Student Athlete Spotlight: Men's Soccer player Matt Allen
MCLA's Matt Allen has adapted well to the college atmosphere in his first year with the Trailblazers
By Jaclyn Candelet, MCLA Sports Information
Referees, two teams in uniforms, coaches, two goals and fans' cheering is what makes up a normal soccer match in America.
When MCLA's Matt Allen started playing soccer at the age of 7 on the streets of Haiti, he didn't know what organized soccer was. At the age of 17 when he came to America, the only soccer that Allen knew was a group of his friends on the rocky streets while using shoes as goals.
Allen who lived in an orphanage with up to 30 other kids was adopted in January 2009 along with a brother, and moved to Ashburnham, Massachusetts. He attended Oakmont Regional High School and became part of the varsity soccer team.
In Haiti Allen was in the 11th grade but when his first day at Oakmont came they put him in the 10th grade. Everything was different for him from school work to soccer.
"Everything was new. I was learning English, taking different classes, brand new school and making new friends," said Allen. "Soccer there was rules, refs and a field."
After graduating high school, Allen went to Gordon College in Wenham, MA. Not getting much playing time and the expensive cost sent him west to the campus of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). Talking with Coach Adam Hildabrand and learning that he would give him a chance on the team made a light bulb go off.
Finding a spot on the Trailblazer team wasn't the hardest part for Allen, even after two years of varsity and a year at Gordon College, it was adjusting to the college game and the American style of play. "I talked with my high school coach, he said I might not fit in because it's a physical game and I'm not muscular," said Allen. "In Haiti it was all about your fancy tricks and how long you could dribble the ball."
The transition to America was hard at first for Allen, who claims he is a shy guy, but soccer has been the backbone to making his adoption easier. "My first lunch at Oakmont, I sat by myself until two kids on the soccer team came and sat with me," said Allen. He is still in the process of finding himself but he knows he is in the right place.
Matt Allen will wrap up his first regular season with the Trailblazers on Friday when they travel to Worcester and he already plans on working hard in the offseason. "I want to be one of the best assets on the team," stated Allen. "A lot of work; running, touches, watching and playing."