Soccer junior goes on late season hot streak

Published by adviser, Author: Cody Nespor - Assistant Sports Editor, Date: November 11, 2015
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Going on a hot streak can mean a lot of different things for a soccer player. They might start handling the ball better than they ever have before or they could start making perfect passes. For Slippery Rock junior forward Matt Sangermano, going on a hot streak means one thing; scoring goals.

From Oct. 17 through Nov. 3, Sangermano scored seven goals in his team’s four games. Over those four games Sangermano scored a game winning overtime goal over West Chester University, scored a hat-trick against University of Pitt-Johnstown, and scored a late game winning goal in the team’s round one playoff game against California University (Pa.).

Those seven goals raised Matt’s season total to nine, which led the team and ranks fifth in the entire Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

Prior to Oct. 17, Sangermano had not scored since Sept. 15 and had never scored a goal in a game in which he started.

Sangermano said after he scored the game-winner against West Chester the flood gates open up.

“Once I started scoring I just didn’t stop,” Sangermano said. “It felt really good and I got into a good rhythm.”

SRU head coach Andy Hoggarth said that Sangermano’s late season success was a result from something he had changed coaching-wise.

“Against Lock Haven he (Sangermano) had a good second half and then he started against Pitt-Johnstown and he just found his form,” Hoggarth said. “Up until that point I think he was a little bit more of a creator and after we changed some things around he took more of a lead and started scoring goals.”

Sangermano came to Slippery Rock by way of a transfer from Seton Hill University where he played both soccer and kicked for the football team his freshman year. Matt attended high school at Our Lady of Sacred Heart where he was a multi sport star, lettering four times in soccer, four times in basketball, two times in football and two times in track.

In his first and only year at Seton Hill Sangermano started 11 games and recorded four goals and one assist. When Hoggarth found out that Sangermano was thinking about transferring Slippery Rock, the then first year coach immediately got in contact with him.

“I just went through what I wanted to do with the program and he decided to come out and play for us the last two years,” Hoggarth said. “Matt’s a great kid and I feel we’ve given him another opportunity. This year I think we’ve gotten everything out of him and he’s put everything into it. He’s a hard worker and has a great love for the game.”

Sangermano also led the Green and White in game-winning goals with five, third most in the PSAC.

“Late in the game you always want to have (Sangermano) on the field. If he’s not scoring he’s going to be creating for somebody,” Hoggarth said. “He’s an academic senior and we’re definitely still trying to talk him into coming back for one more year and certainly would love to have him back.”

With next season still be up in the air for Matt Sangermano he can certainly take pride in the season he had this year. A PSAC Championship and a second team all-conference selection would not be a bad way to end his final season playing soccer at The Rock.

“How I played and how the season ended t’s hard to walk away after a season like that,” Sangermano said. “I’m going to take some time away from soccer and make a decision to come back or just graduate after I see how I feel.”

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