AS A SENIOR: A mainstay in the Irish backfield and a backbone on defense • will be one of four players to serve as an assistant captain this season • has enjoyed a tremendous career at Notre Dame • a tactical defender who steps to the ball extremely well and is able to close in on the players he is defending • uses quickness to his advantage • versatile athlete with exceptional speed and quickness • has improved all facets of his game, especially his ability to serve and cross the ball • his athleticism makes him a tremendous attacking back • spent the summer of 2003 training with the Bermuda National Team. AS A JUNIOR: A starter in the Irish lineup for all 21 of Notre Dame’s games in 2002 • credited with three assists on the season • his first assist of the season was against Bradley as he, along with Rafael Garcia, assisted on Justin Detter’s goal which gave the Irish a 1-0 lead at the 32:11 mark of the contest • had one of the two assists on Chad Riley’s goal which gave Notre Dame a 1-0 lead versus Michigan State at the 43:39 mark in eventual 2-0 win • named BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 21 in leading Irish to wins over Michigan State (2-0) and Connecticut (3-1). AS A SOPHOMORE: Started all 18 games he appeared in during the 2001 season • dished off three assists • earned third start of his career when he was in the starting lineup in the season-opener against Villanova • recorded first career point against the Wildcats when he assisted along with teammate Justin Detter on Greg Martin’s second-half goal at the 56:25 mark of the contest • dished off his second assist of the season on Notre Dame’s first goal of the game scored by Erich Braun at the 42:27 mark in eventual 3-1 win over Georgetown • had the assist on Kevin Goldthwaite’s goal in 2-0 win at Providence. AS A FRESHMAN: Tallied one goal in 17 appearances during his rookie season • earned two starts in 2000 • scored the lone goal for the Irish in Notre Dame’s 3-1 loss at Providence • his goal came at the 33:31 mark of the contest off assists from Erich Braun and Chad Riley which knotted the game at 1-1 • came off the bench for the first five games of the season before earning his first career start against Cleveland State • also was in the starting lineup against Providence. HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Capped high school career by leading St. Andrew’s to two consecutive league titles, while registering back-to-back undefeated seasons • finished as the team and league’s top scorer with nine goals and eight assists • three-time team MVP • helped team with conference championship by knocking in a penalty kick • member of the Pembroke Hamilton club team • three-year standout on basketball team • two-time basketball team MVP • captained both soccer and basketball squads in his senior season • named most improved player on his high school rugby team as a senior • brother Victor was a member of track and field team at Western Ontario • named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team for the 2002-03 school year • born Dec. 23, 1981 • son of Bob and Pauline Richards • enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters as a political science and English major. |
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