Varsity keeper trains for Nationals

Freshman Mattison Interian, the varsity soccer goalkeeper, is training with the U.S. Under-17 Girls’ National Team for
a spot on the team, which features the top 24 players in the country in that
age group.

She has played soccer since she was 5 years old. She started with AYSO and then
played for the club Crown City as a forward when she was 10. She began playing
as a keeper at 11, then joined the Legends club at 12. When she turned 13, she
joined her current club Arsenal.

“The part I love about being [keeper] most is that you’re strongly
considered to be a leader and that leadership position is something I’ve always
been comfortable in. Also, it’s nice to be the hero when the hard shot comes at
you and you just block it,” Interian said.

U.S. Soccer contacted her to play for its U14 team last year and she
moved up to play for U17 at the end of last year.

This 5-foot-10 goalkeeper caught National’s attention when a U.S. soccer
coach saw her take a kick to the head after diving for the ball, which resulted
in a concussion. It was this dedication that led the coach to pick her.

Her national soccer commitments have kept her out of school on occasion; she missed
the first weeks of both August and January and even missed a day of finals in
December.

“She’s phenomenal and can be playing college soccer right now and she’s
14 years old. She already can play division one at a high level now, I will
only see her get better and I see her playing for one of those elite programs,”
said FSHA co-coach Frank Pace.

She has managed to balance club soccer, school and private sessions with her goalie
coach all while training for Youth Nationals.

“She’s probably the best goalkeeper we’ve ever had here; she’s a
freshman but she plays like a senior,” said Mrs. Kathy Desmond, academic dean
and co-coach of the varsity soccer team.

“If all goes well I will be playing in
college and the U.S. Women’s National team. As I am already in the National
team’s program, they are trying to make me the next Hope Solo or Briana Scurry.
As long as I continue to perform my best, work hard and take what coaches say
and apply it, I have a shot to make it,” Interian said.

—Alejandra Gurrola. Photo by Dean McCreary.