2017 - Senior Season - Added the perfect punctuation mark to his historic career, piecing together the most decorated campaign in program history ... Collected USILA All-American honors and became the first Captain to earn the prestigious VaSID State Player of the Year award ... Also became just the third goalie in Virginia history to receive the state's highest honor ... Picked up first-team All-Conference, All-State, and All-Region accolades as well ... Started all 17 games between the pipes and finished the year ranked in the top-50 nationally in both save percentage and goals-against-average ... His .568 save percentage led the league and marked the second-finest rate in school history, while his 8.83 goals-against-average placed him third on the program's all-time single-season charts ... Finished the year with 179 saves and reached double figures in 11 of his outings ... Matched his career-high with 17 stops against No. 3 York (Pa.) in the regular season finale ... Came back with 13 more stops against the nationally-ranked Spartans in the CAC semifinals ... Chipped in with 14 saves during victories against Messiah on March 11 and St. Mary's (Md.) on April 12 ... Surrendered five or fewer goals in seven of his appearances, including three straight outings from March 18-22 ... Pieced together a spotless performance against Guilford on March 4, which eventually earned him the CAC Defensive Player of the Week Award ... Also led all goalies in the CAC with 41 ground balls ... Became the first CNU goalkeeper to register an assist after connecting on an 80-yard heave against No. 1 Salisbury on April 5 ... Finished his career as the program's all-time leader with 635 saves and 44 victories ... Represented CNU in the USILA North-South Senior All-Star Game, becoming the first Captain to compete in the national showcase ... Selected as the starting goalie for the South Squad and finished the contest with a game-high 12 saves in 30 minutes of work.
2016 - Junior Season - Added to his impressive résumé with a record-setting junior campaign … Started all 18 games and earned second-team All-State accolades for his work in the crease … Established new single-season program records with 190 saves and 13 victories … Registered 11 double-digit save efforts, including a season-high 17 stops against Randolph-Macon on February 24 … His 17 saves equaled the sixth-highest single-game total in program history … Honored as the CAC Defensive Player of the Week on March 1 for his work against Macon as well as his 11-save outing against Hampden-Sydney on February 27 … Also came through with 14 stops during a 13-6 victory over No. 11 Roanoke on March 16 and chipped in with 10 more during a 12-11 triumph against No. 15 Frostburg State on March 26 … Compiled a .541 save percentage, which ranks fifth in CNU history, and a 9.34 goals-against-average, which stands sixth … Collected a career-high 49 ground balls, including six against Washington & Lee on February 11 and another half-dozen against Union on March 21 … Had at least four ground balls in six appearances … Also forced 14 turnovers during the year.
2015 - Sophomore Season - Continued his career with another terrific season between the pipes for the Captains … Collected 149 saves during the year, which ranks fifth on the program’s single-season list … His .552 save percentage also stands third on CNU’s all-time list, while his 9.08 goals-against-average places him fourth all-time … Registered double-digit saves on seven occasions, including 17 at Eastern on March 18 … Also made 16 stops against CAC foe St. Mary’s on April 15 and came through with 13 more in his next appearance at York on April 18 … Allowed five goals or less in five appearances during the season … Ranked fifth on the team with 40 ground balls as well … Had at least two in 11 of his 15 appearances, including eight at Frostburg State on March 28 … Forced five turnovers during the season as well, including two at York in the regular season finale.
2014 - Freshman Season - Excelled during his first year with the Captains … Started 15 games in goal and saw nearly 766 minutes of action … Pieced together an 8.62 goals-against-average, which set a new single-season program record … Also tallied 117 saves, which marked the fourth-most by a freshman in CNU history … Registered four double-digit save efforts, including a spectacular performance against No. 2 Salisbury on April 2 … Posted 12 saves against the Sea Gulls, including four crucial stops in the fourth quarter to help the Captains pull out the victory … Honored as the CAC Defensive Player of the Week on April 7 for that effort … Collected a season-high 17 saves against Hampden-Sydney on March 1 … Also added 14 at St. Mary’s on April 12 and 13 against Ferrum on February 22 … Finished the year with a 10-5 record, which established a new single-season program mark for victories and winning percentage … Won seven straight games from February 22 - March 26 … Contributed 28 ground balls and two caused turnovers as well.
At James Madison -Â Multi-sport standout for the Warhawks ... Excelled as a goalie for four years, helping the squad win the district and region championships as a senior ... Named the Liberty District Defensive Player of the Year and broke the school's career record for saves ... Also saw action as a wide receiver on the football team during his final two seasons.
Personal -Â Matt Thomas Hayden is the son of Jim and Sharon Hayden ... Has two older brothers, Kevin and Mike, and an older sister, Brie ... Majoring in marketing at CNU.
