What’s up Prep family and fans! I hope everyone is doing well. I’m Lucas Hernandez, a writer for the Petroc, bringing you our first ‘Athlete Spotlight’ of the year. Behind the walls of successful soccer programs across the country is the common desire to excel. What separates the good players and teams from the great players and teams? It’s how they handle that desire and that pressure to be great; it’s the time put in, the discipline, the effort, the sacrifices. Since there’s no better way to learn about what goes on behind the scenes of Prep soccer than talking to players, we decided to talk to Matt, one of our best marauders on the team. He’s been having an amazing season as striker and is leading the county not just in goals, but also assists. He ranks ‘Top 10’ in the state in assists, and today you’re going to get to hear some insights from him.
Interview:
Q: First off, what drove you to get to the spot you’re in right now? How did that affect your training and what did your offseason look like from last year to now? What are you doing to separate yourself from other strikers?
A: It’s a lot of work behind the scenes, not only during games on the field, but in practice listening to our coaches to become the best player I can be. What matters most is the work that people don’t see, and I’ve been putting that work in — not only me, but the whole team. What really drives me is my dream to play Division I, to make it pro, and of course family, friends and the brotherhood here at Prep. I’m here to win a state title and a county title for all my brothers at Prep.
Q: A few weeks ago, Prep soccer had what might be the upset of the year in a double OT win against Kearny. How do you think your performance has helped the team have such a historical season? What other factors on the team are making this season so different? Is it the training, the team culture, the team chemistry?
A: Overall from last year to this year we definitely matured as a team and definitely bonded closer together. That win over Kearny was just the first step of us coming together; it really set the tone for the season. You know, I’m the player getting all the stats, but there’s a lot of my teammates that definitely put in the work and don’t get as much credit as they deserve. It’s a team effort and we’re doing real well and we’ll keep it up.
Q: What are the team’s goals for the rest of the season? Have you set any individual goals for upcoming matches?
A: For sure, they’d be the county championship, the league championship, the state championship; we’re coming for it all. We really believe with can do it this year. Individual goals, I got nominated for ‘Early Player of the Year,’ and I’d definitely love to win that. Big games are coming up, too: This Saturday, we have Hudson County semifinals against Harrison. It’ll be a tough game, but if we win that game, in two weeks it’ll be Friday night at Red Bull Arena for County finals; that’ll be a great game to come to so definitely try to be there.
Q: Have you had any bumps in the road getting where you are right now? Whether it be an injury or fatigue, and how did you overcome that if there are any?
A: Yeah, for sure [it’d be] fatigue. We sometimes play four games a week and practice every day. People don’t care if you’re hurting. The other teams definitely don’t. You just have to keep going. Definitely some team bumps in the road were losing to Memorial and also going down 5-0 to Kearny. We definitely bounced back with a tough game against St. Benedict’s, taking them into double OT and then just getting back on the right foot winning our last game[ and also Kellenberg].
Q: Lastly, we all have one, so what’s a movie that you watch before game day to hype you up and get you in the mindset to leave everything you have on the field?
A: Oh, for a movie I’d definitely say — you know I’m a jokester I like to laugh — something like Stepbrothers to get me in that positive mindset.
Thanks again to Matt for taking the time to speak with us here at the Petroc. It’s been a pleasure. Huge congrats on your accomplishments so far and we’ll be keeping up with the team’s performance. Best of luck for the rest of the season!