By Garrett Hobbs | Student Reporter
 
Towering over few at just 5-foot-8, 145 pounds with a slender frame, Campbell men's soccer's  star winger is easy to overlook. Born in West Malling, England, a town of less than 5,000, Matt Lock had big dreams both on and off the pitch.
 
Lock had a strict upbringing. His mother made sure he focused on school, while his father made sure he focused on soccer. Many compared Matt to English football legend Michael Owen because of their similar statures and physicality.
 
"I liked to watch his dribbling, goal scoring, and his creativity," said Lock. "Him being so good at such a young age was also very inspiring to me."
 
Lock credits his time at Tottenham Hotspur's academy for his successes as a player today. His academy coach taught him many skills of a great soccer player, but his coach also let him experiment on his own. This helped Matt to discover what worked best for him and helped him to discover his style of play.
 
"It's easy to force someone to be good, but I believe that the best players adapted the game to who they are as a player," explained Lock.
 
Matt's creativity on the field sets him apart from the others. His gift of being able to read the game gives many opportunities to both himself and his teammates. Playing alongside the nation's leading goal scorer, Thibaut Jacquel, one may infer that goals were hard to come by for the other players. However, Lock did not let that get in the way of his scoring and creativity as he netted six goals and seven assists for 19 points to rank third in the Big South Conference.
 
Campbell won a second-straight Big South title in 2019 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA College Cup. Along the way, the Camels tied a school record with 17 victories and earned their first NCAA Division I postseason win – a 3-1 decision at 15th-ranked James Madison.
 
Being a part of a top-25 Division I college soccer program can be overwhelming for some athletes. However, Lock tries to remain calm and composed no matter how many eyes are watching. His experience playing in different countries in front of thousands of fans has taught him to stay grounded even when the pressure is on.
 
"I literally stand before the game or whatever I'm about to do, and just say to myself, 'focus,' and get on with it," described Lock. "No need to over think or make excuses, just go and do what you got to do."
 
With many years of experience, Matt has become a master at focusing on the task at hand and not letting in distractions. He becomes so locked in during games that after each one, he goes out to eat or to hang out with friends so he can unwind mentally. "It's good to take a rest [after a game]."
 
Throughout his playing career, Lock has grown mentally. Growing up he was the quite shy kid, but ever since leaving his home country, he has grown to become a strong-willed independent individual. "I am able to be myself and make something of it, and to make my family proud," Lock explained.
 
Leaving the Tottenham Hotspur academy for personal reasons was Lock's most challenging decision yet in his career. Many of his friends and family didn't understand why he decided to leave, and some felt that all that work to get into the academy was wasted. However, Matt has made it a top priority to prove to his friends and family that he made the correct choice by leaving the academy and coming to the U.S. for the opportunity to play college soccer.
Lock already has two Big South Championship rings in two years in the U.S. and continues to work hard for more.
 
"When I play, I play for those who have pushed me to where I am now," Lock continued. "I hope to make everyone proud in everything I do both on and off the pitch."