Along with 8-claps and the fight song, it happens practically
every time the UCLA men’s soccer team competes at Drake
Stadium.
“Goal! Scored by nuuumber nine, Matt Taylor!”
The announcer must be tired of calling the senior
forward’s name almost every game the Bruins play.
Taylor has a penchant for finding a way to the goal. He always
has.
“Since the beginning, scoring has been easy for me,”
Taylor said. “When I was younger, if I was put in sweeper, I
would never stay back there because I’ve always loved to
score goals.”
With 13 goals in 14 games, Taylor’s scoring has come to be
expected. With 31 points this season, Taylor ranks fourth
nationally in points per game (which includes both shots and
assists) and fifth in goals per game.
“He not only scores goals, but he knows how to finish the
goal, as opposed to just ripping it past the goalkeeper every
time,” coach Tom Fitzgerald said. “He picks and chooses
what the best way to score the goal is.”
Anyone who has seen Taylor play knows what Fitzgerald is talking
about. During the Oct. 9 home game against New Mexico, Taylor
scored off a give-and-go from fellow senior forward Cliff McKinley,
which Fitzgerald called “one of the greatest goals I’ve
seen in a long time.”
Clearly, Taylor’s contributions have been instrumental in
bringing the squad to its current 15-1 overall record. But what he
brings to the team hardly ends at the net.
“He’s always willing to do anything for his
friends,” fellow forward McKinley said. “And he’s
a big-time goofball. He’s one of of the funniest guys on the
team.”
Despite the storied history of UCLA’s soccer program, the
seniors have certainly had a wild ride with coaching changes and
fluctuating records. In the past three years, Taylor’s sense
of humor has been a welcome respite from rougher times.
“We’ve had a losing record at times, and when we
were fourth place in the league and on the verge of not making
playoffs, it takes rebounding,” Taylor said. “We have a
common bond that no one outside can feel what you’ve been
through.”
In addition, Taylor seems to tap into a secret source of energy
come game time. It’s no coincidence his goal statistics come
partially from being able to get to the ball, and get there
fast.
“I’m really hyper,” Taylor said. “I
bring energy and activeness to the field.”
Unlike most other players on the Bruin squad, Taylor did not
play on an Olympic Development Team in high school. However, he
played against many of his current teammates through club and high
school play. Coming to UCLA, Taylor said, was “a little
intimidating.”
“I feel like I really developed playing with the elite
players on the team my freshman year,” he said. “This
has been a really good stepping stone.”
With finesse, strength and even a shot of goofiness, Taylor
expects to use the experience he’s garnered at UCLA to help
him continue playing soccer after leaving Westwood.
“I see him definitely playing pro soccer. He has what it
takes,” McKinley said. “He’s already proved it
the last two years. He’s doing his thing, and he’ll run
with it. He has it in him.”
Taylor sees it in the cards as well.
“I just want to play soccer ““ anywhere,” he
said. “All I want to do is have some fun playing the sport I
love.”