While most students are dreading the end of their summer vacation, Fairfield University goalkeeper Matt Turner is looking forward to the start of his seasonal break. The senior is still in the midst of the United Soccer League's Premier Development League (PDL) season, helping the Jersey Express to the playoffs.
His team will host CFC Azul on Saturday evening with kick off slated for 5 pm. Ironically, Turner will face one of the League's top scorers in forward Reco McLaren. McLaren was Turner's teammate for the last two seasons as a member of the Fairfield University soccer team. McLaren places seventh in the PDL for goals scored with nine and eighth in points with 18. He led Fairfield in scoring with eight goals and three assists for 19 points in the Fall of 2013.
“I'm really looking forward to playing Reco because he has been a prolific scorer for CFC Azul this summer,” Turner said. “I know Reco can score and use his speed to get by any defender, so I'm anxious to see what he brings to our home field on Saturday.”
Turner has played in 11 games for Jersey Express, ranking fourth in the League with nine goalkeeper wins (9-1-1 overall). He is tied for 10th in the PDL with a 1.00 goals against average, yielding 11 goals in his 11 appearances. His success is quite impressive considering the level of play that he sees on a daily basis.
“The PDL has a great standard and my team has really put in a lot of effort this summer to get to where we are,” Turner said. “The coolest part about the PDL is how it has a very professional feel to it. We have a team owner and a general manager. There's a bunch of college players but also players who are former professionals. The pros offer insight and experience which helps us younger guys learn more about the game.”
Spending his summer in training and playing is nothing new for the Park Ridge, N.J. native. Last year, Turner went to Brazil where he trained and played a few games over several weeks.
“Being in Brazil, I focused a lot on refining my technical skills,” Turner said. “I wasn't playing as many games which I think hurt me a little this past Fall. This summer, the PDL practices have been high level and I have been playing a lot of games which helps me a lot because it gives me experience. I think being on the pitch so much can only help because I gain more experience, which in my opinion is the best way to learn.”
Given this unique opportunity, Turner has taken full advantage of his time with Jersey Express. Besides refining his goalkeeping skills, he is also honing his leadership skills. As the starting goalkeeper, Turner directs the team's defense, a unit which posted five shutouts in 2014.
“I think I have improved as a leader, becoming more vocal and gaining more experience in that role,” Turner said. “Coach Jeff Matteo has really pushed me to become more of a presence in the back and impose myself on the game. He has been a tremendous mentor as has been my goalkeeper coach Bill Gaudette. They both have a lot of professional experience and give me so much insight into the position. Both coaches have made a stronger and better all-around goalkeeper.”
Turner will battle for playing time at Fairfield this Fall with teammate Joe Martin, who was also a goalkeeper in the PDL this summer. Martin appeared in 11 games for the Long Island Rough Riders and posted a 0.74 goals against average which places fourth in the League. The two Stags goalkeepers did meet in the regular season with Turner's team posting a 3-1 victory.
“Facing Joey was a good experience,” Turner said. “We had a good laugh after the game and he won't forget any time soon that we beat his team 3-1.”
In addition to Turner, McLaren, and Martin, Fairfield soccer players Matt Danaher and Ben Whitcomb also were on the PDL pitch this summer. Danaher, who graduated this past spring, played for the Westchester Flames while Whitcomb, a freshman for the 2013 campaign, was a member of FC London. Danaher had one point in 10 games as a defender while Whitcomb appeared in a pair of games as a defender this summer.
Turner, Martin, and Whitcomb will be on the pitch for the 2014 Fairfield University opener as the Stags travel to Army on August 29. The Stags home opener takes place on September 12 when they host Yale University.
