Matt Dziama

TIFFANY ON DZIAMA
2019 – “The program missed his tenacity and intensity last year due to an injury. The table is set for this warrior to prove his exceptional one-on-one defensive skills, while also guiding the rest of us with his undeniable spirit.” 2018 – “There are strikingly contrasting character qualities in this man.  Matt is both a barbarous defender with crunching checks and a compassionate, culture-guiding leader.  His merciless play on the field is counter-balanced off of it with his willingness to listen to others and provide both emotional and spiritual guidance.  Our team’s defensive success will rely heavily on Matt facing, and denying, a heavy dose of elite opposition attempting to dodge him.”

2019
• Appeared in 19 of UVA’s 20 games at SSDM
• Picked up 21 ground balls and caused four turnovers on the season
• Picked up a key ground ball that led to the game-winning goal in the ACC semifinal win at North Carolina
• Grabbed eight ground balls and caused two turnovers during the 2019 NCAA Tournament
• Picked up at least one ground ball in 14 of UVA’s games

2018
• Appeared in seven of UVA’s 18 games at SSDM
• Missed 11 games with injuries
• Missed the first four games with an offseason injury
• Made season debut against Syracuse on March 4
• Missed the season’s final seven games with an injury
• Picked up nine ground balls and caused two turnovers
• Picked up three ground balls against Dartmouth and Notre Dame

2017
• Appeared in all 15 of UVA’s games at SSDM
• Picked up 19 ground balls and caused three turnovers
• Tallied an assist in season opener at Loyola
• Picked up a season-high five ground balls against High Point

2016
• Appeared in all 15 of UVA’s games at SSDM
• Picked up 24 ground balls and caused three turnovers on the season
• Made collegiate debut against Loyola 
• Picked up a ground ball at Drexel
• Grabbed three ground balls against Penn
• Picked up six ground balls against Syracuse
• Dished out one assist against VMI

HIGH SCHOOL
•  A 2014 All-American at Wellesley High School
• Finished 2014 with 42 goals, 14 assists and 96 ground balls
• Did a postgraduate year at Deerfield Academy in 2015
• Was a 2014 first-team All-Scholastic performer at Wellesley
• Also played football and earned all-league honors as a wide receiver

PERSONAL
• Son of Jeff and Kim Dziama
• Has an older brother, Ty, and an older sister, Ali
• Father, Jeff, was an eighth-round selection in the 1980 NFL Draft by the New York Jets out of Boston College
• Brother, Ty, played college football at Trinity College