SHIRLEY, SCHAIDINGER NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-CAA
11-10-05

NORFOLK, Va. – Senior defender Veit Schaidinger (Regensburg, Germany) and senior midfielder Stephen Shirley (Carrollton, Texas) were named to the 2005 All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team in voting by the league’s head coaches. The team was announced Thursday evening at the awards banquet in Norfolk on the eve of the semifinals of the CAA Championship.

Sophomore midfielder Matthijs Maruanaya (Alkmaar, Netherlands) was named Second Team All-CAA. He joined freshman goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (Woodbridge, Va.) on the All-Rookie Team.

A two-year starter in the back, Schaidinger anchored a defense that recorded six shutouts in conference play. He was the only Ram to start all 20 matches this season. Schaidinger was third on the team with three goals and fourth with seven points. He was a perfect 2 for 2 on penalty kicks this fall. Schaidinger was Second Team All-CAA a season ago.

Shirley moved from defense to midfielder during the season and helped solidify the middle for the Rams. A three-year starter, Shirley was second on the team with three assists and finished fourth on the VCU all-time list with 16 career assists.

Maruanaya appeared in all 20 matches in his first year with the Rams. The midfielder had two goals and two assists for six points. Maruanaya was third on the team with 28 shots and fourth with 11 shots on goal.

Dykstra appeared in 18 matches with 17 starts. He recorded five shutouts and combined on a sixth. Dykstra had a goals-against average of 1.04 and his save percentage was .740.