Belhaven’s Ciaran Colvin named CCS Defensive Player of the Year

Belhaven junior Ciaran Colvin was named the 2026 CCS Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in the men’s soccer program to receive the honor. Covenant players had won the award in each of the conference’s first four seasons.

Colvin started 15 of Belhaven’s 17 regular-season matches and played 1,243 minutes, the most of any Blazers field player. He scored twice and had two assists as Belhaven recorded four shutouts. He also earned his third consecutive first-team All-CCS selection.

After Belhaven opened the season without a win in five matches, the Blazers put together a six-game winning streak. Colvin scored five minutes into a win at Hendrix that extended the streak to three. At Rhodes three days later, he assisted Zachary Howard’s second-half equalizer as Belhaven rallied for a 2-1 victory. The win was the Blazers’ first over the Lynx since 2014.

Colvin played every minute in subsequent shutout wins over LaGrange and Millsaps. His performances against Rhodes and LaGrange earned him the fourth CCS Defensive Player of the Week award of his career.

The New Port Richey, Florida, native has been a regular in Belhaven’s lineup since his freshman season. In 2024, he appeared in all 20 matches and scored in a 4-1 CCS semifinal win over Asbury. Belhaven went on to beat top-seeded Covenant 2-0 for its first CCS championship and first conference title in its NCAA era. Colvin was named tournament MVP as the Blazers earned their first NCAA Division III tournament berth.

He played in all 19 matches in 2025, earning another first-team all-conference selection. Both of his goals that season came in a 2-0 win over Hardin-Simmons.

The third-seeded Blazers were scheduled to open the CCS Championship against Huntingdon at Belhaven Bowl Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday, according to the conference calendar.

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