Senior forward Kaity Mattsson has had some success in her four years in Thibodaux as a Colonel. Entering the last weekend of the season, the Bracebridge, Ontario Canada native led Nicholls in goals all four years. With her success, Mattsson finds herself at the top of the Colonel record book in goals and points.
“What she has been able to do has not only been a credit to herself but also to her teammates,” head coach Dylan Harrison said. “She is not going to get a whole lot of opportunities to score if her teammates don’t help her out. The thing that has made her special is in the few opportunities she has had, she’s been able to score goals.”
After increasing her goal totals every year, Mattsson and the Colonels broke the school record for wins this season with six.
“We have had the most wins this season, and to be a part of it all is very gratifying,” Mattsson said. “We have got a lot of good girls here, and the program has come along way in itself, and I think that it is only going to continue to progress.”
Not only has Mattson improved in her scoring ability, she has improved in other ways, Harrison said.
“She has progressed in understanding her role within our team. Even if she doesn’t score two or three goals in a game, she can still have a positive impact on the results and our team. Even over her four years, the school has not had a ton of success in terms of winning games. The fact that she has been able to go out and score goals says a lot about her character, her personality and also her ability to play.”
Mattsson finds herself at the top of most of the Colonel individual statistical categories, but the marketing major continues to push herself in everything she does.
“Nothing comes easy; you have to work for everything you do, whether it is in the classroom or on the field or even relationship-wise,” Mattsson said. “Before I came to Nicholls, soccer came easy to me, but I have had to work for every single thing since I got here.”
The Colonels will conclude the 2010 season this weekend when they host Northwestern State and Central Arkansas. Mattsson and the four other seniors will be honored before Sunday’s game against UCA.
“I’m going to miss the game itself. I have been playing since I was six. I’ve played all through the summer and all through the winter,” Mattsson said. “It’s been a 365 day a year thing for me and it’s going to be weird waking up next Monday and not having it anymore. I’m going to be sad.
