(2008) One of Head Coach Ted Priestly's first recruits, Brandon Curran came to UML from Tyngsboro H.S. in 1999, when the team was fresh off a 5-14-1 campaign and in search of its first winning season since 1982.
By the time Curran was a senior, the River Hawks had enjoyed their winningest four-year period in history (47-25-5), and were defeating heavyweights such as Southern Connecticut, Franklin Pierce and Southern New Hampshire.
Perhaps the only honor which eluded Curran was the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. But it is fair to say his impact lifted the River Hawks to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004, in which they advanced to the quarterfinal round, as well as NE-10 Tournament titles both years.
"Brandon's impact on UMass Lowell Soccer has been immeasurable," said Priestly. "He is an example of exactly the type of player that has made UMass Lowell Soccer successful: he played every game as though it was his last, he always kept score, he sacrificed individual goals for the betterment of the team, and as a result, the team benefited."
Opposing coaches also thought highly of Curran. As a senior defender, he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II All-America Second Team as well as the NSCAA New England Region First Team.
Those honors followed consecutive appearances, in 2001 and 2002, on the NE-10 all-star teams.
"Brandon exhibited class on the soccer field, in the classroom and in the campus community," Priestly said. "As special as he was as a player, he is an even better person."
Curran enjoyed perhaps his best year as a senior, and led the River Hawks to a 13-5-2 record and an improbable run in the NE-10 Tournament. Seeded No. 5, the River Hawks defeated No. 4 Saint Anselm (1-0) and No. 1 Southern Connecticut (1-0) before falling 1-0 at No. 2 Southern New Hampshire on a controversial penalty kick in overtime.
The following spring, Curran was voted the 2002-03 recipient of the Lester H. Cushing Award for Male Athlete of the Year.
"Brandon considered it a privilege to represent UMass Lowell, and it was my sincere privilege to have coached him," Priestly noted.
Curran currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife, Amy and newborn son, Leighton James. He is in his third year with the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division, which followed three seasons with the Phantoms of New Hampshire of the USL Second Division.
