Matthew Mahoney has the special ability to see what’s in front of him and anticipate what hasn’t arrived yet. It’s what makes the 13-year-old such an effective outside back, and apparently it’s an intangible that serves him just as well off the soccer field.

Just a few months ago, Mahoney left the comfort of his home club at Middlepath FC (New York) in favor of joining the New York Red Bulls Academy. He would’ve been just as content staying with the friends he grew up with and excelling at his normal pace, but Mahoney knew that in the long run, for his future’s concern, he would be better served by moving up a level.

“With the Red Bulls the kids are on a different level. I realized that the academy would be much better for me,” Mahoney said. “It’s helped me, because when I go with my friends I feel faster. There’s really no fooling around in the Academy. You can’t get away with any nonsense and that’s more me, I think."

Mahoney has shown pretty impressive foresight for a kid whose formula seemed to be working just fine as it was. He was named to the 95’s US Youth Soccer ODP Interregional All-Star Team back in November, and invited to the US National Camp during the summer.

Never missing an opportunity to improve, Mahoney enjoyed the experiences but also used them as an opportunity to learn.

“It was a lot of fun at regionals, we played against the national team, and it was a good chance to show I’m at that level,” he said. “It feels good to play with the best; they don’t select a lot of kids to do that. I think I played pretty well and that gives me a good chance to be selected to the National Team late. I would like to play for them someday.”

Mahoney isn’t the biggest kid at his age, but his ability to read and react to the game is his hallmark. After playing mostly center back with Middlepath, and some forward when his team needed a score, Mahoney is adjusting to playing exclusively on the outside now for the Red Bulls.

In the long run, it’s where he’s more likely to play as he matures. As if he isn’t mature beyond his years as it is.

“You have to think differently; it’s not like the middle. I don’t have to win as many balls in the air now, I can kind of leave that for the bigger kids,” he said.

Middlepath coach Jason Weisberg, who coached Mahoney the last year and a half along with longtime coach Jim Cancellaro, gushes over his former player’s ability to feel the game.

“He possesses what I would call a sixth sense,” Weisberg said. “He has an awareness of always knowing his surroundings and he just so quick to make a decision. He’s got all the tools and has explosive speed and balance; technically he’s right there with kids in his age group, but it’s his ability to read attackers and see the game in front of him that sets him apart.

“There’s certainly a void that is left with him gone but at the same time our job is to develop players. And if he’s able to achieve success and move on to the next level we’ve done our job.”

Where Mahoney goes from here, only time will tell. But one would expect good things. The kid’s pretty good at choosing his course.

“In soccer you need to be able to adjust to the way people play and predict the game,” he said. "I feel real comfortable in the back - I like being able to dictate where everything goes.”