SOMERS, N.Y. - When Matt Mayfield graduated from Somers High School in 2025, he left behind a pair of state championship trophies. Heading to Ohio State, however, his college choice had less to do with distance than with feeling at home.
“I visited all these different schools, and it felt most like home,” said the former Tusker.
With plenty to do in the Columbus area, Mayfield has stayed busy, but lacrosse brought him to campus in early August.
“You ease into it,” he said.
The transition to college academics also came naturally.
“It’s on you to get your work done. So you don’t have a teacher hovering over, telling you that you have to get the work done,” he said. “It’s definitely a good change.”
He made the most of that independence, posting a 4.0 GPA during his first two semesters.
“I did well this past year. 4.0 the first two semesters,” said the business major.
While the workload was greater than in high school, Mayfield found the adjustment manageable.
“As long as you stay disciplined, you’ll be alright,” he said.
On the lacrosse field, the freshman kept his expectations modest.
“I just wanted to come in and enjoy it as best I could,” he said.
That mindset allowed him to embrace the jump in competition.
“Every practice is competitive. But you go out there and give it your best effort,” Mayfield said.
The payoff came quickly.
“I got a lot better,” he said.
The increased speed and physicality of the college game accelerated his development.
“It’s much faster and stronger game,” said the faceoff specialist, who started several games and appeared in every contest but one.
Like any season, there were ups and downs, but Mayfield stayed even-keeled.
“Knowing and trusting in all the work you put in, leaning on your teammates, you just keep playing because you know you're capable of playing well on any given day,” he said. “You will get through it.”
His biggest performance came against Air Force in Denver, where he recorded his first collegiate assist and won 75 percent of his faceoffs.
Another memorable moment came against Notre Dame, when he lined up against fellow Somers graduate Miguel Iglesias.
“Seeing the kid I played football and lacrosse with on the same field, playing high level lacrosse on the other team, it was a cool moment,” he said.
Ohio State's home atmosphere has also left an impression. Before each game, Mayfield takes a moment to appreciate the size of the crowd inside a stadium that holds more than 100,000 fans.
“It’s pretty crazy to think about. So usually I’ll take a moment to take a look into the stands before the national anthem,” he said.
Once the game begins, though, the crowd fades into the background.
“After the opening, I don’t really think about the crowd,” Mayfield said. “I’m just pretty focused.”
Football Saturdays are a different story.
“The first game versus Texas, there were over 100,000 people,” he said. “We ended up winning. That was the coolest thing ever.”
The food hasn't disappointed, either.
“Definitely not,” he joked when asked if his mom should be worried about her cooking.
Looking ahead, the rising sophomore is still exploring his long-term career plans but has a clear area of interest.
“I’m interested in finance,” Mayfield said.
Academically, his goal is simple.
“I want to keep that up,” he said of maintaining his strong grades.
On the lacrosse field, he believes a Big Ten championship is well within reach.
“We got a lot of good guys that could get it done,” he concluded.
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