Matthew Maher (born April 13, 1984 in Cape May, New Jersey) is a defender with the Philadelphia Kixx of the National Indoor Soccer League (NISL).

[edit] Amateur

Maher grew up in Cape May, New Jersey, playing youth soccer with the Cape Express Soccer Club. He attended Middle Township High School where he was First Team All-South Jersey and Third Team All-State his junior year having tallied thirty-two goals and seventeen assists. While Maher played only seven games his senior year, he still scored twenty goals and added eleven assists, earning a scholarship offer from Temple University. Maher was also the starting point guard on the 2001-2002 Middle Township Panthers basketball team who won the Group II State Championship.

[edit] College

Maher attended Temple University and was a four-year starter for the Owls and named to the All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team his freshman year and team captain his senior year. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in legal studies.

[edit] Outdoor Professional career

While in college, Maher also played as an amateur with the Ocean City Barons of the Premier Development League (PDL). He spent three seasons with the Barons and in the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Barons played against the Syracuse Salty Dogs. At the time, his brother Anthony Maher was with the Salty Dogs. In the spring of 2007, Miami FC picked Maher in the first round (ninth overall) of the USL College Draft. Maher elected to finish his degree which caused him to miss the 2007 USL pre-season. Following graduation from Temple, Maher moved to Cary, North Carolina to live with his brother, Anthony, who was now playing with the Carolina RailHawks. Maher trained with the RailHawks, eventually gaining a contract offer mid-season. Maher made his first professional start against Mexican First Division side Cruz Azul.

[edit] Indoor Professional career

In 2007, the New Jersey Ironmen of Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) drafted Maher with the second pick of the MISL College Draft. During the 2007-2008 season, he was a Defensive Player of the Week, making him the first rookie to earn POTW honors. He scored his first career MISL goal on January 5, 2008 vs. Detroit Ignition. On January 7, 2009, he signed a contract with the Philadelphia KiXX of the newly formed NISL. His brother, Anthony Maher, also plays for the Philadelphia KiXX.

[edit] Personal

Matthew is Co-Founder of Maher Brothers Pro Touch Soccer Camp (Maher Brothers Soccer LLC) in Cape May County.^[1] He currently resides in Newark, NJ.

[edit] External links

• Maher finds family in new home

[edit] References