Straightforward. Undiplomatic. Opinionated.

Those are some of the words used by men’s soccer coach Louis Bennett to describe senior midfielder Matt Stummer, who is a co-captain with junior defenseman Scott Miller.

Bennett said Stummer’s opinionated nature is exactly what makes him a great leader.

“Sometimes that can be a bit prickly, but that’s why he’s a great captain,” Bennett said.  “He’s going to do the right thing even though it may not be the popular thing.”

Being a captain is a great honor for Stummer, but he said it’s not always all it’s made out to be.

“Sometimes you have to be the bad guy,” Stummer said about life as a captain. “I’m friends with a lot of guys on the team, but sometimes you have to put friendship behind you and do what’s best for the team.”

Junior defender Michael Alfano said doing what’s best for the team is what has made Stummer such a valuable member of the squad.

“He’s one of those players who will do anything to win,” Alfano said.  “If he has to carry you, he will carry you. He’s the type of person who’d do anything to help you out.”

Alfano said Stummer’s personality on the soccer pitch is completely different from his personality off the field.

“He’s a laid back kind of guy off the field — he likes to joke around, he’s social and has fun with the guys,” Alfano said.  “But when it comes to game time or practice, and he steps on that field, everything changes. He’s more of a serious player, likes to get at it and he’s there for business.”

Bennett said Stummer’s presence at Marquette has forever changed the direction of the program.

“As he’s grown, our program has grown,” Bennett said.  “Without him … I don’t know if this program grows in the same way.”

When Stummer originally was recruited by Marquette, it wasn’t necessarily for his leadership skills.

“What I liked about Stummer when he first came was that he was a bit ornery, he was tough and he was not easily deterred,” Bennett said.  “I thought those qualities would help him get through a difficult freshman year and maybe project him into quality sophomore and junior years. And it has.”

Bennett said since his freshman year, Stummer has grown in his commitment and loyalty to the program.

“He’s a strong-minded person; it’s not easy to convince Matt Stummer to do anything unless he’s going to believe it,” Bennett said.  “But once he believes it, he tries to do it to the best of his ability.”

Last season Stummer was named as a member of the 2009-’10 Big East All-Academic Team.  While he succeeded in the classroom, Stummer said last season was hard for him because he dealt with three concussions, a fractured face and a torn quad.  He started all 12 games he played in and was one of eight players to play over 1,000 minutes.

In this, his final year, he said he’ll view the season as a success for himself if he remains healthy and gives everything he has to the team.