Millersville

Remarkably reliable and consistently outstanding, John Claffey anchored the defense of the Millersville men’s soccer teams during the most successful four-year stretch in program history. With Claffey on the back line, Millersville reached unprecedented heights, posting a 60-18-5 record with two PSAC East titles, three NCAA Tournament appearances, the program’s first PSAC Championship and a memorable run to the NCAA Semifinals in 2011—a team that Claffey captained.
 
Claffey started all 83 of Millersville’s games from 2008-11. He was named All-PSAC East First Team as a freshman in 2008 and All-PSAC First Team in 2011. Claffey earned NSCAA All-Atlantic Region recognition as a sophomore in 2009 and again as a senior in 2011. Following his senior season, Claffey entered elite company by picking up NSCAA and Daktronics All-America Third Team recognition. That made him only the third Millersville men’s soccer player to be named All-America.
 
A primary reason for Millersville’s run of success was its defense. With Claffey on patrol, the Marauders totaled 40 shutouts over the four years, leading the PSAC in that category in 2009 and leading the league in goals against average in 2008. Claffey’s defense held opponents to no more than 1.0 goal per game in each of the four seasons.
 
Claffey made an immediate impact in 2008, helping the Marauders to a school record 18 victories, a PSAC East title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. The team reached the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Marauders went 17-3 during Claffey’s sophomore season of 2009 and achieved the first No. 1 national ranking in program history. The Marauders finished as the PSAC runners-up and reached the NCAA Tournament again.
 
Claffey’s senior season included a magical postseason run that was of course, spurred on by a defense that did not allow a single goal in the first five postseason games. Millersville won the PSAC Championship on its home field by a 1-0 score over Bloomsburg. A pair of NCAA Tournament shutouts put the Marauders in the NCAA Quarterfinals against Rockhurst. A 0-0 tie pushed the teams into penalty kicks, and Claffey’s conversion in the fourth round helped the Marauders to a shootout win and a berth in the NCAA Semifinals.  Fittingly, Claffey was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
 
Claffey graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2012 and currently serves as a regional vice president at Jackson National. Claffey is married to 2018 Millersville University Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Elicia Anderson Claffey ’12. The couple has two daughters.