PHILADELPHIA - Recent graduate Ryan Richter has been named the 2011 recipient of the Atlantic 10 Sportsmanship Award, announced by the league office on Friday.

The Dayton women's basketball team was named the female recipients of the award.

The Sportsmanship Award is presented annually to an A-10 male and female student-athlete or team who demonstrates an act of sportsmanship, which the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct (CSEC) defines as behaviors exhibited by student-athletes based on values, especially respect and integrity. To be nominated for the award, the student-athlete or team must be a member of an intercollegiate athletic sport sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference; be in good academic standing; and embody the highest standards of leadership, integrity and sportsmanship.

"Ryan possesses a healthy understanding of the spirit of competition," said La Salle men's soccer coach Pat Farrell. "He understands that you compete as hard as you can, meaning you always compete to win and as a fair and honest player."

Richter has been a team leader both on the field and off throughout his four seasons at La Salle. This season, he was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year, as well as the Soccer Six Player of the Year. He led the league with 14 goals and 30 points in 2010 to lead the Explorers to a second place finish in the Atlantic 10 and to the league championship final.

Following a sensational senior year, Richter became the second Explorer to be drafted by the MLS and is currently playing locally with the Philadelphia Union.

Richter concluded his playing career at La Salle with 69 points on 28 goals and 13 assists. His 28 goals and 69 points rank him fifth all-time in each category in La Salle men's soccer history, and he is tied for 10th all-time in assists.

Richter also earned First Team Scholar All-America honors by the NSCAA this season, as well as Second Team Scholar East Region honors in 2009. He also earned CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team honors in 2010 and Second Team honors in 2009.

He graduated with a degree in Accounting, maintaining a 3.22 GPA. He was recently honored as the La Salle Male Student-Athlete of the Year as well.

Richter also spent time serving the community, joining with teammates in the Neighborhood Clean Up, and mentoring and participating in clinics in local elementary schools.

"It's a lot easier when one of your senior leaders possesses these qualities and characteristics, which everyone can see and then start to follow," added Farrell. "We have a fair amount of guys on our team that do the same thing. They work extremely hard on and off the field. It's about hard work, determination and being a fair and honest player, and always having respect for the game, for the opponent, for the referees, for the fans. When you have that kind of respect for the game and the people associated with the game, everybody can see it and start to follow it and start to understand what the spirit of competition is all about."