Matthew Lutzel is bringing lacrosse to the next level
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — It did not take long for SouthLake Christian Academy lacrosse head coach Brian McCarthy to realize that Class of 2022 attack man Matthew Lutzel could be something special.
“It was certainly clear early on, maybe in 7th or 8th grade, that Matt was a really talented player with a ton of potential,” McCarthy said. “I was pretty fortunate to be in a position to watch him grow both as a player and as a leader for our team.”
Lutzel’s junior season turned heads as he found the back of the net 45 times and chipped in 22 assists over 12 games. The performance was good enough to get him third team All-State honors on HighSchoolOT.com. According to McCarthy, that kind of production comes from how Lutzel views practice.
“The great thing is that practice for Matt doesn’t look different than a game,” McCarthy said. “He competes every rep of every drill at every practice. It’s something we as coaches emphasize, but having Matt pushing his teammates is a big help. Over the years, he has progressed from a great finisher to now also being one of best in the area at creating for his teammates.”
The momentum of Lutzel’s junior season carried over into the club season. Lutzel plays for Team 91 Charlotte (formerly Team 24/7 Lacrosse before the merger in March 2021). In June, he made the All-Tournament team at the second session of the Baltimore Summer Kickoff Tournament.
Lutzel’s club performance put him in position to get his name in front of High Point University men’s lacrosse coach Jon Torpey.
“I heard about him through Ryan Flanagan and Kyle Hannan with Team 91 down in Charlotte,” Torpey said. “They said real cerebral player, great inside guy, good hands, unbelievable competitor, two-sport athlete.”
Flanagan is a name that should catch the eye of people who have watched lacrosse both in North Carolina and in the professional leagues. While a junior at UNC, he was the co-winner of the Schmeisser Memorial Cup, given to the nation’s best defenseman. He went on to have an eight-year career playing professionally in Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League. His thoughts would certainly carry weight for those wanting to learn more about players in the Charlotte area. So when he had that kind of praise for Lutzel, Torpey listened.
“Obviously very intrigued by that,” Torpey said. “Then he came up to a prospect clinic and was just really impressed by what he was doing with the ball, what he was doing off the ball, his ability to score, so a lot of positives.”
All the talent in the world does not guarantee success at any sport at the college level. Success takes more than skill or athleticism.
“If a kid cares about the game, and he puts time and effort into the game… there’s a path for guys if they’re willing to do what they need to do off the field and on the field to be successful,” Torpey said. “It’s like anything. The more you care, the more you put into it, the more you’re going to get out of it.”
For McCarthy, there is no doubt about Lutzel’s ability to be successful in college.
“What stands out most, and has for many years, is his passion for the game and his commitment to getting better,” McCarthy said. “Matt just won’t be outworked. His biggest impact on the field is his leadership. He gives 100% at all times, setting the standard for his teammates. Watch a game film and you won’t know if we are up by a goal or down by 10, if there is a minute left in the game or it’s the first quarter, he leaves it all on the field.”
Between Lutzel’s efforts on and off the field, McCarthy is not the only one who feels good about Lutzel’s future.
“By all accounts, talking to Matt through the recruiting process, with his family, Coach Flanagan, Coach Hannan, just people who know him in his locale,” Torpey said. “He definitely checked all the boxes in terms of high-character kid, great grades, really good family, hard worker. I feel like all that projects to be successful at the next level.”
Lutzel still has one more season left at SouthLake Christian Academy before he heads north to High Point University to join Torpey and the Panthers. If his high school and club career to date and his efforts are any indicator, Lutzel could put on a show to finish off his time in high school.
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