Ritchie, three others chosen All-SUNYAC
Jimmy Ritchie (East Aurora/East Aurora) and three teammates -- two from the same hometown and high school -- were chosen to the SUNYAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Team announced Monday.
Ritchie, a senior forward, was selected to Second Team while senior forward Parker Healy (East Aurora/East Aurora), senior midfielder Ryan Keller (East Aurora/East Aurora), and senior midfielder Bryan Sibble (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) made the Third Team.
All four players accumulated double-digit points. Keller led the team with 18 points (5 goals, 8 assists) while Ritchie (7 goals, 2 assists), Sibble (5 goals, 6 assists), and Healy (5 goals, 6 assists) had 16 points each. Two of Ritchie's goals were game-winners.
The four selections represents Fredonia's best representation on the all-conference team since 2010, when five Blue Devils were selected. Three were selected in 2011 and one each in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Ritchie, Keller, and Sibble have completed their NCAA eligibility while Healy has one season of eligibility left.
"If there was a key to our season," Fredonia Head Coach P.J. Gondek said, "it would have to be goal-scoring so it is not surprising to see these names on the All-SUNYAC team. ... James Ritchie's three-goal performance (in the SUNYAC First Round game) against Plattsburgh was fun to watch. Ryan Keller led our conference in assists and scored the game-winner in a key win versus Buffalo State. Bryan Sibble was our playmaker who didn't always show up on the scoresheet but the free kick (in a playoff-clinching win) versus Oneonta was a thing of beauty. Parker Healy had some highlight-reel goals and celebrations. I'm hoping he might have saved a few for next year."
"These guys are all very deserving but what we accomplished this year we did as a team."
The 2016 Blue Devils were 11-7-2 overall and 6-3-1 in the SUNYAC, good enough for the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. They advanced to the semifinal round before falling to eventual NCAA at-large team Oneonta.
NCAA bids were announced Monday afternoon and Fredonia was left out.
