Salem soccer coach Robin Ramirez announced on Tuesday, August 16th that Gina Ryan was named as an assistant coach for the Spirits. Ryan, who played collegiately at UNC Pembroke, joined the program prior to the start of the 2022 preseason camp.

A native of Cape Carteret, N.C., Ryan was a four-year letterwinner for the UNC Pembroke soccer program while earning her bachelor of science in accounting. From 2016-19, Ryan appeared in 75 matches, logged just over 6,702 minutes and made 332 saves to cap off her career with a .849 save percentage. Along the way she was responsible for a 49-17-4 all-time record in net and notched 36 shutouts.

In addition to her collegiate play, Ryan also coached three years at Tracy Noonan’s Dynasty Goalkeeping camps. Noonan, who is a three-time National Champion at North Carolina, played on the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1995-99, capturing the 1999 World Cup. In addition to owning Dynasty Goalkeeping, a premier goalkeeper camp in the United States that is located in North Carolina, Noonan also played professionally for the Boston Breakers (WUSA) and Raleigh Wings (W-League).

Ryan won at least 12 matches in three of her four seasons at UNC Pembroke, amassing a single-season career-high 15 wins in 2017 as a sophomore. She made an immediate impact for the Braves as a freshman, finishing 12-3-2 on the slate while posting 91 saves (.850 save percentage), resulting in her being named National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association (NSCAA) All-Region Third Team, Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Freshman of the Year, All-PBC First Team as well as North Carolina College Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State in her rookie season.

The following season, 2017, Ryan logged 1856:48 minutes, equaled her single-season saves (91) mark and posted 11 shutouts along the way. As a result, she earned recognition on the United States Coaches All-Southeast Region Team, D2CCA All-Southeast First Team, CoSIDA All-District Team, PBC Tournament Most Valuable Player, First Team All-PBC, PBC All-Academic Team, PBC Preseason All-Conference and was twice named as PBC Goalkeeper of the Week (Sept. 9, 2017 / Sept. 16, 2017).

After appearing in 16 contests as a junior, where she was 9-5-1 overall in net with 81 saves, Ryan emerged with a 13-4-0 mark in her senior campaign that resulted in 10 shutouts. She shares the program record of single-match saves (14) with both Hillary Helms and Britney Bennett, a mark that Ryan equaled in 2016 against Young Harris.

Since receiving her master’s in accounting from Wake Forest in December 2021, Ryan has been working in the private sector as an auditor.