November 2004 – Assumption College women’s soccer coach Neil Stafford was looking for two things to bring to the field this season — a forward and a solid goaltender. He landed both. And in rookie goalkeeper Lauren Matysiak, he got a little extra.

Matysiak, who joined the Assumption women’s soccer team this season as the number one recruit, has been exceptional. She broke the team shutout record in October with a conference-best seven and is on the brink of breaking a few more.

“As one of the top recruits, you have certain expectations for Lauren,” says Stafford, who is in his fourth season coaching the Greyhounds. “But I never expected this.”

Matysiak has been playing the game since she was five years old. Since then, the Holden native has developed into quite the soccer player. She earned MVP honors on her Wachusett Regional High School soccer team twice and helped her team advance to the state championship as a sophomore. Experience has molded Matysiak into a leader.

“She’s only a freshman, but she’s playing like a junior or a senior,” says Stafford. “We need that in order to be successful.”

Stafford says that Matysiak’s leadership has instilled confidence in the defenders. Her teammates are relaxed and not afraid to make a mistake because she is behind them. He adds that her communication skills are second to none.

“Usually freshmen are a little shy at first, but Lauren is playing on a higher level. She also has a great sense of humor and has the ability to make players relax. The locker room is very loose before games,” said Stafford.

Although Matysiak has been stellar in goal, Stafford emphasizes the importance of the team effort that has gone into making this a winning season.

“Opponents have to go through ten players before they get to Lauren,” he says.

In particular, Stafford praises Worcester-native Allison Reyell, who he calls the backbone of the team. “She was here when the program wasn’t very good. We would not be here today without her.”

Stafford considers senior defender and team captain Reyell to be the greatest women’s soccer player to ever play at Assumption.

“Some of these freshmen have no idea what it was like two years ago. The team and the environment have been transformed,” says Stafford, pointing out that only three members of the class of 2005 still play for the team. “It shows the perseverance of the girls, and Ali has always led that pack. She keeps everyone believing in what we are trying to do.”

Matysiak also sees the leadership in Reyell. “She has a very strong character and is one of the most mature people I have met,” says the rookie.

According to a recent scouting report, there is not a weak area on the Assumption team.

“The team chemistry is amazing,” says Matysiak. “How we work on and off the field together, we are one big group.”

Stafford describes the Assumption soccer program in its recent years as “an average college team” within a conference in which soccer and basketball are the toughest in Division II. But for the women’s soccer program that has never been to the NCAA tournament, this may be the year.

“What we’re doing here is pretty special, considering what we have,” says Stafford. Assumption’s program is one of three DII schools in the Northeast 10 Conference that is not allotted scholarship money, and the staff is part time. “The way that we have utilized homegrown talent and the level of the athlete that we have been getting is extraordinary,” Stafford says.

Stafford says that although Matysiak and the defense have been unbelievable this season, he hopes things will only get better. “If I can get Lauren to understand the team, the players and the conference, it will help her get more experienced.”

With talent like Matysiak’s, the future of the Assumption women’s soccer team seems to be in good hands.

“We’ve been smashing some records this year,” says Stafford. “But they would mean nothing if it weren’t for the entire team. Everyone gives 110%. This is a team of 23 amazing women.”