PRINCETON, WV -- Freshman forward Jamie Ritchie (Liberty/Remington, VA) of Shepherd College was named WVIAC Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year. Ritchie, also a first team All-Conference choice, was joined by honorable mention All-Conference selections Baboucarr Cham (Marina International School/Banjul, The Gambia), Chad Guthrie (Centreville/Centreville, VA), Dan Merold (Oakton/ Oak Hill, VA), Ian Newman (Kingston, Jamaica), Robert Pence (Woodbridge/Woodbridge, VA), Pedro Prudencio (Robert E. Lee/Springfield, VA), and Michael Watson (West Springfield/Springfield, VA).
Ritchie set new Ram single season records with 19 goals and 43 points. He was also a three-time WVIAC Player of the Week. Cham, a junior defender, helped anchor a Ram defense that posted six shutouts on the season. His only goal of the year lifted Shepherd to a 1-0 win over Davis & Elkins. Guthrie, a freshman midfielder-forward, led the Rams in assists with eight. He added four goals and tied for second on the team in scoring with 16 points. Merold, a freshman midfielder, was fourth on the team in scoring with five goals and five assists for 15 points. Newman, a freshman midfielder, recorded a goal and two assists for four points. He was also a very skilled defensive player. Pence, a freshman goalkeeper, had a 1.16 goals against average and 44 saves for the Rams this season. He also recorded a pair of shutouts for the Rams. Prudencio, a freshman midfielder, tied for second on the team in scoring with six goals and four assists for 16 points. He recorded a hat trick in Shepherd's 5-0 win over Columbia Union. Watson, a freshman forward, recorded four goals and two assists for 10 points. The Rams (12-9, 3-5) finished the year with a record 12 wins and earned their first post-season win in program history with a 2-1 win over Alderson-Broaddus in the quarterfinals of the WVIAC Tournament. Shepherd also set a new team single season mark for goals with 52.2002 WVIAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Team
First Team
K-Jorge Geddes (WVWC)
B-Erik Schmitt (WVWC)
B-Greg Bennett (WVWC)
B-Gaston Orique (WVWC)
B-Trond Haugen (UC)
M-David Palmer (WVWC)
M-Leon Brown (WJU)
M-Stanton Smith (UC)
M-David Hennessey (A-B)
F-Joel Bailey (WJU)
F-Jamie Ritchie (SC)
F-Chad Duernberger (UC)
F-Justin Cooper (UC)
Second Team
K-Chris Schork (A-B)
B-Andrew Schoenle (WVWC)
B-Jay Miller (SIU)
B-Hans Schubert (A-B)
B-James Wong (D&E)
M-Ryan Vosseteig (WVWC)
M-Marcus Guimaraes (SIU)
M-Marcus Reis (UC)
M-Poya Sharifaie (A-B)
F-John Aranguren (WVWC)
F-Luis Perez (SIU)
F-John Whitaker (A-B)
F-Matt Jackson (D&E)
Honorable Mention
K-Robert Pence (SC)
B-Gabe McKee (CC)
B-Michael Watson (SC)
B-Ian Newman (SC)
B-Baboucarr Cham (SC)
M-Dino Dozgic (WVWC)
M-Michael Curtis (WVWC)
M-Jose Torres (CC)
M-Derek Jones (OVC)
F-Dan Merold (SC)
F-Pedro Prudencio (SC)
F-Chad Guthrie (SC)
F-Nahashon Muraya (D&E)
Coach of the Year - Gavin Donaldson (West Virginia Wesleyan)
Player of the Year - Jorge Geddes (West Virginia Wesleyan)
Rookie of the Year - Jamie Ritchie (Shepherd College)