Former Men's Soccer Standout Ricardo Ordain Plays First Game in United Soccer League

6/6/05 -- Ricardo Ordain (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who last fall had a major role in helping Long Island University’s men’s soccer team reach the NCAA College Cup, played his first professional game last Saturday in the United Soccer League.

Competing for the Charlotte Eagles, Ordain played roughly the last five minutes in his team’s 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The win helped the Eagles maintain a first-place tie in the USL Second Division with the Wilmington Hammerheads.

Ordain’s signing is just the latest milestone for the standout forward, who last season was named first team All-Northeast Conference and All-New York Region. He was second for LIU with four goals, four assists and 12 points in his only season on the squad and his assists were seventh in the league.

Possessing great speed and field awareness, Ordain helped LIU (9-7-4, 6-2-1 NEC) claim its first conference title since 1997 and its first NCAA berth since 1986. The Blackbirds defeated St. Francis (PA) on pentitley kicks in the semifinals before upending top-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, 1-0, in the final.

Ordain’s next game is Saturday, when the Eagles host the New Hampshire Phantoms. He will make his local return July 30, when Charlotte visits the Long Island Rough Riders at Mitchel Complex in Uniondale, N.Y.

The Eagles can be followed on the web at www.charlotteeagles.com.