No. 17 Richmond

2020 Record: 4-3
Pre-COVID Ranking: NR

Richmond sophomore Richie Connell will never forget the day he announced his official arrival as a Division I attackman. 

On Feb. 8, 2020, the lanky, 6-foot-5 Connell surely made quite an impression on visiting fourth-ranked Maryland. To Richmond  coach Dan Chemotti, Connell merely affirmed what had become the obvious to his staff and his team during the previous fall lacrosse season. 

By coming off the bench and igniting Richmond with a hat trick he’d achieved by the middle of the first half, Connell helped the Spiders get in position to pull off arguably the biggest upset in their program’s eight-year NCAA history. 

That didn’t happen, as Richmond squandered an 11-7 lead after three quarters then fell in double overtime 14-13. But Connell loudly happened. 

“Our lefty starter was not having the best day. I was blessed with the opportunity to come out of the box and do whatever I could,” Connell recalled with the kind of humility that endears him to the Spiders. “It was an unreal moment after I scored my first goal. It was awesome to prove to myself and my teammates I was Division I-ready.” 

“Richie is still learning every day the amount of potential he has,” Chemotti said. “He learned in the fall [of 2019] he really is as big and fast as he is. His play screamed that this kid was going to play a lot. He didn’t care [in the season opener] if we were playing Maryland or a high school team back in Colorado. He was just enjoying playing the game he loves.” 

Connell provided an impressive glimpse last year of what could lie ahead. Over Richmond’s shortened 4-3 season, he started five of seven games and led the Spiders with 19 goals on 42.2-percent shooting. His seven man-up goals led the nation. His 11 goals in his first three games marked the best scoring start in program history. 

Connell, who played for a post-graduate year at the prestigious Hill Academy after graduating from Mullen High in 2018, pretty much fell into Richmond’s hands. Georgetown, High Point and Towson also had looked at him. 

“The Hill helped me with that middle step before college that was so needed in my game,” said Connell, who did not start that year and also spent time at midfield. “Richmond gave me my first real look.” 

By the time Connell had signed with the Spiders, he also had completed a huge growth spurt, sprouting seven inches since the end of his sophomore year at Mullen. 

“Richie was kind of a slow, pudgy kid in high school,” Chemotti said. “Then he shot up and his athleticism improved. He can attack from a variety of angles. He’s got a variety of release points. He’s got touch on the inside, range on the outside. He can lower his shoulder and get where he needs to go.” 

“His instincts are off the charts. He’s at his best when he’s reading and reacting,” Chemotti added. “His understanding of the little things like terminology, understanding the ride, running a certain play — wow, once he figures everything out, this kid is going to be really good.”