Matt Lala first caught the eye of a Division I soccer coach during three high-level performances against McDonogh School during his senior season at Loyola Blakefield.
Steve Nichols, the head coach of Loyola University Maryland men’s soccer, was in the stands for those games in the fall of 2018 watching his son Richie Nichols play for McDonogh. Lala wasn’t necessarily the most physically gifted player on the team that finished 19-1, Nichols recalled, but he checked many other boxes that the coach looked for in recruits: hard-working and athletic with strong instincts.
“I don’t know if he was the best player on that Loyola team, but he was the most intriguing player,” said Nichols, who is in his ninth season coaching the Greyhounds.
Now in the midst of his senior season, Lala has proved to Nichols why it was worth taking a chance on him. The 21-year-old Baltimore native has become an irreplaceable part of the Loyola defense. He led his team in minutes (1,417) this season, far outperforming the expectations Nichols had set for him as a freshman.
“I really wanted to be a Division I athlete and play soccer and compete. And Steve was one of the few people in the country who got back to me,” Lala said. “Steve took a chance on me, and that’s why I’m always loyal to him.”
Growing up, Lala had attended Loyola games with his father Donny Lala, a star soccer player at Seton Hall. When Nichols finally met with Lala and his dad, the coach was honest about the player’s prospects of playing for the Greyhounds. Nichols’ rosters were stacked with All-Americans, MAC Hermann Award winners and All-Patriot League players.
“I didn’t want to lie to Donny,” Nichols said. “I said, ‘Look, I don’t know if he’s ever going to play here at Loyola. I just want to be honest with you.'”
Lala’s freshman year in 2019, that prediction came true. He played zero minutes. The lack of playing time weighed on Lala. He nearly transferred, going so far as to start filling out the paperwork.
Nichols was surprised when he found out Lala was considering a move away from Baltimore, but he tried to reassure his player that he had a place on the roster.
“I told him, ‘You are such an important part of the fabric of our team. I think you’re going to have a bigger role for us,'” Nichols said. “And I kind of meant a leadership role. And then, he blossomed into an incredible player.”
The following season was delayed to the spring of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several top players had graduated, leaving roster spots open for competition. A midfielder his whole life, Lala quickly found a place on the defensive line. Shortly before the Greyhounds’ first game against American, Nichols tapped Lala for the starting lineup.
“And once I kind of got that first game under my belt, I remember I called my dad and I was like, ‘Thank God I stayed here,’ because I proved to myself that I could be here and be a contributor,” Lala said.
In the shortened six-game season, Lala started all six games and led the team by playing 577 of a possible 578 minutes. He also notched his first assist in the season opener.
By his junior season the following fall, Lala was a stalwart in Loyola’s lineup, totaling 15 starts and finishing fourth on the team in scoring and minutes played. The Greyhounds’ defense led the Patriot League in shutout percentage and goals allowed average. Lala was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after scoring against UC Irvine in the season opener.
Now the team captain as a senior, Lala’s consistent play has continued this season. Early-season injuries to some of Loyola’s experienced players have forced Lala to slot in wherever Nichols needs him, playing mostly left back and right back. Against Princeton Sept. 20, Lala played 90 minutes at center back, something he hadn’t done before in a college game.
“I’m a utility guy,” Lala said. “Basically, I just tell Steve, whatever you need, I want to play to help the team.”
Nichols described Lala as the engine of the team.
“He defines who we are,” he said. “He’s the guy that kind of makes things go.”
After Princeton, Lala again played the full 90 minutes against Lehigh, American, Colgate, Holy Cross and Boston University. He scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against Lehigh, the Greyhounds’ third shutout of the season, and followed it up with goals against Colgate and Holy Cross. His play earned him two consecutive Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week awards.
“You put kids into an environment and they either sink or swim and not only did he float to the top, he was an elite swimmer in the pool,” Nichols said. “Everybody expects success. Everybody expects it to be given to them. This kid was given nothing. Everything he got is because of who is and what he does.”
Loyola stumbled slightly this season, going 2-2-5 in the Patriot League and 4-5-8 overall and missing the Patriot League tournament. Lala recalled a similarly slow start during his junior season. The team slumped to a 4-5-2 start but went on to win five of its last six regular-season games. A dramatic penalty kick victory against Army in the Patriot League semifinals and a 2-1 win against American helped the Greyhounds capture their first Patriot League championship and secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“We got off to a rocky start, but we had really good leaders on that team,” Lala said. “I had older guys on that team come up to me and say, ‘You played a good game. Keep doing what you’re doing,’ and that’s nice to hear. So, I feel like that’s something I’ve taken from those guys and tried to implement this year.”
With the benefit of hindsight, Lala appears to relish the memory of his coach predicting he may never play a minute. He recounts sending email after email to Division I coaches, only to hear nothing back. Nichols was one of the few who responded. Years later, as Lala helps guide the Greyhounds in pursuit of another championship, both are glad he did.
This story was updated following the conclusion of Loyola’s season.
Photo Credit: Larry French
Issue 277: October/November 2022
Originally published Oct. 19, 2022