2008 Woodie Awards
In the Cards: the Ormsby brothers
Brothers play on same soccer team for first time at PSUC
Dan DeFrancesco
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Sports
Originally published: 10/9/08 at 5:43 PM EST
Last update: 10/9/08 at 8:04 PM EST
Mature or playful.
Laid back or intense.
Defensive minded or offensively charged.
These are the adjectives that separate Matt and Ryan Ormsby, respectively, of the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team. Although they are related by blood, they strongly differ from each other on and off the field.
Matt is two years older than Ryan and the one that got them both involved in the sport. Born in neighboring town Peru, the boys picked up the sport at a young age.
Despite being only two years apart and playing soccer year-round, the boys didn't have the opportunity to play with each other much.
"We never started playing together until indoor soccer or through summer leagues," Matt said.
Because most youth soccer leagues separate boys into different age groups, the brothers never played together from the start.
By the time Ryan started playing varsity soccer for Peru High School, Matt had already graduated and moved on to play for Clinton Community College.
About the same time Matt was finishing up getting his associate's degree and looking for a four-year school to transfer to, Ryan was wrapping up his high school career and looking for a school to continue his soccer career at.
As it happened, PSUC fit the needs of both.
"It was close to home and I knew I could play soccer here," Ryan said. "I didn't come here because of Matt."
Matt ended up transferring to PSUC the spring semester before his junior year, giving him an opportunity to meet the team.
When Ryan came in the following Fall the team cracked more jokes on them for being locals than brothers.
"Last year we'd get ragged on for being locals," Matt said. "But now that's been passed on to Pat (Shaughnessy) and Nolan (Ryan)."
Shaughnessy and Ryan are two freshmen on the team from local high schools Plattsburgh and Peru.
Head Coach Chris Waterbury said having the brothers on the team has been a good thing and they both bring different styles of play to the table.
Laid back or intense.
Defensive minded or offensively charged.
These are the adjectives that separate Matt and Ryan Ormsby, respectively, of the Plattsburgh State men's soccer team. Although they are related by blood, they strongly differ from each other on and off the field.
Matt is two years older than Ryan and the one that got them both involved in the sport. Born in neighboring town Peru, the boys picked up the sport at a young age.
Despite being only two years apart and playing soccer year-round, the boys didn't have the opportunity to play with each other much.
"We never started playing together until indoor soccer or through summer leagues," Matt said.
Because most youth soccer leagues separate boys into different age groups, the brothers never played together from the start.
By the time Ryan started playing varsity soccer for Peru High School, Matt had already graduated and moved on to play for Clinton Community College.
About the same time Matt was finishing up getting his associate's degree and looking for a four-year school to transfer to, Ryan was wrapping up his high school career and looking for a school to continue his soccer career at.
As it happened, PSUC fit the needs of both.
"It was close to home and I knew I could play soccer here," Ryan said. "I didn't come here because of Matt."
Matt ended up transferring to PSUC the spring semester before his junior year, giving him an opportunity to meet the team.
When Ryan came in the following Fall the team cracked more jokes on them for being locals than brothers.
"Last year we'd get ragged on for being locals," Matt said. "But now that's been passed on to Pat (Shaughnessy) and Nolan (Ryan)."
Shaughnessy and Ryan are two freshmen on the team from local high schools Plattsburgh and Peru.
Head Coach Chris Waterbury said having the brothers on the team has been a good thing and they both bring different styles of play to the table.
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