Men's Soccer | February 3, 2015

PHILADELPHIA – As another professional soccer season nears, former Explorers John McCarthy '14, Jason Plumhoff '14, Ryan Richter '11 and Jeremy Ortiz '08 are fulfilling their goals of playing for pay.

McCarthy is in preseason training camp with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union, it was announced last week. The Cinnaminson, N.J. native earned Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year in the USL Pro last season as a Rochester Rhino after earning four Atlantic 10 All-Conference nods and three NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region selections during his time with the Explorers (2010-13).

Plumhoff, who was A-10 Offensive Player of the Year and Soccer Six Player of the Year as a senior, will be in preseason training camp with the Harrisonburg City Islanders of the USL next month after spending last season playing professionally in Denmark with FC Sydvest 05.

"Since I was little I dreamt about playing professional soccer," said Plumhoff. "When I had the opportunity to go overseas and play I was ecstatic."

Richter signed with the Ottawa Fury of the North American Soccer League last week after being drafted by the Union in 2011 and playing parts of two seasons with Toronto FC of MLS. The Southampton, Pa. native, who also played a season with the Charleston Battery of the USL, was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year as a senior in 2010.  

Ortiz joined the Rochester Lancers of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 2011 after being drafted first overall in the territorial round of the 2008 Amateur Draft by the New Jersey Ironmen and spending two seasons with the Philadelphia KiXX.  A regional All-American and three-time A-10 All-Conference selection during his time at La Salle, Ortiz also represented the U.S. Futsal National Team at the Grand Prix in Brazil in 2011.

"It's been a blessing to have been playing professional soccer for six years now," said Ortiz. "Pat Farrell and Bobby Wilkinson were great mentors for me during school and after I graduated and still continue to be today."