“I’ve been watching Matt Hoff for three years,” said Head Coach John Kerr earlier in the season, “and I knew what a potent goal scorer he is and how he works his tail off. He’s got that St. Louis workman-like mentality. It’s infectious. When other players see how talented he is, he works that hard, and he scores goals. He just works his tail off. He’s like Pete Rose.”

Hoff’s gift with the soccer ball draws the attention of anyone who watches him play, friend or foe.

“Matt Hoff was my number one recruit last year,” said Kerr. “I’ve watched him carefully for the past three years, and he was my favorite player out of the entire country.”

Last year, Hoff not only made the Missouri all-state team with his play for Chaminade High School in St. Louis, but he was also named state-wide player of the year. He led his team with an incredible 26 goals and 15 assists.

Now, Hoff has begun to stir up quite a lot of attention even outside his friends, family and teammates. The Ivy League recognized him as the Rookie of the Week from October 6th through the 13th for scoring both of Harvard’s goals during a 1-0-1 week.

But this honor was not the first time he had earned Rookie of the Week. From September 22nd through the 29th, the Crimson had one of its toughest stretches of the season, facing off against Maine, Duke and North Carolina. Hoff rose to the occasion, contributing two goals and an assist to help ensure Harvard a 2-1-0 record for the three contests.

For Charnock’s part in the Crimson’s success that week, he took home the Ivy League’s Player of the Week. By sweeping the Ancient Eight’s weekly awards, the duo of Hoff and Charnock announced their arrival as a dangerous offensive pair.

“As his reputation has grown in the Ivies,” said Old, “the oppositions’ defense has upped the pressure on him, but he’s handling it really well. He’s already proved he’s one of the best strikers in the Ivies, and he’ll only get better. There’s big things to come from Matt.”