Leah Mattingly

Classroom

Leah Mattingly has been a model student-athlete at Ball State, maintaining a 3.902 GPA with a major in interior design. She has been named to the dean’s list in every one of her college semesters. Mattingly was selected to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team and earned a spot on the MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete list in each of the past two seasons. Rewarding the best of the best in academic and athletic achievement, the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete list has honored roughly the top 15 percent of MAC women’s soccer players. After graduation, Mattingly plans to pursue a career in commercial interior design with a special interest in hotel design.

Character

Now in her second season as a team captain, Mattingly has been a leader for the Ball State soccer program throughout her career. She also served as captain of Indianapolis FC Pride, her Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team, last summer. Mattingly has fought through nagging ankle injuries without ever missing a game during her college career. Head coach Craig Roberts describes her as a player who “inspires and motivates those around her to play at a higher level.” Away from the field, Mattingly is the leader of a team Bible study. She also uses her stature as a college soccer player to help grow the game, serving as an instructor at various camps around her hometown in southern Indiana in addition to assisting with camps run by Ball State and Indianapolis FC Pride.

Community

Mattingly has been active in the community of Muncie, Ind., since her arrival at Ball State. She has volunteered for the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana and has served as a tutor for Motivate our Minds, an academic support organization for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. She helps with the Delaware County Futbol Club, a youth soccer organization, serving as a strong role model for children. Mattingly also has volunteered with Secret Families, a local charity that provides Christmas trees and gifts to the community’s less fortunate families each December. On top of her soccer commitments, she is involved on Ball State’s campus as an active member of Athletes in Action and the Interior Design Association.

Competition

Mattingly has been one of the best defenders in the MAC over her career. She was a member of the MAC All-Freshman Team in 2013, an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2014 and an All-MAC First Team choice in 2015. Mattingly owns the school record for minutes played in a career (7,292, as of Oct. 17). She is on pace to break the Ball State record for games started, having started all 78 contests of her college career. Mattingly has helped to anchor a Ball State back line that has posted 36 shutouts during her time in Muncie. The Cardinals ranked 17th nationally in goals-against average last season and are among the top 20 again this year. They have led the MAC in that category twice in the past three years and are leading it once again in 2016. Mattingly has also provided an offensive threat for the Cardinals, registering 11 goals and 10 assists for her career to rank seventh in school history with 32 points. She has been a major part of the revitalization of the Ball State soccer program, helping the Cardinals to 48 wins over her career and their first MAC regular season championship since 2007 last season. Ball State is leading the MAC standings again this year.