Rookie of the Year!

When Kyleigh Matola ’25 tore her MCL early into her sixth-form ice hockey season at Brooks, she had some doubts as to whether she would be able to compete and reach her goals as a collegiate athlete. Already committed to the University of New England to play hockey, she also hoped to continue her softball career, as well. 

“Tearing my MCL was not something that I had imagined for my senior year, and I was definitely worried that I wouldn’t be able to come back after tearing my ACL earlier in my career,” said Matola. “It took a bit for it to sink in but thanks to some guidance from folks at Brooks, as well as my coaches at UNE, I was able to flip a switch and get back to doing what I love, working really hard everyday and putting 110 percent into my recovery so that I could be in the best shape when the time came to get back on the ice.” 

The strategy worked and then some: On March 4, Matola was selected as the Conference of New England Women’s ice hockey Goaltender of the Year and named Rookie of the Year! All season at UNE she shined between the pipes for the Nor’Easters, sitting atop the league in save percentage, goals against average and shutouts. Matola earned multiple Conference of New England weekly awards, as the Rookie of the Week and as Defender of the Week. 

“When I found out about my first CNE award I couldn’t stop smiling!” she said. “I was so happy and it was really cool to reflect on all the hard work my parents had put in for me to get to where I am at now. It was just awesome and overwhelming, and also a reminder to continue to work hard and to never be satisfied.” 

Meanwhile, Matola also trained and practiced with the softball team in the fall, leading up to hockey season and made that team, too. 

“The early mornings and the late nights catching up in the classroom weren’t easy, but both my coaches were helpful in navigating the process, and I’d like to think I’ve gotten pretty good at switching my mindset from one sport to the other,” she said. “I take it one day at a time and plan to keep pushing along as best I can.”

At Brooks, Matola was a three-sport standout as a field hockey goalie, ice hockey goalie and softball catcher. She received All-ISL and All-NEPSAC honors in all three sports her fifth-form year and sixth-form year, an especially impressive feat after her MCL injury in her final year on campus. 

Learn more about athletics at Brooks on brooksschool.org.

During graduation, Matola was recognized for earning 12 varsity letters and received the Independent School League Award of Excellence for “exhibiting the ISL ideals of integrity, sportsmanship, fair play and good citizenship while participating as a multi-sport athlete during their ISL career.”

When asked about playing three sports at Brooks and two in college, Matola spoke more about what it gave her than what it took away from her free time. “Playing multiple sports gave me an outlet I never knew I needed,” she said. “It led me to countless friendships and mentors, people I can always count on. Sports taught me that I can take on anything and that I am never truly out of a fight. They’ve taught me how important mental health is and how much it can affect the person and player you are.”

Check out UNE’s women's ice hockey team page for updates on Matola and the team’s season this winter.