TicketsAug. 11, 2011
By Mario Cannon
GoBEARCATS.com
Successful people make the best of opportunities and that's exactly what Matt Williams, the University of Cincinnati's former goalkeeper is doing. This past season he was playing for the Portland Phoenix in the PDL (Premier Development League). After their last game in the playoffs, Williams received a phone call from the Wilmington Hammerheads, a USL (United Soccer League) team in North Carolina, to sign a contract with them. This is a big opportunity because not only are they in a higher division than the team he previously was on, but they're also in the playoffs.
"I was thinking maybe that was my last game," Williams said. "I didn't want it to be. I can still play. But, I didn't really know, the future was really uncertain. I wanted to keep playing; I just didn't know if I was going to be able do it at the level I wanted to."
Williams dreams of one day playing in the MLS, which he considers to be a lofty, yet attainable goal. But, his last game with the Phoenix left him wondering if he was ever going to play again on a competitive level. Life without soccer is difficult for him to picture, but that's exactly what it was looking like. Luckily as his dream was dwindling away, Williams received the phone call that would keep his dream alive.
"I got the phone call Wednesday (two weeks ago) from my PDL coach Paul Baber, who told me Wilmington was interested in bringing me in for the remainder of the season as kind of an insurance policy because they have two goalies already," Williams said. "If one went down they would have only one goalkeeper. So they were interested in bringing me in, and on Thursday I signed my contract to come out here. I'm very, very happy to have been given this opportunity. It's definitely been a quick turn around for me. I was actually working a soccer camp (when I received the call)."
The phone call renewed Williams' focus to keep pushing toward his goal of playing in the MLS one day. He's fortunate to have a support system consisting of family, coaches, friends, and former teammates. They keep him grounded and aware that he's making them proud with everything he's doing. With that knowledge he has the confidence to take on any venture that calls him.
"When the phone call came, I jumped at the chance and it gave me a new perspective on playing," Williams said. "I definitely want to keep playing. This can only help me. From my stand point this is a no lose situation for me to be able to come in and play at this level."
This opportunity is filled with great exposure and learning experiences that Williams plans on making the best of. He hopes to gain more knowledge of ways to be a better goalkeeper from his coaches and the other two goalies that he's working with. A critical part of this experience for him is being able to network with the players and work with teammates who excel at what they do, making for great competition in practice.
"If you're working your tail off and doing what you can do, someone is bound to notice," Williams said. "Whether it be any league, anytime you get an opportunity to play you've got to do it. I don't think you can turn down an opportunity. When you have an opportunity like this it's important to take it."
Hard work and effort is what Williams is giving to make his career continue to progress. When great chances like this arise, he's taking them on with understanding and awareness that their helping fuel his dream of one day playing in the MLS.
"If you get your shot you have to take it," Williams said. "You have to utilize everything you have in front of you to make a dream possible."