Lauren Matysiak Saves Lady Hounds!

Worcester Telegram & Gazette Sports Columnist

Neil Stafford was interested in finding a goalkeeper --- in fact, it was the Assumption women's soccer coach's top priority while recruiting last year --- and lucky for him former Wachusett Regional star Lauren Matysiak was very interested in playing for the Greyhounds.

In her first five collegiate games, Matysiak has posted 2-1/2 shutouts in leading Assumption to wins over Bentley (3-0), UMass-Lowell (1-0) and AIC (8-0). Matysiak shared the shutout with Kathryn MacRitchie in the win over AIC. Assumption's losses have come to St. Rose (2-1) and Franklin Pierce (4 1), both nationally ranked teams.

"I somewhat expected myself to start, so it wasn't much of a surprise," said Matysiak, one of two freshmen in the starting lineup.

She has a 1.33 goals against average and has made 18 saves (.750 percentage). She said the Hounds played pretty well in the two losses.

"The St. Rose game really could have been a win," she said. "We gave up an own goal off a free kick. We played well in the first half against Franklin Pierce, then had a 30-second breakdown in the second and gave up two goals."

Matysiak surely got used to winning at Wachusett. As a sophomore, Matysiak was the MVP of Wachusett's 2001 Division 1 state champion team. She played superbly in the final, allowing one goal in a 2-1 win over Notre Dame of Hingham. Interestingly enough, it was that year Mountaineers coach Rick Lindsten moved Matysiak to goal.

"I had always played in the field," the 5-foot-11 Matysiak said. "But that year we needed a goalie. I like playing goalie better. I just feel more connected and more in control and a more constant part of play."

Matysiak was a T&G Super Team member last year as a senior. She posted a 0.33 GAA in leading the Mountaineers to an undefeated regular season and the Central Mass. Tournament for the fourth straight year.

Lindsten was a former Hounds soccer player himself, but Matysiak said he really didn't influence her decision to come to Assumption.

"I like the close proximity to home (Holden), and on my recruiting visit I found the chemistry of the team so inviting," she said. "The team and the coaching staff drew me here."

Matysiak prepared for the season by playing for Seacoast United of the USL's Super Y League over the summer. Seacoast United is based in Hampton, N.H.

"She's been a solid goalkeeper thus far," Stafford said. "It's a very, very intense environment and she needs to be connected at all times. I told her she can't play like she's 17 or 18. She has to play like she's 20 and she's handled it very well. She's a mature kid. The one thing she needs to work on is making quicker decisions, but that will come with experience. She's only five games in."

GREYHOUND NOTES: the Hounds are ranked seventh in this week's N.S.C.A.A. New England Regional rankings. AC tied a team record with the eight goals against American International. The Hounds last scored eight goals in an 8-0 win over Anna Maria on Sept. 15, 1994. Assumption postgraduate Chris Laut has moved into 10th place on the Hounds men's soccer career scoring list. ? sophomore Jeremy Madow of Maynard and sophomore Erin O'Connell each had a great showing at last weekend's cross country meet at Saint Anselm. Madow finished ninth to help the Hounds to a third place finish and O'Connell was second to lead the women's team to a second-place performance. Sophomore Brian Burlas of Shrewsbury, sophomore Chris Doyle of Worcester, junior Caitlin Clark of Worcester, junior Kate Saba of Shrewsbury and senior Julie Durkin of Townsend all finished in the top 25 for Assumption. The Lady Hounds are fourth in this week's N.C.A.A. Division 2 New England Regional rankings.