Matthew Maher
Encyclopedia
Matthew Maher was an American soccer defender
.
, 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. 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.
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. 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
. At the time, his brother, Anthony Maher, also played for the KiXX. On March 1, 2009, Maher blew out his knee. A few days later, he was driving drunk when he hit and killed Hort Kapp. Maher was sentenced to five and a half years in prison in January 2010.
Daily Journal - Millville, NJ January 8, 2010:
MAYS LANDING—A former professional soccer player has been sentenced to 5½ years in state prison for causing a fatal crash in Atlantic County.
Matthew Maher of Cape May must serve 85 percent of the term imposed Thursday before becoming eligible for parole.
He was granted time-served credits for 34 anti-drunken driving presentations he has made at schools and colleges since pleading guilty in October to aggravated manslaughter and drunken driving. Those presentations included events in October at Cumberland County College in Vineland that were sponsored by the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance.
In March 2009, Maher's sport utility vehicle crashed into the rear of a minivan on the Atlantic City Expressway, killing 55-year-old Hort Kap of Philadelphia.
Maher, 25, played in five games for the Philadelphia Kixx of the National Indoor Soccer League in the 2008-09 season.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Youth
Maher grew up in Cape May, New JerseyCape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
, playing youth soccer with the Cape Express Soccer Club. He attended Middle Township High School
Middle Township High School
Middle Township High School is a four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Middle Township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Middle Township Public Schools...
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
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. Maher was also the starting point guard on the 2001–2002 Middle Township Panthers basketball team who won the Group II State Championship. 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
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in legal studies.
Professional
While in college, Maher also played as an amateur with the Ocean City BaronsOcean City Barons
Ocean City Nor'easters is an American soccer team based in Ocean City, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
of the Premier Development League (PDL). He spent three seasons with the Barons and in the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Eight PDL and eight USASA teams start.-----Second round:Six PSL and two A-League teams enter....
, the Barons played against the Syracuse Salty Dogs
Syracuse Salty Dogs
The Syracuse Salty Dogs were a professional men's soccer team based in Syracuse, New York. The club were a member of the USL A-League, playing only two seasons from 2003-2004. The club was owned and operated by the Syracuse Pro Sports Group and played most home games at P&C Stadium...
. At the time, his brother Anthony Maher was with the Salty Dogs. In the spring of 2007, Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
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
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
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. In 2007, the New Jersey Ironmen
New Jersey Ironmen
The New Jersey Ironmen were an American indoor soccer team. They originally joined the Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2007–08 season. When the MISL ceased operations a year later, they joined the Xtreme Soccer League. The team played at the Prudential Center, sharing the facility with the...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
(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
Detroit Ignition
The Detroit Ignition is a dormant American indoor soccer team that has played three seasons, most recently 2008-09.In April 2006, Greg Bibb, president of Hantz Group Sports and Entertainment, introduced the teams as a new Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team. They played at the Compuware...
. On January 7, 2009, he signed a contract with the Philadelphia KiXX
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
of the newly formed NISL
National Indoor Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League , formerly known as the National Indoor Soccer League, is an indoor soccer league which began play in 2008. It is the third league to be known as the Major Indoor Soccer League...
. At the time, his brother, Anthony Maher, also played for the KiXX. On March 1, 2009, Maher blew out his knee. A few days later, he was driving drunk when he hit and killed Hort Kapp. Maher was sentenced to five and a half years in prison in January 2010.
Personal
Matthew is Co-Founder of Maher Brothers Pro Touch Soccer Camp (Maher Brothers Soccer LLC) in Cape May County. He currently resides in Newark, NJ.Daily Journal - Millville, NJ January 8, 2010:
MAYS LANDING—A former professional soccer player has been sentenced to 5½ years in state prison for causing a fatal crash in Atlantic County.
Matthew Maher of Cape May must serve 85 percent of the term imposed Thursday before becoming eligible for parole.
He was granted time-served credits for 34 anti-drunken driving presentations he has made at schools and colleges since pleading guilty in October to aggravated manslaughter and drunken driving. Those presentations included events in October at Cumberland County College in Vineland that were sponsored by the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance.
In March 2009, Maher's sport utility vehicle crashed into the rear of a minivan on the Atlantic City Expressway, killing 55-year-old Hort Kap of Philadelphia.
Maher, 25, played in five games for the Philadelphia Kixx of the National Indoor Soccer League in the 2008-09 season.