Maddie Feller, senior center back of the Manhattan University soccer
team, received the student athlete of the week award.
@JASPERSWSOC / INSTAGRAM
By Elizabeth Kalaj, Web Editor
On Sept. 23, Maddie Feller, the senior center back for the Jaspers women’s soccer team, won the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Week award. This title was given to Feller after her outstanding performance on the soccer field and in the classroom.
Feller scored her first collegiate goal against Sacred Heart University on Sept. 21 and her second goal in the following game against Marist. Feller’s goals in both games were assisted by Sami Derrico, a senior forward on the team and her fellow classmate.
“Normally she [Feller] is on the polar opposite side of the field than I am,” Derrico said. “But, on corner kicks Maddie comes into the box and she is the type of player that will go for the ball if it is ever up in the air for grabs which makes her one of the main people I look for. So, when the play happened twice, I knew that it was not luck.”
In Feller’s time at Manhattan University, she has played multiple positions on the team. Her flexibility and dedication to the team has been instrumental in their success.
“Maddie has always been a person with a strong presence and drive,” Derrico said. “Her journey from freshman year to this year has not been easy. Nothing had ever been guaranteed, especially for Maddie, and for this year to be the year that she’s having where she is playing ninety minutes every game is the perfect ending that she deserves.”
Derrico was not the only person to give credit to Feller as a whole person. Head Coach Brendan Lawler spoke on Feller’s testament to the game of soccer and her teammates.
“Maddie just has the personality and the skill set that makes her want to go and do anything for the team, including jump above people and score goals,” Lawler said. “Our team value is ‘team first’. This team just exemplifies this and is always trying to get better. Specifically, this senior group as a whole has come a long way from their first year and I think it speaks to their character and who they are as people.”
The Quadrangle spoke to Feller about what this award and her success this season means to her.
“It feels great and it keeps me confident and motivated throughout these games,” Feller said. “I think the support system is the most important thing within our team. We are each other’s number one fans and it is so fun to go out there and play with all of them as if we are a family.”
In addition to goals scored, the team has had extreme defensive success thus far in the season. Feller has been a key part of this achievement.
“Our main focus has been making sure our defense is strong because most of us believe that defense wins games,” Feller said. “We had a pretty new defense this year so we were all figuring out how to play with each other. Now, we are all just locked in and I think we all have the same goals in mind and want to win.”
Following graduation, Feller plans to continue her education and is hoping to attain her Doctorate in Physical Therapy.