University School’s Rafael Matiello is Broward boys’ soccer 4A-2A player of the year

Two years ago, Rafael Matiello was a freshman role player for a Fort Lauderdale University School boys’ soccer team that won its second state title in the sport in school history. The joy of the celebration following an unbeaten, 20-0-2 season is one he hasn’t forgotten and one he strives to enjoy one more time before his collegiate career ends.

It hasn’t happened yet — U School didn’t play a varsity schedule in 2021 and lost in the the Class 4A regional semifinals this year.

But Matiello, a junior midfielder and the Miami Herald’s Class 4A-2A Broward Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year, has evolved from a role player to a top scoring threat one of the top teams in South Florida.

He scored 19 goals and added 18 assists in 19 games this season for the Sharks, who finished 14-3-2.

“It’s all confidence,” Matiello said. “My coaches and teammates helped me build my confidence that has helped me grow into that special player that I was this year.”

Soccer has been part of Matiello’s life as long as he can remember, dating back to his early days in Brazil and idolizing fellow countryman Neymar before moving to the United States.

“It means the world to me,” Matiello said.

Something else that would mean the world to him?

“Definitely want to win states next year,” Matiello said. “Definitely on the bucket list.”

The Sharks, on paper, have the talent to make the run. It starts with Matiello and striker Rafael Guerra up top. The two grew up together in Brazil and the chemistry is apparent on the pitch. Guerra also scored 19 goals this year while tacking on 14 assists.

They headline a junior class that served as the backbone of University School’s team this season, a group that also includes defenders Roger Baptiste, Evan Herman and Arie Perczek as well as winger Nikolas Ricardo. Goalkeeper Matthew Jean Baptiste was just a freshman.

It was, relatively speaking, an inexperienced group compared to that state championship team from 2020, but Matiello saw the team make strides as the season progressed even if they came up short of their ultimate goal.

“Winning districts with a team that wasn’t as strong as the state team that we had was special,” Matiello said. “We almost won regionals but we unfortunately couldn’t get it done.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 10:15 AM.