Philadelphia Union II goalkeeper Ben Martino’s journey started with the Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) back in 2015. And before joining the RDA, the Pittsburgh native trained with the Riverhounds Goalkeeping Academy in the winter.
He competed for the Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) for five years, from 2015-2019. It was here that Martino received training from coaches like Hunter Gilstrap and Bryan Cartwright.
“Bryan and Hunter helped me with moving my feet effectively and getting across the goal,” Martino said. “Since I was younger playing with the older guys, a big thing was being physical and not being afraid to make tackles. They also showed me how to be a vocal presence. I’m really appreciative of all they did for me.”
The RDA also gave Martino a platform to show out for coaches and scouts at the college levels, as well as an opportunity to make the leap into the USL Championship landscape and an MLS development system.
“I spent four or five years with the Riverhounds Academy and it never crossed my mind that I was getting looked at by other teams until the last year I was there,” Martino said. “I was looking right to college and that’s what my focus was on. I was at a camp for Penn State and I was noticed by a scout from Philadelphia Union. It was never something I was actively pursuing, I was trying to just play my best.”
Martino’s first start at the USL Championship level, and first-ever professional experience, came against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC back on July 18 at Subaru Park. While his club lost the game, he tallied five saves in his debut.
“That game was super surreal,” Martino said. “I was trying to focus on my performance and honestly I didn’t feel that nervous. We’d all been waiting so long to play, so I just felt lucky to be out there.”
Martino would return to Highmark Stadium to start against the Hounds on Oct. 3. This game allowed Martino to measure his progress with Philadelphia, and he once again tallied five saves in a close 2-1 defeat.
“The first game, you don’t really know what to expect and you can only control what you can control,” Martino said. “Through the season, one of my biggest focuses was trying to stay consistent. I had my ups and downs, but by the last time we faced the Hounds, I thought we were a lot better as a team. It goes back to confidence in myself and confidence in the group.”
Martino will stay with Philadelphia for the preseason, playing scrimmages against other local clubs, before joining Virginia Tech in the collegiate ranks this coming July.
“I’m really excited for the future,” Martino said. “It’s great to get those experiences playing against other high-level teams. It’ll be great after July to get to grind in the Atlantic Coast Conference, playing against high-level competition there.”
Ben Martino makes a start on Oct. 3 in his hometown at Highmark Stadium.
