PITTSBURGH (Aug. 5, 2019) – Riverhounds Development Academy goalkeeper Ben Martino has been accepted into the Philadelphia Union Youth Academy system.
Scheduled to begin his stint for the MLS Development Academy organization this August, the 16-year-old last played for the 2002 RDA Boys team under coach Bryan Cartwright.
“Ben is proof that in our system with the right attitude and hard work you can achieve all your goals and dreams,” Cartwright said. “With the guidance of our Director of Goalkeeping Hunter Gilstrap, we have produced some great goalkeepers. We are so proud of Ben and can’t wait to see what his future holds.”
Martino has competed for the RDA for the last five years, in addition to training with the Riverhounds Goalkeeping Academy for one year prior. Taught by Gilstrap and Assistant Director of Goalkeeping Will Marshall, he has furthered his technical skills as well as aspects in the mental approach to the position.
“I’ve trained with [Hunter] for six years and I’m still learning new things from him,” Martino said. “I want to thank him for everything he’s done for me. He’s been amazing for me.”
Martino will join Dane Jacomen, who entered the D.C. United Academy system in 2017, as recent RDA goalkeepers to be accepted into an MLS-level Academy. Like Jacomen, Martino also attended Taylor Allderdice High School during his time with the RDA.
“Dane has been a lot of help for me,” Martino said. “He is the guy I go to if I need advice in any situation up to that next level. When I first started training with the pro team, he gave me a lot of tips like technical things and how to keep your head right and realize that I can do this.”
While competing within the Union Academy system, Martino will finish his schooling via the YSC Academy and is scheduled to graduate in 2021. While in this youth system, he will compete at the under-19 level.
“Ben has worked really hard since he joined our academy early on in his development,” Gilstrap said. “He’s always been a top performer among our keepers. I feel that he’s a keeper with pro potential. Because of that, it’s been our goal to help him find a position where he can continue to be challenged and continue his growth. He’ll have an opportunity to compete at the highest level of youth soccer and will get to be in an MLS environment. He’s done everything he needs to be prepared for a move like this. I think he will do very well.”
