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Sports Page 6 The Blue Banner - Serving the University' of North Carolina at Asheville since 1982 October 20, 2005 Athlete Profile Outside play gives athlete new voice on team By Melissa Deckert Sta^f Writer Michelle Mattos, “Mitch,” sen ior goalkeeper, is third all-time at UNCA in career shutouts with 13.5 and all-time career saves with 217. “Coaching Mitch has been great, she came in as a freshman and she was a little bit green, but she’s def initely worked her way up,” said Michele Cornish, women’s soccer head coach. “She’s a great keeper, she really has a passion for the game, she understands it well and she’s really developed a lot.” Mattos’s team members echo Cornish’s sentiments. “1 was really impressed when I started playing with Mitch,” said Sara Holland, freshman midfield er. “I knew she was going to be good, 1 just didn’t realize she was that good.” Mattos’s, an environmental sci ence student, said her soccer expe rience began when .she was six years old. “I had a really awesome coach growing up,” Mattos said. “When 1 was younger 1 wasn’t a very good soccer player. He actually told me that if I could learn how to stay on my feet that I’d be a good player, which is really ironic now that I’m a keeper and I’m always not on my feet.” Mattos was a four-year starter art Glenn High School, as well as an all-conference selection each year. She was named Defensive Player of the Year three times and team MVP her junior and senior years. ’ERRY Johnson - Staff Photographer Michelle Mattos, senior goalkeeper, goes for a stop in practice. During high school she was named Defensive Player of the Year three times and team MVP her Junior and .senior years. She has six shutouts so far this sea.son for the Bulldogs. “Soccer-wise, my personal favorite female keeper would have to be Brianna Scurry, goalkeeper for the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team from 1994 to 1997,” Mattos said. Last year Mattos made First Team All Big South Conference. She played eight shutout games, setting a school record with five consecutive shutouts, breaking Jill Young’s record, set in 1995. At this same time, Mattos §unda.g. October 2s. 2005 2pm - 12a.m -A- Bcbind the Bied»e Building In \Jesi Adievllk Puh 100% NET PROCEEDS AND 10% OF FOOD SALES TO BENEFIT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ^^^S«entA«c,fo„ ^ JlgpoLolg. Vloody Viood D@smelll6 Crooliigd l&outes Cedap Hill Projecl; Fipecpacl&6r B^nd West JislieVille j\ll-st4.rs Ba.rr>el House IAa.mmas Sons oP l?)4lpl| den Bert^iuy Pierce &dens 8. \rolunteers Weeded * Visit BeneFest.com The American Red Cross name is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, of Westville Benefits Committee. Benefest. American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, 100 Edgewood Rd, Asheville, NC 28804,828.258.3888. achieved a total of 529 scoreless minutes from Sept. 22 through Oct. 6 and only allowed four goals in seven Big South Conference matches. “I had a huge experience playing with the Asheville Splash,” Mattos said. ‘The coach there was great and I worked with Megan Burke, who’s our goalkeeper coach now, and she’s pretty much taught me the rest of what I know.” In 2003, Mattos saw a total of 1,289 minutes in the net. She recorded 48 saves and had only 16 goals scored against her. “I was struggling my freshman and sophomore years, and then I played for the Asheville Splash,” Mattos said. “I got the opportunity because I had practiced with them in summers before and I knew the administration people.” Mattos began playing for the Splash knowing that she would be the backup goalkeeper. “I just wanted to try and play a little bit,” Mattos said. “I think I honestly surprised everyone at the end of the year, I just made huge strides that summer.” Mattos’s first years playing at UNCA were tough for her, accord ing to Cornish. “She didn’t have a real voice yet, she was finding it. And now that she’s developed, she definitely found that voice,” Cornish said. “She really is just a phenomenal keeper.” Mattos believes her greatest strength to be all of the experience she’s had in the goal. “I’ve had a ton of minutes in the ((. ?? She’s a great keeper, she really has a passion for the game and she understands it well and she’s really devel oped a lot. Michele Cornish women’s soccer head coach goal and I think I’ve learned to read the game well, and prevent a lot of tough situations, rather than get myself into something and then have to get the team out of it,” Mattos said. Mattos believes her greatest weakness