Former Men's Soccer Player Matthew Weston Still Carries Pioneer Spirit
12/8/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Exiting college and entering the "real world" can be a transition unlike anything a young adult experiences, especially a student-athlete who spends their mornings practicing, afternoons in class, evenings training and weekends competing. However, for former Sacred Heart University men's soccer player, Matthew Weston, the changeover was seamless thanks to his time on campus and on the pitch.
The Storrs, Conn. native played was a goalkeeper from 2002-06 and had a 2.13 goals against average in the 2004 season. But his tenure did not just stop there, Weston continued his education as a Pioneer.
After he was done playing, Weston earned a Doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) that built a sturdy foundation for his career as the Director of Rehabilitation for the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. As an athlete and graduate student, Weston walked off campus with a left-hanging tassel carrying a gratitude that aided his constant yearning for knowledge.
Following his time at SHU, Weston got his first foray into soccer by serving as an assistant coach at Eastern Connecticut State University from 2008-16, where he met a student-athlete that "continues to motivate [him] daily."
In the summer of 2012, ECSU student-athlete Jon DeCasanova displayed an array of health problems, later diagnosed as Aplastic Anemia. Aplastic Anemia is a rare condition that prevents the body's ability to produce enough new blood cells. Thanks to Be The Match (BTM), DeCasanova was able to undergo a successful bone marrow transplant which helped treat his condition.
DeCasanova was able to return to the field for his senior year for the Warriors, and today he is the regional coordinator for Be The Match.
Since his first experience with the national marrow donor program, Weston has used his position within both the soccer and physical therapy communities to bring awareness and raise donations for this cause.
"I have wanted to help Be The Match for a long time, but was never quite sure how best to do it." Weston said. "In my current role with the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns, I have a platform that allows me to reach more people and hopefully educate them on Be The Match and their mission."
Weston aims to raise $3000 for the program and if he is successful, he will shave his head following the MLS Cups Finals, which concludes Saturday, December 12.
In addition to raise money for BTM, Weston was simultaneously growing his hair out to donate to Locks of Love. The two projects were originally separate, but later merged based on the Boston Bruins' Cuts For a Cure fundraiser.
"When I first announced the Shave to Save BTM campaign, a lot of people reached out to me to encourage me and tell me that they were already registered," Weston said. "Although I haven't been able to convince anyone else to shave their head, the support for the cause has been next level."
In addition to supporting a great cause, every donation to Weston's fundraiser gets an entry into a raffle for two singed Portland Timbers jerseys. On top of the jersey giveaway, donations within the Timbers and Thorns club are totaled and whoever donates the most gets the honor of cutting Weston's locks.
Starting on the east coast and taking the hike to the west coast did not stifle Weston's passion towards the sport. In fact, the memories and influence that began on Park Avenue Field chased him like a chip shot over a goalie's head. Weston spent six years as a Pioneer, obtaining his Bachelor of Science in psychology and his DPT, but he was most influenced by the friendships forged in his four years on the soccer team.
"Many of those friendships last to this day, including now assistant [soccer] coach Anthony Anzevui, who was a freshman my senior year," Weston said. "You learn a lot about yourself as a person when you're on a team like that, and those experiences helped to mold me and guide me down the path I am now on."
The connections that were built spending more time with teammates than family has not ceased since Weston's walk across stage. He has crossed paths with other former players during his time with the Timbers organization.
In 2018 before the final MLS Cups game, Weston ran into his former college roommate and his senior year soccer captain, Glenn Wilken. Wilken is the ticketing director with the MLS.
"Before the game, I got to share the moment with one of my best friends," Weston said. "I think it was a special moment for both of us, one in which you have to take a step back and realize how far you've come."
Today, Weston wakes up every day knowing that he has a career that combines his two passions: physical therapy and soccer.
"My love for physical therapy and my love for soccer are what got me to this point, and they are what got me involved in Be The Match," Weston continued.
