Sports

The Power of Soccer, 'All You Need is A Ball'

On the heels of an invigorating World Cup Tournament, MHS grad Matt Stith shares his thoughts on soccer.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup came to a close Sunday afternoon as Germany reigned victorious over Argentina.

From crushing losses to glorious wins, the past four weeks have made soccer history around the world. The Brazil-Chile penalty shootout caused suspense as it was  “nerve-racking and exhausting for players and fans alike,” while Germany’s win over Brazil became the latter’s “heaviest defeat.”

Each of the games played this past month have shown the immense power that a single ball can have.

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“Soccer is the most accessible game, all you need is a ball,” said Matt Stith, Montclair High School Class of 2011. “For football you need a ball shaped like an egg, to play basketball you need baskets and for lacrosse you need sticks.”

Stith, who was the 2010 Montclair High School Boys Soccer Captain, attends Syracuse University where he still plays soccer as a goalkeeper.

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Born and raised in Montclair, Stith stated that New Jersey has “fantastic teams,” that “play at very high levels.”

“Montclair is no  different,” said Stith.  “There is entertaining football, driven by flair and emotion.”

Between the elite playing fields in Europe and South America, the slums of third world countries, and Fortunato Field, a common thread runs deep; the art of soccer. 

“Soccer has the power to bring people together,” said Stith.  “That’s the reason I started playing. It’s so fun and people always enjoy a good game.”

Commenting on the power of FIFA Tournaments Stith believes that soccer creates a sense of camaraderie and competition like no other game.

“There’s a whole cup which pits all the nations against each other,” said Stith. “No other sport has it.”

While college will likely be the end of Stith’s competitive soccer career, he hopes to get into coaching as another expression of his love for the game.

“I play soccer every day and I can’t picture my life without it,” said Stith.



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