ABOUT RACHEL: FOUNDER/ TRAINER, MENTAL TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST
Rachel Wood is a former professional soccer player for the Boston Breakers in the NWSL. Prior to her career in the NWSL, she player professionally for HK/Vikingur in Iceland. She played collegiately for the University of North Carolina Tarheels for three years where she won 2 NCAA National Championships and finished her senior season close to home at UC Irvine.
Rachel grew up in Southern California and played at the highest level of competition from a very young age. She played for the well known club, Slammers FC. She was also a member of the Aliso Niguel High School Varsity team, Parade All-American, Region IV ODP team, and the U-17 and U-20 National Teams.
Rachel has experienced the joy of earning two national championships and playing in a positive environment. But, she has also experienced the challenges presented by illness, injury, and less than positive coaching. She takes very seriously the responsibility to give back and help young players reach their potential. She is a sought after trainer for female and male soccer players at every level from youth through college athletes.
In 2013, Rachel received her degree in Psychology and Social Behavior. Summit Soccer has been the perfect marriage of Rachel’s passions for people and sports. It has given her an outlet to grow and developing people and, in turn, athletes.
**PLEASE NOTE ALL OF OUR TRAINERS ARE CORI’D AND ARE FULLY TRAINED IN THE SUMMIT STYLE OF POSITIVE COACHING, TEACHING PROPER TECHNIQUE AND OPERATE UNDER THE PRINCIPLES OF WORKING HARD, HAVING FUN AND MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM!**
A note from Rachel:
“I know what it takes physically and mentally to get to the top. However, this game has also given me the ability to completely and authentically empathize with and understand every single one of my players and the situations they face. Summit has given me a positive avenue to help me heal my past: to heal my past traumas, my past hurts and my past negativity I faced while playing this beautiful game.
That is why , at Summit, all of our trainers are former players. All trainers are educated in Summit’s Positive Coaching Curriculum. We coach the way we wanted and needed to be coached; with encouragement, information and belief. The very definition of coaching is: to guide and lead a person in the pursuit of personal or professional goals. We are constantly learning HOW each player needs to be guided so that he/she can each have as much personal success as he/she can.
Each day, the Summit Squad learns from our players, and we are grateful for all the gifts soccer has given to us. Come join our Squad on an awesome journey of curiosity, positivity and amazing athletic and emotional adventures! Let’s do this thing!!!”
About Meredith: Head Professional Trainer and Director of Soccer Operations
Director of Soccer Operations
Meredith Rooney boasts over two decades of high-level coaching experience. Prior to joining Summit Soccer Academy, she owned Rooney Player Development, an elite soccer academy in northern New Jersey, where she provided game effective training to athletes around the country. Her career has also included pivotal roles such as Head Coach for the NJ Stallions 98/99 Girls, Director of Sky Blue FC Soccer School, Girls Director at NextGen USA, and Technical Director at Matchfit Academy ECNL. Meredith's profound commitment and expertise have not only propelled the success of individual athletes but have also left an enduring impact on the soccer community as a whole.
Meredith grew up in New Jersey and played with the likes of Heather O’Reilly and Carli Lloyd. She went to Lynchburg College where we played and started for 4 years. She’s had the privilege of training elite players like Sam Coffey, and other youth national team players.
Meredith offers small and large group training, individual training, camps and clinics, as well as consulting and mentorship.
About Allyson: Professional Trainer (All Ages)
Ally grew up in Seekonk, MA & started playing soccer when she was four years old. Growing up, she played club soccer for Blackwatch, NEFC, and Bayside FC. During her four years at Seekonk High School, she played for the varsity soccer team, earning All-Conference and All-State nods.
