder Leighton Meredith (Clarendon, Jamaica/Glenmuir HS) were honorable mention choices.

Ritchie recorded eight goals and three assists for 19 points for the Rams this year. He is the program's career all-time leader in goals (38) and points (88) in just three seasons of play. Ritchie was a three-time WVIAC Player of the Week selection this year.

Newman anchored a Ram defense that set new school marks for shutouts in a season (9) and consecutive shutouts (4). The Rams also set a new single season record for fewest goals allowed with 16.

Smith had eight goals and five assists for a team-best 21 points. Smith, an honorable mention selection last year, scored the game-winning goal late in the contest to give Shepherd's 2-1 win over UDC.

Cham rejoined the team midway through the season and helped key the excellent defensive play of the Rams. The Rams only allowed four goals in the 11 games in which Cham participated. The Rams recorded eight wins over that span with seven shutout victories.

Pence had an 0.76 goals against average and recorded 65 saves this year. He allowed only 13 goals and had eight shutouts to his credit.

Fon scored five goals and had three assists for 13 points this year. Basma also added 13 points on three goals and a team-high seven assists, while Merold had three goals and four assists for 10 points. Rubenis, a key for the Rams on defense, added a goal and two assists. Meredith posted three goals and an assist for seven points.

Shepherd finished the season with an 11-5-4 overall mark, including a 3-3-1 WVIAC record. Head coach Joseph Okoh's squad set or tied eight school single season marks in 2004.