2010 has started off with a bang for one Lady Eagles’ center back. Blakely Mattern, who played her first year with the Charlotte Lady Eagles in 2009, was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2010 Women’s Professional Soccer League draft to the Atlanta Beat. The two-time All-American from the University of South Carolina is more than just a solid defender. Better known to Charlotte Eagles campers as “Coach Broccoli,” Blakely has a heart for both the game and the people that surround her. She says with confidence, “I know God put me in Atlanta for a reason. I’m praying that I can just make an impact.”
An impact is exactly the word for it. When Blakely arrived in Charlotte last May, she sat out of training the first few weeks due to an injury. The thing is, she hardly ever sat. She hopped around the field joking and laughing with her teammates with her bright blonde hair bobbing around in a bun on top of her head. She chased balls and offered words of encouragement with an infectious smile stretched across her face. Once she was healthy enough to play, her presence was known as she helped anchor the Lady Eagles’ defense in battling back from 2 tough early season losses to go on to the team’s 9th playoff appearance in 10 years.
Take a look at the South Carolina women’s soccer stats and you will find the same person impacting a different group of people. Titles like All-American, MVP, and SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year could define Blakely, but instead she finds her value elsewhere. Her attitude heading to Atlanta is one of service and worship to God. After learning last summer that she could worship through playing, Blakely says, “I never thought of soccer as worship before. That’s the biggest thing. I just want to use that. Soccer is a platform to share my faith with my team, my coaches, and my community.”
