FIRING BLANKS: Piltch, the senior goalie for the Shipley boys’ soccer team, has not lost a game in over a year, posting 10 shutouts last year and two so far this fall. Last year, the Gators were 19-1, capturing the Friends Schools League championship and defeating Germantown Academy, which earned Shipley a  Southeastern Pennsylvania ranking.

“I got the chance to play with a number of exceptional players last year,” said Piltch. “Being part of team as unified as ours was truly a great experience.”

PASSION FOR PRESSURE: “Goalkeeping is my passion, and I enjoy every facet of it,” said Piltch. “What I like most about it is the pressure of the position — the game, more often than not, rests on the goalkeeper's shoulders, and if he makes a mistake, everyone knows it.

“I also like the leadership position that naturally comes with being a goalkeeper; and of course, diving for a ball and flying through the air is one of the most exhilarating things in sports.”

CREDITS COACH: Piltch said, “Coach Schauerman has advanced my soccer career the most by far. He came as a goalie trainer to my tryout for the Lower Merion Soccer’s travel team when I was going into seventh grade, and I have trained with him at least twice weekly ever since.

“When he was hired as my high school coach going into last year, I was ecstatic, because I knew that my ability would be able to evolve even more with him there to observe at all times. He has been a great trainer, coach, and mentor to me, and I do not know where I would be today without his help.”

Schauerman, in turn, praised Piltch’s work ethic, focus, and leadership: “Matt does not compete with others — he is always challenging himself and does not accept second-rate performance.  When he discovers a weakness or something he needs to improve on, Matt always works on it until he becomes proficient.

“He won the juggling award last year, not because he got the most juggles, but because he he improved the most over a three-month period. His foot skills have improved as a result of his hard work off the soccer field.

“Matt always finishes at the top of the [team] fitness tests and he is always mentally and physically prepared to keep the ball out of the net. He will do anything for his teammates, and that is why he is such a great leader, player, captain, and person.” 

FAMILY TIES: Piltch, the son of Shipley Head of School Steve Piltch, is the oldest of three children. His sister Ali plays lacrosse and field hockey as a sophomore for the Gators.

Matt plans to play college soccer, and his current favorite schools are Carleton, Kenyon, Macalester, Middlebury, Williams, and Yale. He would like to major in Middle Eastern Studies or Classics.

— By BRUCE ADAMS
Reprinted courtesy of The Main Line Times