According to his coach, when he’s off the field, he’s a humble kid who is quiet and reserved.

But when he’s on the field, his soccer skills speak volumes.

Those skills produced an incredible 39 goals this past season and helped his team compile a 24-1 record that included Colonial League and District 11 championships.

For his excellent performance this year, Northwestern’s Matt Johnson is the 2023 Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Boys Soccer Player of the Year - the second time in three years that he has won the award.

Tigers’ coach Nate Hunsicker had plenty of praise for his four-year varsity starter.

“Matt always had exceptional soccer skills, but his greatest improvement over the years has been in his confidence ... something that has grown every year.”

In 25 matches this season, Johnson scored five hat tricks - including a five- goal game against Wilson. Johnson’s 101 career goals eclipsed the previous school record of 81 and he became the first boys’ soccer player to hit the century mark in goals scored for his career at Northwestern. Johnson actually broke the school record when he scored his 82nd-career goal against Saucon Valley early in the season.

In addition to his ability to score goals, Johnson also demonstrated an outstanding knack for setting them up as he added 21 assists this season for a career total of 56.

Hunsicker said that in addition to Johnson’s strong soccer skills, his game awareness and positioning were both exceptional.

“Matt was always in the tempo with the flow of the game, especially in the attack zone,” said Hunsicker. “We played him on the outside because he had tremendous speed. That allowed him to run past defenders to either get off an uncontested shot, or pass to an open player.

“He also had an intuitive awareness to find openings in the defense. Playing on the outside, his shot was often from tight angles, but they were still very accurate.”

Hunsicker explained that Johnson - who began playing soccer when he was six years old for a Tigers’ recreation team - was very adept at shooting the ball with either his left or his more dominant right foot.

“Matt is just a natural scorer,” said Hunsicker. “But at the same time he was very unselfish. He was a great distributor of the ball, and was only five short of the school record for assists.”

After playing both baseball and soccer earlier in his career, Johnson decided to concentrate fully on soccer. He played on club and academy soccer teams in the Lehigh Valley, and has continued to play at high levels throughout his high school career.

When asked what moment from this past season was unforgettable in his mind, Hunsicker pointed to the first round of the state tournament game against Conwell- Egan.

“He scored on a penalty kick when the game was scoreless and it was not only a state game, but he needed that goal to reach 100. Then, after they scored in the final minute to tie the game to force overtime and had the momentum going their way, Matt headed the game winner into the goal on a rebound that came off the crossbar.”

Johnson obviously remembers that game well.

“I felt a little pressure on that penalty kick because it was also such a big game for us,” said Johnson. “I just gave it my best shot and watched it go into the upper part of the goal.

“On the overtime winner, Jacob Van Lierop took the kick and I ran in, pretty much through an open lane. The goalie had dropped to the ground after trying to reach for the ball that had hit the crossbar. The ball bounced to my right, but I was able to head it into the lower part of the net.”

Johnson’s outstanding season has produced a number of awards. In addition to being the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Player of the year, he was also selected to the boys All State team, was picked to be a Lehigh Valley Player of the Week, and was also chosen for the Lehigh Valley All Star team.

Although his skill level and records put him in a class by himself in Northwestern soccer history, Hunsicker said the way Johnson handles himself off the field is just as impressive.

“I have two little boys who are into soccer,” said Hunsicker, “and Matt has shown up at their games to watch them play. That’s the type of kid he is.”

Johnson has yet to commit to a college next year from the three who are recruiting him.

“I do know that I want to be a physical education teacher and coach soccer,” Johnson said about his future plans.

It should be a perfect fit for Johnson, who has displayed his soccer skill and knowledge throughout his record-breaking career at Northwestern.