Cypress’ Resor Sees Beyond the End Line
Anthony Russomanno knew he had inherited a top-notch goalkeeper when he took over as boys’ soccer coach at Cypress High two months ago. He just didn’t realize he was getting much more than that.
The first indication of Matt Resor’s attitude came from the athletic department staff, whose admiration far exceeded anything Russomanno had heard before. “When the people in the athletic office started talking about Matt, I wondered, ‘Just who was this guy?’ ” Russomanno said.
It wasn’t long before he found out. Russomanno met Resor during his third visit to the campus, just two weeks before the start of the season.
“He came up to me and said, ‘Coach, if you need anything, I’m the guy to talk to. The guys respect me and whatever you need, you can ask me,’ ” Russomanno said. “Right away I began to feel comfortable.”
Russomanno, who played at UC Irvine and was an assistant coach at Fountain Valley for three years, has watched Resor support his preseason pledge dutifully.
Resor has helped Russomanno with the avalanche of paperwork the accompanies a head coaching position, he has organized team dinners that are held the night before games and has assumed a disciplinarian role on the team, even scolding Russomanno when he arrives late to practice.
“It’s a luxury having a guy like that,” Russomanno said. “He wants to win so badly, he’s very hungry for victories and he’ll do whatever it takes to bring the team together.”
Resor initiated a players-only meeting before the Centurions’ 3-0 victory over first-place El Dorado Feb. 5. The gathering was in response to the teams’ first meeting nine days earlier when the Golden Hawks scored the game’s only goal in the first five minutes, taking advantage of Russomanno’s decision to keep six starters out of the starting lineup for being late to practice.
It was a decision Resor strongly supported. “I believe that [Russomanno] did the right thing.” he said.
Mark Resor is well aware of his son’s sound judgment and desire to do what’s right, whether it’s for him, his team, or anyone else.
“He has a real strong sense of what is right and what is wrong, and he definitely wants to see things go the right way,” Mark Resor said.
Matt Resor had 10 saves last Friday in a 4-1 victory over Kennedy.
His immediate goals are to win the league title and whatever else follows, but he has been looking beyond his senior year. Based on last season’s selection as the Empire League defensive player of the year, Resor has been awarded a chance to play in Europe this summer with a group of all-stars.
It’s not just a chance to travel, but a possible career opportunity. As the team travels through Germany, Holland and England, scouts from semi-pro teams in Europe will be watching closely for potential players.
“I think I have a real good shot to get signed,” Resor said. “Over in Europe they like big, American goalies. They like their keepers real big and strong.”
Resor’s physique and style of play should catch the attention of many. At 6 feet 2, 200 pounds, Resor casts a formidable shadow around the goal. After a strong junior year that earned him second-team section Division II honors, he has given up less than one goal a game this season with 13 shutouts. Three of Cypress’ four losses have been by 1-0 scores. The Centurions are 17-4-1.
If everything goes as planned, the goal could be Resor’s position for a long time. If not, then his backup plan is to go into the military and then pursue a career in law enforcement, which he’s dabbled in as a police explorer the past two years.
“For 10 months he’s been looking forward to that trip,” Mark Resor said of the European tour. “For Christmas he didn’t even want any presents, he just said, ‘Give me money so I can get to Europe.’ ”