as a goalie to be the fact that she gets upset easily over games. “I beat myself up sometimes and get a little freaked out if the team is in a losing situation or if the game is coming down to the wire,” Mattos said. “I get over the top and that doesn’t help the situation.” One fact about Mattos is that she is a Girl Scout. “Actually, I’m a lifetime mem ber of the Girl Scouts,” Mattos said. “During the summer, I like to go work at camps.” Mattos also participates in com munity volunteer work with the team. “She’s just a great person, she’s very committed to academics,” Cornish said. “She’s got a great sense of humor. She certainly adds an interesting personality to the D /i) Every night at 6:30pm and 11:00pm on channel 16 on Charter Cable catch up-to-date sports information on all UNCA athletics GO BULLDOGS! southwest grlU« NOW HIRING!!! THIS EXCITING NEW CONCEPT IN THE FAST CASUAL food service industry is rated as one of the tc^, so get in on the Ground Floor! 3 locations opening soon in Asheville Oppoftunites for advancement. Full-time, part-time ^d management positions available. Voted #1 Hottest Franchise, 2004 Restaurant News Now taking applications October 24th and 25th at 1 Hendersonville Rd. For more infoimation call (251) 232-3926 Grand Opening November 3rd! Come join usi Be a part of the ‘'\Atelcome to Moe’s" team! Oc Jammin’ thi CONTINUED FROM PARC/ ball camp with Eddie Holbrook,” Biedenbach said, ‘j pulled this kid out of the stands to demonstrate with him. It was David Thompson. And when I recruited him, he remembered came to North Carolina State University and we ended up with one of the best players ij basketball history.” Although no contracts were signed at “Jammin’ at the Justice,” there was a chance for two people to win $10,000. No one was able to make two out of three shots in the basket but most everyone went away with a T-shirt, a pom-pom and a good idea of how UNCA’s bas ketball teams would do in this upcoming season. “Both of our basketball teams got picked third,” Cone said. “If you are picked third, then you can go after number one and not have every team in the confer ence gunning for you.” Blose and Biedenbach seem content with their preseason standings which were announced Oct. 13. “I can say we (the women’s basketball team) have defined leadership and a strong nude us,” Blose said. Blose enters her fourth seaset with her lone senior Krisnl Hood. “Kristal (Hood) came whenl came and she is probably one our best players,” Blose said. The women’s team will lean on the leadership of their junior class as well. “There isn’t a question of peo ple stepping up,” Blose said “My expectations are high.” The men’s basketball team are said to be the tallest team in thei country with Walker at T1” and Kenny George 7’6”. “Every year I want us to be the best we can be and keepil that simple,” Biedenbach said. Of course, every team waits to go to the NCAA, but logo they must win the conference championship at the very end of their season. “I’m adding a bit more to it this season because I think we have the talent and size this year to be pretty good,” Biedenbach said. Biedenbach schedules a tough pre-conference schedule, including games with North Carolina and North Carobna State and last year Michigan and Michigan State. “The pre-conference schedule is important,” Biedenbach said. “I want to win enough of those games to go to the National Invitational Tournament if something goes wrong in the conference championslfip.” If UNCA basketball can win the early matches against top programs, they can receive a high ranking. “We have to be more serious about our early season play and practices,” Biedenbach said. Both coaches said they believe these early practices will determine the intensity of the upcoming season. “We will be going hard every day because that is what it takes to compete,” Blose said. “If put in the work now then it will pay off in March.” All of UNCA athletic teams compete for top spots in the Big South this year and hopefully it will continue, Cone said. “We need to finish in the top four in the conference so we can host the first round in the con ference championship in out gym,” Cone said. Neither team is discontented with third place rankings. “Like Coach Biedenbach and Coach Blose say, ‘It isn’t where you begin the season, it is where you end the season,”’ Cone said. ra ra Be sure to catch the first exhibition game when the men’s basketball team face Mars Hill on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Justice Center. 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