Ryan McLaughlin joined The Citadel women’s soccer program in January of 2018 as an assistant coach. In March of 2019, he was promoted to full-time first assistant, helping with the overall running of the program and recruiting efforts, while continuing to work with the Bulldog goalkeepers.
In 2019, the Bulldogs recorded six wins, including the program’s first-ever victory over North Dakota, a 2-0 road victory over rival VMI, and a 1-0 win over ETSU in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament.
The win over VMI on the road marked the first road victory for the Bulldogs in the series since the 2014 season, and with the 2018 win at home, marks just the second time in series history that the Bulldogs won back-to-back games over the Keydets. The win over ETSU in the opening round of the 2019 SoCon Soccer Championships not only gave the Bulldogs a win over the Bucs in two of the last three seasons, a first in series history, but it was also the first time in program history that The Citadel had notched a tournament win in back-to-back years as the 2018 Bulldogs defeated Wofford, 3-2, in Spartanburg.
The 2019 goalkeepers matched the program record of five shutouts, including three solo shutouts by sophomore Maddie Somogyi, giving her the most in a season since Logan Leask recorded three during the 2016 campaign.
Following the season, 10 Bulldogs were named to the Academic All-SoCon Team, the most in program history.
The 2018 season was a breakout year for the Bulldogs as they improved their win total by four from the 2017 campaign, won two Southern Conference games for the first time since 2014 and won a game in the opening round of the Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship for the first time in four years. Along the way, the Bulldogs bested both ETSU and North Florida for the first time in program history and started the season off 3-0 for the third straight year. The Bulldogs defeated VMI at home for the first time since 2004 and went undefeated at home in non-conference action for the first time in program history.
Under McLaughlin’s tutelage, the Bulldogs’ four keepers combined to post a 2.03 goals against average, the fifth-best average in program history and an improvement over the 2017 season. The keepers combined for 91 saves and a save percentage of .700 to go along with two shutouts.
Graduate transfer goalkeeper Kelly Brahmbhatt set the program record for wins in a season with eight.
Prior to joining the Bulldogs’ staff, McLaughlin was an assistant coach with the Academic Magnet High School’s girl’s soccer team, helping guide the team to two appearances in the state title game, including winning one championship. Prior to his time with Academic Magnet, he was the Director of Goalkeepers for Columbus United for one year.
McLaughlin played three seasons for the College of Charleston before his career was cut short by injury. McLaughlin made two starts in goal for the Cougars against ranked opponents Stanford and California, making five saves in each contest. Following his injury, he continued to work closely with the coaching staff and team as a student assistant, working with his fellow goalkeepers and learning the everyday workings of a successful college program.
A native of Westerville, Ohio, McLaughlin played club soccer for the U.S. Soccer and MLS U17/U18 program and Crew Soccer Academy. He was selected for market training by the U17 U.S. National Team in 2009.
He attended Westerville South High School where he was the captain for the boy’s soccer team for two seasons, earning two all-district honors as well as all-conference and all-state plaudits in 2011. He was also honored by ESPN Rise Magazine as an All-Ohio Starting XI member as a senior.
McLaughlin holds his D License through U.S. Soccer as well as his Advanced National Goalkeeper’s license through the NSCAA.
