University of Richmond Athletics
Riefner and Aha Earn A-10 Weekly Honors
09/22/2014 | Women's Soccer
Richmond junior forward Ashley Riefner (Mechanicsville, Virginia / Atlee HS) and freshman midfielder Olivia Aha (Norfolk, Massachusetts) were named Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Player and Co-Rookie of the Week, the league announced today.
“I think both awards are very deserving,” said Richmond head coach Peter Albright.
Riefner set a new career high with all three goals in Richmond's 3-2 Friday night home-opening win over Princeton at Robins Stadium. It was the first hat trick for a Spider since September 1, 2011 and sent Riefner into a tie for the team lead with five goals scored. She added an assist on the game-winning goal to Aha in the 3-2 Sunday win over Old Dominion. Riefner leads Richmond and is second in the A-10 with 14 total points (five goals, four assists). She has registered a point in the last three Richmond contests and leads the team with points in five of the nine matches this season. She shares the Player of the Week with Rhode Island's Nicole Brennan.
She was also named A-10 Player of the Week by College Sports Madness (click here for the link.)
“Ashley Riefner is one our most dynamic players,” added Albright. “When she gets the ball at her feet, everyone stands up and expects something great to happen.”
Aha, posted an assist in the Friday win, and added an assist as well as scoring the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute, firing a shot in off the crossbar and keeper from 34 yards out in the ODU victory. It was her second goal of the year after scoring the team's first goal of the season on August 22 at Campbell. The two weekend assists were her first of the season. Her award is shared with Dayton's Alexis Kiehl.
“Olivia has become a very binding player in our midfield,” opined Albright. “She had our first goal of the year on her first shot and scored again in her only shot of this game so we think she should shoot more.”
The Spiders won both home matches, the first time Richmond has won a Friday-Sunday home set of contests since the end of the 2011 season. UR never trailed at any point in the weekend. The Spiders have already eclipsed their scoring output from last year, with one more goal scored through nine games than in 2013.
This was only the second time in the school's run in the A-10 Conference (since 2001) that a Spider was listed in both the Player and Rookie of the week columns. Nearly ten years ago to the day, former Spider Carrie Holland won both awards after scoring the only goal as a freshman in UR's 1-0 home win over No. 7 Tennessee on September 15, 2004.
Riefner and Aha join Meaghan Carrigan as Spiders on the weekly A-10 honors list. Carrigan earned Rookie of the Week on September 8 after a two-goal performance at Charleston Southern.
The Spiders are 5-4, the first time over .500 this season. Richmond hosts two more contests in Robins Stadium this weekend. Friday afternoon, the Spiders tangle with A-10 foe Saint Joseph's in a non-conference contest before hosting James Madison on Sunday. Both matches are set for 4 p.m. Admission to women's soccer action this season is free.
