Every athlete at Cabrini has a special talent. Every player on every team whether it be men’s or women’s, is motivated to play as hard as they can and learn from each other along the way. Jim Mattock, who is on the men’s soccer team at Cabrini, knows all about teamwork and enjoys what he does on the team.
Mattock is from Bensalem, Pa., and most of his family members have played soccer. He started playing when he was 5 years old. His father played soccer and his two siblings did as well. He started playing soccer because it was the closest sport to his house but it turned out to be his favorite sport that he would continue playing in college.
“I have been playing soccer with Jim since we were six and we’re still very good friends. Soccer started our friendship. Besides us being good friends, our families are close as well,” Tim Sweeney, junior sports management major from Gwynedd-Mercy College, said.
“Even though we don’t play soccer together anymore, I still come to Cabrini to watch Jim play and I am impressed by how well the players work together as a team,” Sweeney said.
Mattock played hockey and baseball in high school along with soccer.
“My dad has been coming to every one of my soccer games since my freshman year. I know I can count on him to be there for me no matter how far away we are playing. It really motivates me to see him there cheering me on,” Mattock, junior business administration major, said.
Being a full-time student and playing a sport is a lot to manage but Mattock is succeeding in it.
As soon as the soccer season starts Mattock dedicates a lot of his time to the team. All summer he worked at Primo’s Hoagies in Norristown, Pa. He quit at the end of summer because of soccer but will start working there again when the season ends.
“I love being on a team, I love playing with the guys and I love the competition,” Mattock said.
One of the main reasons why he loves being on Cabrini’s soccer team are the friendships he’s made.
“Coming in as a freshman I didn’t know many of the guys on the team, but they turned out to be some very good friends of mine and now I am roommates with them,” Mattock said.
His freshman and sophomore year he lived on campus but junior year he moved off. He lives in an apartment at Kingswood Apartments in King of Prussia with three friends, Eric Collins who is a midfielder on the team, Sam Webb a former player, and his other friend Vince Mirarchi.
“Being on a team really helps you make friends. You become structured and disciplined, especially with your school work,” Mattock said. “You can turn that into leadership which definitely helps when you are on a sports team.”
The team is starting fresh this year. They lost 11 seniors, so the team is young. They’re working really hard to never give up their great reputation.
“Our three captains, King Saah, Troy Allen and Eric Collins, have really taught us how to work well together. We can rely on them to help us whenever we need it,” Mattock said.
Glen Jaskelewicz is the head coach, followed by three assistant coaches Rob Dallas, Matt Student and Andrew Brady.
“Jaskelewicz is a really good guy. All of the coaches are great leaders to us. Jaskelewicz actually comes from my area. He went to our rival school in high school and he is the one that recruited me from high school,” Mattock said.
Mattock’s favorite soccer team is Liverpool. That team inspires him to do better as a player. He looks up to professional athletes and tries to learn as much as he can from them.
Being surrounded by great friends, teammates, coaches and inspired by a professional team, Mattock has a great situation at Cabrini. He has got the best of both worlds and he will continue to shine on the men’s soccer team until he graduates from Cabrini.
