Daily News staff

Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer head coach Jim Blankenship has announced the addition of graduate transfer Kiana Rugar from Albany. Rugar will have one year of eligibility remaining.



"We are very excited to welcome Kiana to The Nest and the women's soccer family here at FGCU," Blankenship said. "She has proven herself as an excellent college soccer player and she brings valuable experience and leadership qualities to our young 2017 squad. We lost a couple of important attacking pieces with the graduation of our seniors, so when the opportunity to add a player of Kiana's caliber comes along, it was a no-brainer."



The 5-foot-7 senior forward from New Fairfield, Connecticut, leaves the University of Albany as the program's all-time career assist leader and second in career points. As a three-year starter for Albany, Rugar was instrumental in helping the Great Danes capturing back-to-back American East tournament championships in 2015 and 2016, as well as winning the American East regular-season championship in 2016. Last year, she had a team-high six goals and four assists.



Rugar, who will be graduating with a degree in psychology this spring, plans of pursing her masters in environmental studies at FGCU.