Dec. 8, 2000

RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond senior back Craig Ziadie (Kingston, Jamaica/Hotchkiss) has been selected National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas First Team All-South Atlantic Region as announced today. Senior back Jon Tihen (Saint Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) and junior goalkeeper Shawn Alexander (Southfield, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) were named to the second team.

The honors keep coming in for the trio, who were each named All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors on December 6. With today's honor, Ziadie automatically becomes eligible for NSCAA All-America accolades.

This fall, Ziadie was tabbed the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, becoming the first Spider to take home the recognition since 1990. Ziadie, who was also a first-team all-conference selection in 1998 and 1999, led a Richmond defense that posted six shutouts on the campaign and co-captained a team that outscored its opponents, 27-7 in the team's 11 wins. Even from his sweeper position, Ziadie was one of the Spiders top playmakers, accounting for two goals, three assists and seven total points on the campaign.

Tihen was the only Spider field player to have started all 19 matches as well as all eight CAA contests. Along with Ziadie, he helped to anchor a Richmond defense that recorded six shutouts and one that yielded a single goal on eight occasions. One of three senior co-captains, Tihen enjoyed his best statistical season to date, posting two goals and four assists for eight total points. He was named to the University of Richmond-Nike Challenge Cup and the adidas/Brown Soccer Classic all-tournament teams. Tihen delivered the game-winning goal in the team's 2-1 overtime win versus Towson on September 20 and registered another goal in a triumph over Pennsylvania at the UR-Nike Challenge Cup.

Joining Tihen on the second-team was Alexander. The net-minder started all 19 matches for the Spiders and played every minute of every match. A second-team All-CAA selection, Alexander recorded six shutouts, including two in CAA play and compiled a 0.99 goals against average. He yielded only a single goal on eight occasions this season. Alexander made a season-high seven saves versus then-No. 12 James Madison on October 25.

Despite being plagued by injuries - only Tihen started all 19 matches - Richmond notched an 11-7-1 overall record and six of the team's seven losses came by a single goal margin. In addition, the Spiders put together a program-record fifth straight winning season.