STANFORD, Calif. - Three from Stanford earned spots on the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-Far West Region Teams when the organization announced the first of its postseason awards on Tuesday.
Forward Zach Ryan was a first-team selection, while midfielder Will Richmond, goalkeeper Andrew Thomas and forward Charlie Wehan were both named to the second team. It is the third all-region honor for Thomas, becoming the seventh player in program history to earn regional placement three times.
One of 15 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalists, Ryan was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year after serving as the key cog to Stanford's offense all season long, leading the team with 10 goals and three assists for 23 points total. He scored in nine of Stanford's 14 matches, including a season-best brace at rival California in February. He ranked second in the Pac-12 in both total goals and total points, while his four game-winning goals were first in the conference and third nationally, with none bigger than his overtime winner against No. 6 Washington to win the league championship. He also finished near the top-10 nationally in goals per game (0.71), points per game (1.64), total goals and total points. He is just shy of breaking into the program's top-10 lists for career goals and career points.
A first-team All-Pac-12 member, Richmond was a mainstay in the Stanford offense this spring and proved vital to the Cardinal's success, scoring five goals and dishing six assists, ranking second on the team with 16 points. His five goals were third on the squad, and six assists are tied for the team lead, both ranking in the top-10 of the conference. Starting all 14 matches, Richmond recorded at least one point in seven different games this season, including a career-high five-point performance against San Francisco, netting two goals with an assist. His season-high in assists came at UCLA, with two, and he ranked 18th nationally in the category.
A three-time first-team All-Pac-12 honoree, Thomas started 13 of Stanford's 14 matches this spring, boasting a record of 9-3-1 with four shutouts to his name. Only one shutout away from ranking second in program history for a career, Thomas led the Pac-12, only allowing nine goals on the year, and also held the conference's top spot with an 0.69 goals against average. His .727 save percentage ranked third in the conference, while playing over 1,200 total minutes in between the pipes. Thomas collected a season-high six saves in a Stanford win at California and also combined with Kyle Orciuch for another three shutouts.
Wehan, also a three-time Pac-12 honoree, finished his best campaign for the Cardinal as a senior, tying for the team lead with six assists, adding four goals for 14 points, ranking third on the team. Appearing in all 14 matches, but just three in the starting lineup, Wehan was a key spark off the bench for Stanford, routinely providing a burst of energy for the Cardinal in its pressured attack. He scored the game-winner for the Cardinal in its second round NCAA win over Omaha in overtime. Ranking 18th nationally in total assists, his season-high of two came in a pivotal victory at home over No. 5 Oregon State, as Wehan tilted the field back in Stanford's favor by dispossessing the OSU attack numerous times, leading to runout opportunities for the Cardinal. Stanford won every game in which Wehan either scored or assisted on a goal this season.
All-America teams for Division I will be announced on Thursday, May 13.
