BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — Caroline Nuttall has been immersed in college soccer her entire life.
Her father Richard is entering his 34th season as the Hofstra men's soccer coach. And her brother Jack played with the Pride from 2017 through last season.
Now, after graduating from Hofstra in three years with a bachelor's degree in marketing, Nuttall has joined the LIU women's soccer team as a graduate student pursuing an MBA.
A 5-foot-7 midfielder, Nuttall will make her Sharks debut in Saturday's exhibition match at Marist.
LIU opens its regular season at NJIT on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.
"I wanted something different," Nuttall said about continuing her playing career at LIU. "I was ready for the next chapter in my life. I was at Hofstra for three years, but it felt like I've been there for 21 years. I wanted to experience something new."
Nuttall was the first signing for
Lucy Gillett after ascending to the head coaching role.
"Her leadership qualities will be a great attribute to our team as we're entering a new chapter," Gillett said. "Her athleticism and professionalism will help us."
After redshirting as a freshman, Nuttall appeared in 10 matches with Hofstra in 2020 and '21.
She went on to play a dozen matches this past May and June with Queensboro FC in the first-year USL W League. Nuttall tallied a goal and an assist and helped the team to eight straight wins at one point.
Nuttall was able to graduate from Hofstra as a dean's list achiever in three years by completing winter- and summer-session classes, including this summer. She will participate in commencement at Hofstra in December. Her brother Jack walked last December.
Because Nuttall redshirted as a freshman at Hofstra and her sophomore season was a COVID-shortened year, she expects to have three years of remaining eligibility. The intention is to spend the next two seasons at LIU while completing an MBA, then potentially to play abroad, whether professionally or as an amateur.
Nuttall won a state championship as a senior at St. Anthony's High School.
Her father played for Stoke City and Leeds in his native England before moving permanently to Long Island in 1988.
Nuttall has traveled to England once or twice a year throughout her life in addition to spending a ton of time with the Hofstra men's team during her youth.
"My father has been working at Hofstra for 33 years. And my brother is two years older than me," Nuttall said. "It's just like a second home. Being on campus was just like being at home. I was going to practices and was on the bus, just being involved with everything from an early age."
