Adapting to New Environments: Lewis Matton’s Journey to Success

Lewis Matton’s goal-scoring record in Choctaw uniform ranks him among the top three scorers in the nation.

The first year in a new place can be a challenge for any athlete. It can be difficult to fit in, adjust to a new environment, and even adjust to a new way of playing your sport. Through all of this, great players are still able to thrive despite these hurdles. That’s what Choctaw star striker Lewis Matton has done so far, placing himself at number 3 in the country for goals scored.

Born in a county just outside London, England called Surrey, Matton spent his early days playing for a club called Woking FC. The players were spoken to about the opportunity of traveling to the United States to study and play. “This is what led me to come to the States, and I believe it was the best choice, as I could get a degree and still play high-level soccer,” Matton said.

Matton smiling after scoring in a home game to give the Choctaws the lead in a game they’d go on to win. (Photo Credit: Logan Orman)

This year, Matton began his first season playing on the soccer team at Mississippi College; he currently leads the conference in goals scored with 14, a mark that also places him in the top 3 in the nation. Matton started his career in the US playing for Walsh University, where he found success but wanted more. “I did really enjoy my time at Walsh University, I met some great friends, and I got to experience a different culture,” Matton said. “I wanted to transfer to a university with a better soccer program, and after talking to the coaches and players, MC stood out to me and I felt it was the right fit.”

Experiencing a lot of success as an athlete in certain aspects can be dangerous. Success can sometimes lead athletes to become overly self-centered on the field, but Matton’s focus remains solely on the success of the team.

“For this season, the goal is to win the conference tournament for the first time and have a run in the national tournament,” Matton said. “My individual goals are to keep scoring and to help in any way I can to win the conference tournament.”

Matton’s hot streak on the field derives from multiple factors: his ability, talent, and work ethic, but most importantly, the simplicity of enjoying the game. “We have a good environment in the team, so I have been enjoying soccer,” Matton said. “Having talented players around me has really helped.”

Individual achievements can boost team confidence, and that's exactly what Matton's season has done for the Choctaws so far. “Obviously, it gives the team a lot of confidence that we have somebody that, when put in the right situation, can put the ball away for us,” Coach Kevin Johns said.

Expectations come with the territory of any new player, but this season, Matton has already exceeded Coach Johns’ expectations. “He’s already exceeded expectations. To be honest, we believe he’s a quality enough player to where he’s going to keep scoring goals,” Coach Johns said. “I think he’ll be the first one to tell you that he doesn’t do this himself, and so if our team keeps putting him in those situations, he’s going to continue to score goals for us.”

Matton and the Choctaws will continue play on Friday, October 25 in an away contest at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville. This game will kickstart the Choctaws' last four games of the season before taking them to the GSC tournament, beginning on November 9.