Playing soccer on mission
Sydney Taylor, Staff Writer
Soccer is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding as a sport. It requires constant running and physical contact with your opponents and often ends with only 2 or 3 goals being scored in total for the entire game.
Many people can play this sport, but it takes a true athlete to make it to the collegiate level.
Matthew Harper, Freshman Sports Management major, has worked hard and made his way on to the NGU men’s soccer team as a defensive player.
“I started playing soccer when I was 6 years old. My cousin used to play and he was a year older than me, and I always wanted to do what he did. So I tried it and loved it,” Harper said.
Harper has played soccer for the majority of his life, along with other sports like baseball and football. The latter two did not last through high school.
“I’m from Greenville, so being in the south every guy I knew either played football or baseball. I just wanted to be with my friends, even though I didn’t care about those sports as much as soccer.”
Harper found that he excelled in soccer and made that his primary sport in his sophomore year of high school.
He began putting more effort in his soccer career and being more intentional with his time rather than using that time to play a sport he didn’t care for.
“I played a lot of travel soccer in the off seasons to try and get noticed. I didn’t care where I went to play I just knew I wanted to continue. Then summer before senior year I had a lot of family issues and so I knew I wanted to stay close to home. I had looked at NGU once and it seemed to be a good fit.”
Harper finished out his high school career at Brashier Middle College Charter and was ready for his soccer career to continue at NGU.
He realized within the first week at being at NGU that his decision might’ve been the best decision he could have made. Harper got a lot out of the talks about missionary work and how he could get involved within the school and after.
“I’ve always wanted to be a missionary and I think soccer is one of the most universal sports. I’ve been to a few countries and I always take a soccer ball because it’s a good way to build up community with the kids over in those places.”
Harper uses his soccer skills to bond and build relationships with mostly the kids in third-world countries. Harper also used these relationships with the kids to grow closer to the parents or guardians around as well.
Harper is excited for the future that soccer can bring him. He also looks forward to the rest of his time playing at NGU.
“Getting to know all the guys on my team has been the best. Everyone is so welcoming and it’s cool to be able to connect on the same level with guys from all over the world. Everyone pushes each other in like a really loving way.”
