Nov. 2, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle men's soccer players Ryan Richter (Southampton, PA/William Tennent) and Nick Dundon (Horsham, PA/UW-Milwaukee) were named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team, announced Tuesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The two now move on to the Academic All-America ballot.
This marks Richter's second appearance on the Academic All-District Team, garnering Second Team honors in 2009. The senior has been the catalyst of the Explorer offense, racking up 22 points so far this season on 10 goals and two assists. He leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in points, goals, game-winning goals (5) and shots (75).
Richter has led the squad to its current standing of fourth in the Atlantic 10 and in position for a potential A-10 Tournament berth. He has been on fire against league opponents with all five of his game-winning goals coming against A-10 teams en route to a 6-2-1 record so far against A-10 squads (4-2-1 in conference standings, as Temple and Saint Joseph's were non-conference games this year). He kicked off the Explorers' winning ways against St. Joe's with the game-winner in a 1-0 win on Hawk Hill, followed by another 1-0 game-winner against Temple on Oct. 2. One game later, he knocked in both goals in a 2-1 triumph over Fordham to give the Explorers a three-game winning streak.
The senior marketing major has two more game winning tallies, both in the Explorers' current four-game unbeaten streak. He tallied both goals in a 2-0 win at George Washington on Oct. 24th, followed by the game winner in the team's 4-2 victory at Rhode Island last Friday. He also assisted on Jeff Pio's goal in a 1-1 double overtime tie at Massachusetts.
Making his first appearance on the Academic All-District Team is Dundon, who has been stellar in directing the Explorer defense. Originally a midfielder, Dundon was moved to defense for the third game of the season at Lehigh and has been there since.
The Explorers gave up eight goals in the first two games, but after Dundon moved to defense, the Explorers have averaged just 1.46 goals against per game. He has helped the team post five shutouts, including that first game in defense when the Explorers tied then-No. 5 Lehigh 0-0 in double overtime. He has also helped preserve three 1-0 shutouts, coming against Saint Joseph's, Temple and Richmond as well as a 2-0 blank of GW. In addition, the junior biology major led the Explorer defense against 2007 College Cup participant Massachusetts, limiting the Minutemen to just one goal on 27 shots for the eventual tie.
The pair joined nine other Atlantic 10 players on the Academic All-District teams, including First Team picks Kevin Okapal of St. Bonaventure and Michael Deyhle, Tommy Watkins and Nate Dombrowski of Dayton. On the Second Team were Stuart Amick of Massachusetts, Jennings Rex of Charlotte and Ben Horner, Stefan Lundberg and Josh Patterson of Duquesne.
With their First Team selections, Richter and Dundon are now eligible for the Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
