ACADEMY ONE GOALKEEPING
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Academy Classes
    • 2020-2028 >
      • Class of 2028
      • Class of 2027
      • Class of 2026
      • Class of 2025
      • Class of 2024
      • Class of 2023
      • Class of 2022
      • Class of 2021
      • Class of 2020
    • 2010-2019 >
      • Class of 2019
      • Class of 2018
      • Class of 2017
      • Class of 2016
      • Class of 2015
      • Class of 2014
      • Class of 2013
      • Class of 2012
      • Class of 2011
      • Class of 2010
    • 2003-2009 >
      • Class of 2009
      • Class of 2008
      • Class of 2007
      • Class of 2006
      • Class of 2005
      • Class of 2004
      • Class of 2003
    • Junior Members
  • Membership
  • Reference Material / Articles
  • Staff
  • 2020-2028

Matthew Sanchez - Director

Matt was one of the finest goalkeepers and is one of the finest young coaches, and coaches of goalkeepers in the country. Matt joined Academy One in the fall of 2006 when he was 12 years old. He was the best goalkeeper in the country for his age. This statement is reinforced by Matt winning the Golden Glove award the summer of 2010 for the top club goalkeeper in the country. He did this as he helped his Baltimore Bays club team win the U-15 US Youth Soccer National Championship. They were also Maryland State Champions, Regional Champions and Region I League Champions. As a U-14, Matt's Baltimore club team was Maryland state champs and went undefeated in the US Region I tournament. They missed the Regional finals only by goal differential. Matt's teams have also had success indoors winning US Futsal Federation National Championship Silver Medal and Matt earning US Futsal Federation All-Region team. Matt was a four year member of the Maryland ODP State team and a two year member of the Region I ODP pool. Matt was a true freshmen starter for his nationally ranked McDonogh High School program and was the starter for all of his four years. They finished 2nd in the best private school league in the nation the first two years Matt was the starting goalkeeper. In his Junior year Matt led the team to the Baltimore private school championship and another national ranking. At the end of his junior year club season, Matt was a finalist for the United States Soccer Federation Save of the Year. After his senior year as a high school player, Matt earned All-Conference, All-Met, All-State and Regional All-American. Matt ended his career having led the McDonogh team to three MIAA Conference Championships and recorded a staggering 54 career shutouts: a Maryland state record. Matt is also an excellent golfer (0 handicap) and played for his high school team. He also sang in the choir. More impressive than his club and high school accomplishments is that Matt was the U-15, U-17, U-20 and Men's Puerto Rican National Soccer Team keeper. Matt was chosen to be the Puerto Rican starter for the U-20 Dallas Cup and U-20 World Cup. He was also chosen to be the back-up keeper for the full National Team in their matches against Nicaragua. During his Junior year in high school, Matt committed to a scholarship to play soccer at national power Old Dominion University. In the summer before his senior year, Matt led the U-20 Puerto Rican National team to an undefeated record in group play of FIFA World Cup qualifying. He was named "Man of the Match" by Puerto Rican television after the match with Bermuda. The Puerto Rican U-20 team advanced to the second round of World Cup qualifying. This is the furthest ANY Puerto Rican team has advanced in the history of their soccer program at any level of international play. Matt again led the Puerto Rican team to advancement to the CONCACAAF Championships in Mexico City. This was above and beyond anything any Puerto Rican team had ever achieved in its soccer history. Two tough losses in Mexico City ended the Puerto Rican team's dream of a U-20 World Cup final. Matt ended his international career with 14 appearances with the Puerto Rican Senior Men's National team. After his freshmen year at Old Dominion University, Matt transferred to Loyola University in Baltimore. In his time at Loyola, Matt earned numerous All-Conference honors and Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. After Matt finished his Undergraduate degree in Business, Matt turned down an opportunity to join DC United to pursue a starting position in the USL. Unfortunately, a hand injury stopped his pursuit for a year. The next year Matt joined Rio Grande Valley Toros in the USL. After another hand surgery, Matt ended his playing career and pursued a Master's in Business Administration at Loyola. Matt also started his coaching career at the college level by joining the staff at Loyola University. Matt has been huge in coaching young keepers on the East Coast of the US. Words do not express how proud we are to have Matt as one of the Academy's Directors. His knowledge and insight into goalkeeping and overall coaching are without measure. Matt currently lives in the Washington, DC area and besides coaching, he is a Development Associate at Osprey Property Company.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Academy Classes
    • 2020-2028 >
      • Class of 2028
      • Class of 2027
      • Class of 2026
      • Class of 2025
      • Class of 2024
      • Class of 2023
      • Class of 2022
      • Class of 2021
      • Class of 2020
    • 2010-2019 >
      • Class of 2019
      • Class of 2018
      • Class of 2017
      • Class of 2016
      • Class of 2015
      • Class of 2014
      • Class of 2013
      • Class of 2012
      • Class of 2011
      • Class of 2010
    • 2003-2009 >
      • Class of 2009
      • Class of 2008
      • Class of 2007
      • Class of 2006
      • Class of 2005
      • Class of 2004
      • Class of 2003
    • Junior Members
  • Membership
  • Reference Material / Articles
  • Staff
  • 2020-2028