Ally attended Southern New Hampshire University from 2017-2021, receiving a Bachelors in Secondary Mathematics Education. During her four years on the SNHU's Women Soccer Team, her team won two conference championships and had four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament. As a freshman she was selected for the conference's All-Rookie Team. In her Junior year, she ended the season with 10 goals and 5 assists for 25 points. In 2019 and 2021, she received consecutive All-Conference First Team awards along with United Coaches All-Region First Team awards. In 2021, she was named Player of the Year for the conference and was selected for the United Coaches First Team All-American and Scholar All-American. Upon graduating, Ally headed to Iceland to play professionally for Volsungur FC in the summer of 2022. She capped the season with 10 goals and 10 assists. She used to coach for NEFC and is now a full time member of Summit!
Ally has dedicated her whole life to soccer. She states, “It has given me purpose and I hope to give this joy and purpose back to generations to come. I am someone who gives 150% into anything I set my mind to so I am determined to be the best coach for future players. I want to be the type of coach that these players can rely on to support in anything they choose just like my past coaches did for me.” Ally is thrilled to be a part of the Summit Squad!
About Hannah: Professional Trainer (all ages) & Sports Psych Specialist
Hannah Matlack is an assistant coach for the women’s soccer program at Babson College, co-director of the soccer program at Berkshire Soccer Academy, and a former center back for Dickinson College. Hannah grew up in Needham, MA, where she played for Global Premier Soccer as well as for the varsity girl’s soccer team at Noble and Greenough School, where she helped her team to win three ISL championships and an NEPSAC championship during her time in high school. Hannah went on to play center back at Dickinson College, where she started all 64 games she played in her college career, earning All-Conference recognition from 2012-2015, All-Region recognition from 2013-2015, and was elected team MVP by her teammates all four years. In 2018, Hannah was named to the Centennial Conference Silver Anniversary Team, honoring the best players across the conference in the past 25 players.
After Dickinson, Hannah went on to become head coach of the varsity girl’s soccer team at New Hampton School where she focused on developing leadership and team dynamics through communication, high-paced sessions, and positivity. In 2019, Hannah moved to Scotland to pursue a Masters in Sport Psychology at the University of Stirling. There, she played for the Stirling University Women’s Soccer Team as well as the Stirling University Ladies’ Football Club which competed in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. As part of her Masters, Hannah spent time teaching mental skills to the Men’s and Women’s volleyball teams to improve their coping mechanisms for competition anxiety and consistent performance, and helped the teams to develop leadership in multiple roles and empowerment through communication. She focused her dissertation on women’s leadership in sport, a topic which she is passionate about and looks forward to applying at Summit Soccer Academy!
About Katerina: Professional Trainer (Goal Keepers; Middle School and Younger)
Katerina Hassapis, grew up in North Reading, MA where she played for Aztec Soccer, as well as Varsity Girls Soccer and Basketball for North Reading Highschool. Before Bentley University Katerina was named the 2015 & 2016 Cape Ann League Player of the Year … three-time, first team Cape Ann League All-Star selection … North Reading’s team MVP in 2015 & 2016, and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection those years as well … named both All-State and an Eastern Mass. All-Star for 2016 season … served as team captain at both NR and for club team Aztec.
Her first year at Bentley, she was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie team ... also named second team All-New England. Katerina went on to help lead Bentley to their highest regular season ranking in program history leading to their first ever NCAA appearance in 2021. She was named 2nd team All-Northeast-10 Conference … voted to the NE10 Academic All-Conference team … also named first team All-New England by the NEWISA … started all 20 matches Bentley played … led the NE10 with eight shutouts … part of a defensive effort that contributed to a 531 minute shutout streak that spanned five-plus games … also part of a group that conceded just one goal in an eight game stretch from …
In 2020 won The Edward J. Powers Award as Bentley's Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete ... earned the Academic Achievement Award from the Div. 2 Athletic Directors Association.. and captained her team in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Katerina is an active player in the EMWSL, a player for the Boston Dream, a North Reading Youth Soccer Volunteer, and a coach/volunteer for the TOP Soccer Program.
STRENGTH BY SUMMIT
Summit Soccer Academy’s Injury Prevention, Strength and Conditioning and Running Mechanics Program
Classes coming Winter 2024