Matthew Watson '15 Recruiting Profile

Since discovering the sport of soccer at the age of six, I have spent very little free time without a soccer ball on my foot. As a seventh generation Canadian, hockey or lacrosse would have been my logical sport of choice, but, for me, it has always been soccer.  When I was younger, my dream was to play professional soccer when I grew up.  What could be better than getting paid for doing something you love?  Now that I am older, I understand the importance of higher education and I am searching for a college where I can contribute and succeed, both academically and on the field.

I'm working hard not only to maintain my GPA, but to improve it, with some success.  Even though much of my time is spent doing schoolwork or training, I try to maintain balance in my life by spending time with friends, working one day a week and doing volunteer work, as needed, with our local Lions Club and church.

I served as captain of the Dixie Athletics 97A team from age U11 to U14.  Dixie was the number 1 team in Ontario for our age group in all of those years, winning many top championships including both the OYSL championship as well as the Ontario/Quebec Cup the final year that I was with the team.  I was selected to join the Toronto FC Academy when I was 14, and played with TFCA for two years.  In a meeting by the academy coaches, I was selected to be captain of the TFCA U16 team.  I am regarded as a very strong technical player with good dynamic speed and very fast feet. I have the energy and stamina to play complete games, even in the "Total Futbol" style where I am sometimes played as right or left fullback, because of my speed and endurance.

I try to lead by example; by being a team player, training hard, playing hard and being respectful to my coaches, my teammates and my opponents.

As much as I want to play soccer at the highest level available to me, I chose to leave TFCA in September 2013 in order to join a club team that was participating in US college showcases and camps, as I felt that this was the best way to be seen by college coaches. I realize that I have started the scholarship process late, but I am determined to find a school that is right for me, where I can achieve both my academic and athletic goals.