Matt Bersano

PLAYER PROFILE: MATT BERSANO

By: PXI STAFF (@ProspectXI)

Position: Goalkeeper
Primary Role:  Goalkeeper
Height: 6’1””
Weight: 185
DOB: 9-10-1992
Nationality: United States
Preferred Footed: Right
Club: Penn State (NCAA – D1)
Twitter: @MBersano1

No US national team experience.

Senior at Penn State (NCAA –D1), could sign homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake.

2010-2011: Real Salt Lake AZ U18 (USSDA) – 14 games, 14 starts, 2 yellows
2012: Oregon State (NCAA – D1) – 18 games, 18 starts,
2013: Oregon State (NCAA – D1) – 19 games, 19 starts,
2014: Lane United (PDL) – 8 games, 675 minutes,
2014: Oregon State (NCAA – D1) – 16 games, 16 starts, 1 assists, 1 yellow
2015: Penn State (NCAA – D1) –

Bersano will be 23 years old this college season after redshirting his freshman year. He is an experience keeper and team leader for Oregon State as well as being a player that could sign with Real Salt Lake as a homegrown player. From Arizona, Matt played with the RSL-AZ Academy team. This included time with the U-18 USSDA side in 2010-2011. He was also a two-time high school champion and All-State award winner with Corona del Sol High School in Tempe.

Bersano signed with Oregon State, where had coach Steve Simmons said. “We saw Matt for the first time at our 2009 Winter ID Camp and were very impressed with his athletic ability and presence. His background as the goalkeeper for the RSL-Arizona Development Academy team has allowed him to train and play with and against some of the top players in the country. Matt is a tireless worker and competitor who will be certain to challenge the other goalkeepers in the squad with his quick reactions and his uncanny ability to drive a ball.”

He redshirted his freshman season, but since has been the Beavers starting keeper he has played in 53 games. His goals against average in college in just over 1 goal a game and he has recorded has 14 shutouts. He also played PDL soccer with Lane United. A smaller keeper, Bersano is a shot blocker and his reactions allow him to make saves other keepers would not be able to save. He grew as a team leader with Oregon State, but doesn’t have the stature to control the box that you would like to see in a keeper. His distribution is good and it led to one assist during the 2014 college season.

Bersano transferred to Penn State for the 2015 NCAA college season.

+ Part of the RSL Arizona Academy setup
+ Played one season in the USSDA with RSL-Arizona
+ Played three seasons with Oregon State in NCAA Division 1
+ Transferred to Penn State for 2015 NCAA season
+ Could sign a homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake or be available in the 2016 MLS Draft