Matthaus Thalmann '23 Recruiting Profile

Some of my very first memories are of watching soccer with my Dad.  We are a soccer family where EPL, Bundesliga, and Champions league games are constantly on the TV.   I started playing at an early age, so soccer's influence on my life has been tremendous and my love for the game has only grown over the years.  I like to put in the hard work on and off the field and make the challenges that others may not want to make.  For me, soccer has been a great guide for my life, a good way to stay out of trouble, and an outlet for my athletic abilities.  

I currently play center-back on my EDP NJ Stallions team.  I believe my strongest attributes are my first-touch, ball-winning, passing out of the back, and ability to read the game.  As a captain for our team, my leadership skills have come through on the field and getting the team ready and focused on match day.  Playing the position I do, I'm a vocal leader but I don't like to show boat as I want to keep things positive for teammates.  On my high school team, I started on the varsity team as a freshman and played every game at center-back.  This past fall, my coach moved me up to center-mid to help facilitate the offense.  The move proved correct, as we won 4 out of our last 6 games, scoring increased, and we made states.    

As much as I love the game,  I love being challenged academically too, as I strive to become either valedictorian or salutatorian. I am competing with some great friends for these honors and it helps me to push myself each and every day.  Overall, I am a strong confident person, who puts hard work into the things he loves and gives everything his all.