November 12, 2009
ATLANTIC 10'S TOP MIDFIELDER
Fordham's Richardson is honored

Three Fordham men's players were honored by the Atlantic 10 Wednesday.

Sophomore midfielder Tim Richardson was selected as the conference's midfielder of the year as well as first team All-Conference. Joining Richardson on the first team was sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Meara (Yonkers, N.Y.) while senior defender Mike McTigue (Tuckahoe, N.Y.) was named an honorable mention.

Richardson enjoyed a superb sophomore season, leading the Rams in goals (six), points (14) and game-winning goals (three), which were career highs. Most of that damage came in league play with four goals, nine points and two game-winning goals. Richardson is the second Fordham player to receive a major men's soccer award from the Atlantic 10, joining former Fordham standout and current Red Bull John Wolyniec ('98), who was named the 1998 Atlantic 10 player of the year.

Meara, a pre-season All-Conference selection at the start of the season, was an iron man in net. He played all but nine minutes this season (1677:45), posted a 9-6-3 record, a 1.01 goals-against average and 7.5 shutouts. In league play, Meara led the Rams to a 6-1-2 mark, posting a 0.85 GAA, 4.5 shutouts, and a better than .800 save percentage.

McTigue, a 2009 tri-captain, was a big part of a defense that allowed one goal or less in 12 games, which included eight shutouts. He also chipped in offensively recording a pair of assists in 18 games.

Richardson, Meara, McTigue and the rest of the Rams (9-6-3 overall, 6-1-2 conference) will now turn their attention to the Atlantic 10 men's tournament, which begins in Kingston, R.I. Thursday. Third-seeded Fordham will meet sixth-seeded St. Bonaventure at 5 p.m.