The Guldens are a class act times two

Charles Morrow: The Guldens are the epitome of what it means to be a Lipscomb student athlete.

Posted Aug. 8, 2023

Even if they didn’t look alike, you could tell that Noah (BBA ’22, MBA ’23) (right) and Scott Gulden (BBA ’22, MBA ’23) (left) are twins. They both graduated in 2021 with degrees in management, and then in 2023 with MBAs. These brothers from Norway were both five-year starters on the men’s soccer team, and both played a major role in making the team a Top 10 program and a national name.

For multiple years, Noah and Scott shared captain responsibilities and both became decorated student athletes with accomplishments both on and off the pitch. 

“Scott and Noah earned the respect of every student athlete they came across and every coach in the ASUN respected them for how they conducted themselves both on and off the field,” said men’s soccer coach Charles Morrow. “They are both extremely humble and represented Lipscomb in a classy manner during their five years in Purple and Gold.”

In June, Noah was named the ASUN Conference Male Student Athlete of the Year. That was just the latest of a string of honors including ASUN Fall Winner for Life honoring a campus citizen who demonstrates ASUN Core Values such as education, honesty, fairness, respect, leadership, responsibility and sportsmanship. He was named United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and ASUN Defensive Player of the Year. 

Plus the 4.0 GPA student athlete was named to the ASUN All-Academic Team for four years straight. Gulden graduated from Lipscomb’s undergraduate and graduate programs with a 4.0 gpa, and worked for a global sportswear company as a co-op intern product line manager for run/train footwear at Puma. He was named the ASUN men's soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year for three consecutive seasons. 

On the pitch, the defender set the Lipscomb career assist record (27) and moved into 11th all-time in the ASUN in the category. Gulden recorded 10 assists, the second-most in a single season in Lipscomb history.

On top of that, he volunteered with many organizations in the Nashville area including St. Bartholomew's Soccer Academy, The Food Project, Sports Fun After School program and Carter Lawrence after school program.

Scott earned three ASUN Defensive Player of the Week Honors during his career at Lipscomb, as well as being named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team, the 2021 ASUN All-Conference First Team and the 2022 ASUN All-Academic Team, having earned a 3.8 GPA in his master’s studies.

“Scott was a three year captain and the more vocal leader of the two players. He didn't have as many of the on-field accolades, but he was a leader from the minute that he stepped on campus,” said Morrow.

Scott started his Lipscomb career strong in his freshman year by starting in all 21 games for the Bisons, leading the team in minutes played and playing an important role in anchoring the Bisons defense to four shutouts in the season.

In his senior year, he was selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team and to the ASUN All-Academic team with a 3.90 GPA.

During his final year, while studying for his MBA, Scott was part of a defense that allowed just 11 goals in the season, a league-leading number, and posted eight shutouts, the most in the ASUN.

“It's rare to have athletes that are at the top both athletically and as a leader,” said Morrow. 

“Scott and Noah were any coach’s dream and I think that the Guldens are the epitome of what it means to be a Lipscomb student athlete.”