Ciaran Nugent

Classroom

A true student-athlete, Nugent has made the most of his time at Lehigh. The finance and management double-major is on track to graduate in December of 2014. With a strong GPA above 3.07, Nugent has landed on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in addition to succeeding on the field. He plans to pursue a career in professional soccer after graduation, but is also considering a career in the U.S. Navy to put his leadership and management skills to work.

Character

Ready to help lead his team to a league championship in 2013, Nugent suffered a bone fracture and ligament tear in his hand forcing him to undergo reconstructive surgery and take a medical redshirt. Instead of getting down on his luck, Nugent stepped up and stood in as Lehigh’s Volunteer Goalkeeper Coach. Nugent helped mentor the true freshman keeper that stepped in to fill his shoes and still traveled to every away game with the Mountain Hawks, while still landing on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. He was one of the team’s biggest motivators on the sideline and is now primed and ready to make his return between the pipes. In addition to soccer and class work, Nugent spent two years in Lehigh’s ROTC program learning and practicing military leadership, ethics and values that have helped him be the team’s leader on the field.

Community

In addition to being a Division I athlete, Nugent spent two years as a U.S. Army ROTC Cadet at Lehigh University. He has participated in practical leadership training, ethics and values training, among much more, and is considering entering into a career in the U.S. Navy to serve his country. He has also dedicated his time to helping youth learn and practice the game as soccer. Nugent has served as a youth goalkeeper coach within the Lehigh Valley for children ages 10-16.

Nugent has also been a key member of Lehigh’s “Reading Rocks” initiative. The program features student-athletes going to local elementary schools once a week to read with children and foster good relationships within the community. The initiative helps the local children build bonds with the student-athletes they look up to while enforcing the importance of reading and education.

Competition

The 2011 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, Nugent has evolved into one of the most decorated keepers in the Lehigh men’s soccer history. He holds the all-time Patriot League single-season record in GAA (0.412) and is a first team All-Patriot League selection and second team All-Mid Atlantic honoree. He is the Lehigh men’s soccer program record holder for most shutouts in the one season (11) and has recorded 17 shutouts, 157 saves and a 0.88 GAA in 42 contests throughout his career.

Following the 2011 season, Nugent ranked third in Division I in GAA, shutout percentage and save percentage. Nugent was named the College Soccer 360 National Primetime Player of the Week on Sept. 7, 2011 after making a career-high eight saves against No. 22 Cal in a 1-1 draw in which he was faced with 18 shots and 11 corner kicks. Two days later, Nugent shutout Stanford 1-0 and received national attention. He tallied 59 saves during his junior campaign.

Injured for what was supposed to be his final season in 2013, Nugent is back between the pipes this season.  He has recorded three shutouts to move to tied for 13th in Division I’s active career shutout leaders. He’s tallied an .806 save percentage and made 29 saves through seven games this season, including six big stops in Lehigh’s recent 2-1 win over No. 14 American. Nugent has helped the Mountain Hawks, who finished last in the league when he was injured last year, to a 5-3 record and spot among the league’s best so far this season.

In addition to his success in Division I, Nugent has spent three consecutive seasons playing in the top professional development league in the United States, the USL Premier Development League (PDL).