Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

The late Owen Dougherty Sr. earned a place in the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 on the strength of his achievements as a football and baseball coach. His son Owen Jr. chose a different path, finding success on the soccer pitch.

Dougherty excelled as a shutdown defender and distributor of the ball from his center midfield position under coach Vince Celtnieks. A three-time Western Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Soccer Conference and two-time PSAC all-star, he
led IUP to a 42-15-4 record during his four years in uniform (he missed the 1985 season with a broken foot). Dougherty served as team captain in 1986 and, despite his defensive responsibilities, still managed to finish as the team’s second-leading scorer with five goals.

He claimed a spot in the starting lineup at the outset of his freshman year and immediately made an impact. Dougherty helped the 1982 team post a 12-3 record and advance to the PSAC championship game, where Cheyney handed IUP a heartbreaking 3-2 setback on a penalty kick late in the fourth overtime.

This is Dougherty’s second hall of fame honor of 2018: The former Indiana High School standout was enshrined in the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame in May. A claims examiner with the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury, Dougherty resides in Jessup with his wife, Charlene.