St. John's University Athletics
Matteo Makes Most of First Career MLS Start
7/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
For Crew midfielder Jeff Matteo and Revs defender Shalrie Joseph, it was a sort of homecoming, as those two players earned All-American honors in leading St. John?s to its 11th BIG EAST Championship and to the NCAA Final Four in 2001, which was held on the same field. In the 2001 NCAA Final Four match, Matteo scored the Red Storm?s lone goal in a 2-1 loss to eventual national runner-up Indiana.
Joseph has started 14 of 15 games for the 2002 MLS runner-up New England, and been a key factor in the midfield and on defense for the team.
Last night?s game marked the first career start for Matteo, who started the year with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, but was let go and signed to a developmental contract by Columbus, the team that originally drafted him in 2002.
?It felt good (to get the start),? Matteo said by phone from Columbus on Thursday morning. ?You?ve got to do your time and earn it, and I understand that. I?ve just got to make the most out of the opportunities. I don?t know that I?ll be starting every game from now on, but I just hope I get a chance to play.?
He took advantage of that opportunity last night and wasted no time, scoring 33 minutes into the game. Matteo intercepted a clearance by Revolution midfielder Brian Kamler at the top of the box. He then proceeded to dribble by defender Daouda Kante, enter the box and curl a left-footed shot inside the left post. His first career goal came on the only shot on goal in the match by the Crew and in his second MLS appearance. Matteo?s strike also ended the Crew?s streak of 253 minutes without a goal.
?That felt great,? Matteo said. ?Just to get out and play was awesome, but to score really made it a special night.?
?I think it was just a lapse defensively,? Joseph said after the game Wednesday night. ?We had numbers defensively, but nobody stepped up to communicate and Jeff made a good move and just went in on goal.?
Going against his college teammate, and best friend, was also fun?for a while. After winning a header in the second half of the game, Matteo took an elbow from Joseph. ?It was fun playing against him,? Matteo chuckled, ?but I?m not going to forget that.?
Matteo?s Crew led 1-0 at halftime, but the Revolution tied the game 10 minutes into the second frame. Ironically, the goal was scored by former Indiana star Pat Noonan, who tallied the tying goal for the Hoosiers against St. John?s back in 2001.
Matteo?s team next plays on Wednesday, July 30 in Los Angeles against the Galaxy, whose roster features former Red Storm goalkeeper Dan Popik.
