In his third season at the University of Charleston, in West Virginia, Mattia Marini wears the captain’s armband. A defender wearing number 33, from Pescara, he has started every game this year for the Golden Eagles, one of the top programs in NCAA Division II.
The numbers
This season Mattia has played 16 games, all 16 as a starter, with 2 goals and 3 assists. In the season opener at No. 25 Tiffin, a 3-2 win, his corner set up the second goal. On October 11 against Point Park he scored the game-winning goal in a 4-1 win, and four days later he scored again in the 5-0 win at West Virginia Wesleyan.
Charleston is 14-2 overall and 11-1 in the Mountain East Conference, with six straight wins.
A title in 2025
In 2025 Mattia played 22 games and scored 2 goals. One of them came in the conference tournament semifinal on November 12: Charleston, ranked No. 1 in the country, beat Davis & Elkins 2-0 and Mattia scored the second goal. Four days later the Golden Eagles won the Mountain East Conference tournament, and Mattia was named to the All-Tournament Team. The season ended in the third round of the NCAA Division II tournament.
From Pescara to West Virginia
With YWC, Mattia took part in The Italian Showcase 2024, where college coaches saw him play. That same year he left for Charleston, West Virginia, where he has now played three seasons.
Congratulations Mattia, keep it going.
Player card
- Name: Mattia Marini
- College: University of Charleston (Charleston, West Virginia)
- Division: NCAA Division II, Mountain East Conference
- Position: defender, number 33, captain
- Year: junior
- Hometown: Pescara, Italy
- 2026 season: 16 games, 16 starts, 2 goals, 3 assists
- 2025 season: 22 games, 2 goals, Mountain East Conference champion, All-Tournament Team
Stats as of October 26, 2026. Source: University of Charleston Athletics.
