Matt Reinikka

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Position:
Defender
Height:
6-1
Weight:
185
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Mill Creek, Wash.
High School:
Henry M. Jackson

Coaches' Comments: "Matt is a student of the game and has successfully focused on center back qualities like heading, stepping/dropping and entry passes. Matt is our vocal leader in spurring players on, exhibiting grit, demanding
excellence and solving problems."

2017: Served as one of two team captains… Started all 16 games he appeared in… Led the team in minutes played with 1451… Finished with a personal-best three goals, including the eventual game-winner versus Duquesne (10/11/17)… Two strikes came via penalty kicks… Helped the ‘Cats to three shutouts, including a pair in league play.

2016: Started in 15 of the 17 contests he played as a junior... Led position players with 1417 minutes played over the course of the 2016 season.

2015: Started all 17 games he appeared in… Finished third on the team in minutes played with 1572… Recorded his first two career goals in wins over NC State (9/7) and Saint Joseph’s (10/21)… Also led the Wildcats to a 3-0 shutout against the Hawks.

2014: A-10 All-Rookie Team... TopDrawer Soccer Men’s Freshmen Top 100... Started all 18 games and played all but eight minutes on defense for the Wildcats as a freshman… Led the team in minutes played (1,708)… Helped anchor a defense that recorded seven shutouts on the season… Led the Wildcats to a shutout against nationally-ranked St. Louis (10/10)… Also helped Davidson to road wins at eventual National Champion Virginia and ACC foe Duke… Recorded an assist in a win over St. Bonaventure (10/18).

Prep/Personal: Played center back for Seattle Sounders FC Academy for three years, advancing to the USSDA playoffs at U16 and U18 … Played in four matches for Sounders FC MLS Reserve team in 2014 … Captained his Sounders FC Academy and Crossfire Premier teams from 2010-2013 … U.S. Youth Soccer National Finalist 2010 with Crossfire Premier Soccer Club … Washington State Champions 2010 and 2011 … Member of the Region IV ’96 ODP Team 2009 and 2010 … Member and captain of Washington ’96 ODP Team 2008-2010 … Region IV ODP Champions 2010 … Named to Region IV All Tournament First Team 2010 and 2011 … Three-year member of National Honor Society … Finalist for the Superintendent’s Scholar Award … Senior Spanish Departmental Scholar Award winner … Member of Eden House of Thailand Mission team 2011 and 2012 … Ran soccer camps for hill tribe children in Chiang Rai, Thailand 2011 and 2012 ... Son of Mark and Shonda Reinikka … Has one sister, Megan… father played hockey at University of Alaska-Fairbanks … Mother was a cheerleader at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks ... Plans to major in Political Science and Hispanic Studies ... Men's soccer representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) ... Ambassador for Northwest Football Ministries ... Organized St. Baldrick's head-shaving event November 2015, raising over $6,000 dollars for childhood cancer research ... Summer 2015 led Sounders U23 PDL Western Conference Champions and National Semifinalist in minutes played, serving as alternate captain … Played for Charlotte Eagles in summer of 2016 while working an internship at FUEL Sports Management Group and COR Sports... 2017 summer playing with Sounders FC U23 and interning with Seattle Sounders FC summer camps.