AMHERST, N.Y. - Senior men's soccer player Sam Rugg (Freeville, N.Y./Dryden) was named the recipient of this year's C.L.A.W. Award tonight at the Daemen College Athletic Department's annual Awards Evening held in the Social Room of the Charles J. Wick Campus Center.  The award was announced near the end of the evening and Rugg was greeted by Daemen President Dr. Gary A. Olson, and Director of Athletics Bridget Niland who presented him with a glass-engraved plaque to commemorate the accomplishment.

The C.L.A.W. Award is given annually to the senior student-athlete who best exhibits excellence in the traits of character, leadership, academic achievement and work ethic.  Rugg was selected for the award from a group of four nominees which included men's basketball and soccer player Kyle Clifford (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Francis), men's cross country and track and field athlete Zach Eustance (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) and women's volleyball player Lindsey Nowak (West Seneca, N.Y./Immaculata).

Athletically, Rugg has been a contributing member for Daemen's emerging men's soccer team, making 56 appearances, inlcuding 33 starts since arriving on campus in the fall of 2011.  This past season, Rugg matched a career-high with 11 starts and scored his first career goal, notching Daemen's first tally in a 2-1, double-overtime win versus St. Thomas Aquinas College on Oct. 5, 2014.

In addition to his success on the pitch, Rugg has also competed for men's track and field team in the past as a sprinter and jumper.

With his athletic achievements in tow, Rugg has also left indelible mark on Daemen College away from the field of competition.  He has been an active member, and past President, of Daemen's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  He's also worked on the S.M.A.R.T. Squad - Student Mentored Assistants for Resources in Technology - sharing his knowledge of computers and technology with the greater campus community.  And, Sam was entrusted by his teammates and coaches as a captain of the men's soccer team.

In the classroom, Rugg carries a 3.49 grade-point-average in Daemen's ultra-competitive Physical Therapy program.

"Sam is a dynamic member of the Daemen community," said Assistant Athletic Trainer Mike Wild, who was one of two Athletic Department staffers to nominate Rugg for the C.L.A.W. Award.  "He can frequently be seen going above and beyond in a number of different areas on our campus.  In athletics, he leads by example and sets himself apart by being the hardest worker on the team.  He has set the tone for professionalism for his team and encouraged his teammates to follow his lead.  Over the last four years, I believe Sam has been a consistent role model for other student-athletes to look up to, an outstading member of the campus community, and an athlete who embodies the NCAA Division II motto of 'Life in the Balance'."

In accepting the award tonight, Rugg became the first men's soccer player to be named the C.L.A.W. Award recipient.  Instituted in 2012, previous winners of the award include men's basketball player Mark Coppola (2014), women's basketball player Courtney Donovan (2013) and women's volleyball player Joanna Fretthold (2012).