IT'S A BALANCING ACT DESERT CHRISTIAN'S MATTESON REACHING HER GOALS.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News It's easy to see why Deann Matteson is a perfectionist per·fec·tion·ism n. 1. A propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect or does not meet extremely high standards. 2. when it comes to soccer. A junior forward at Desert Christian High, Matteson is a 4.0 student, carrying a straight-A streak which dates back to the fifth grade. She recalls only once receiving a grade lower than an A. ``I kind of struggled in the fourth grade,'' Matteson said. A standout runner as well, Matteson's grade-point average helped boost the 1999 Desert Christian girls' cross country team to both the State and Southern Section academic titles. The Knights won the Southern Section title in Deann's freshman year. This fall, the 5-foot-2 Matteson helped the cross country team capture its ninth consecutive Desert Mountain League title and qualify for the state Division V championships for the third year in a row. Matteson's play on the soccer team has put Desert Christian (14-5-2, 6-1-2) in contention for a share of its second league title in a row, heading into Thursday's league finale against Rosamond. Matteson has equaled her team-high 21 goals from the 1999 season when she earned all-league first-team honors. And she has done it playing for most of the season slowed by a severely sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. . ``It still hurts and she keeps fighting through it,'' said sophomore stopper Jynnifer Wright. ``She is a really good fighter.'' Last week, Matteson scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 victory in a showdown with defending co-champion Bishop. ``She is highly competitive,'' Desert Christian coach Rachel Spencer said of Matteson. ``It is a tossup between worrying about her personal injuries and playing. She will ice the ankle when she gets home.'' Matteson sprained her right ankle during the Lancaster tournament in December. The injury occurred when she landed awkwardly on the ankle after an opposing player kicked the ball out under her foot with a slide tackle. The left-footed Matteson, who plays with her swollen ankle heavily taped, could not walk for nearly two weeks and missed two matches. She has seen limited action in several other matches. Matteson called it the most severe sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. she has ever suffered but tried not to let it dampen her spirits. ``It was discouraging, but I knew it was not broken,'' Matteson said. ``I just put it in perspective with high hopes and pretty optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op about hitting league and playing in the big games.'' Matteson's injury is among a slew of setbacks to hit the Knights this season. Senior midfielder Megan Morrow also sprained an ankle and junior sweeper Tracy Schramm has been nursing a quadriceps quadriceps /quad·ri·ceps/ (kwod´ri-seps) having four heads. quad·ri·ceps n. The large four-part extensor muscle at the front of the thigh. adj. injury. ``It is unbelievable how many injuries we have had,'' Matteson said. ``Right now I am so into trying to go for first place in league. I am taking a risk to help my team. I am doing OK right now. I'll rest after the season.'' Spencer has been trying to give Matteson her share of rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. time by holding her out of practices as much as possible. That has not detracted Matteson, one of the Knight's team captains, from attending practice to shagging Shagging may refer to:
``Sometimes it kind of bugs you wondering where is so and so or (why) somebody decided not to come to practice,'' said teammate Wright. ``It is motivating to see Deann willing to come and give up her time even though she is hurt.'' It's a trait Deann picked up from her older brother Doug, who played soccer at Desert Christian and was a sophomore halfback half·back n. Abbr. HB 1. Football a. One of the players positioned near the flanks behind the line of scrimmage. b. The position held by this player. 2. Sports a. at The Master's College History The Master's College was founded as Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary on May 25, 1927 to meet the need for a fundamental Baptist school on the West Coast. last fall. Deann began running cross country as a way to stay in shape for soccer but said her competitiveness has turned the sport into a serious endeavor. ``I am the first person to say I hate running, but the relationship with the girls is so amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. and how well we do each year,'' Matteson said. ``I had so much fun. When you go through such unbelievable pain together, you develop an unbelievable bond.'' Equally difficult for Matteson, who plays club soccer year-round, was her decision to drop softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' from her itinerary because of time constraints In law, time constraints are placed on certain actions and filings in the interest of speedy justice, and additionally to prevent the evasion of the ends of justice by waiting until a matter is moot. . A left fielder on the softball team as a freshman and sophomore, Matteson plans to sit out a season to concentrate on her studies as well as spend more time with her devotional de·vo·tion·al adj. Of, relating to, expressive of, or used in devotion, especially of a religious nature. n. A short religious service. de·vo groups. ``I am still going to go out there and support the team,'' Matteson said. ``Soccer and softball really drains you. Soccer is going to be my focus. I want to take it easy this year.'' So far, it has been easier said than done for Matteson. MATTESON FILE Name: Deann Matteson Team: Desert Christian High girls' soccer Year: Junior Position: Forward Highlights: As freshman, second-team All-Desert Mountain League. As sophomore, first-team All-Desert Mountain League, led team in scoring with 21 goals. As junior, leads Knights with 21 goals. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Deann Matteson of Desert Christian High juggles her athletic achievements with a perfect record in the classroom. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: Matteson File (see text) |
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