College soccer has not been easy for Martinez

In stark contrast to his remarkable high school career, college soccer has been a lesson in adversity for former Gar-Field star and two-time Parade Magazine All-American Eber Martinez.

Martinez, who racked up 53 goals and 28 assists during his four-year prep career for the Indians, wanted to play for George Mason University once he graduated from high school.

Martinez’s older brother Irvin was already there, playing for the Patriots.

But Martinez took a detour when he was forced to enroll at Lindsey Wilson College, a small NAIA school in Columbia, Kentucky in 2007 to obtain the additional coursework necessary to gain admission to GMU.

Martinez said the experience changed him for the better.

“When I went to Kentucky, I realized what a mistake I had made (in high school) not focusing on academics,” Martinez said. “I wasn’t able to play with the team, but had to focus in the classroom just to make the grades so I could get into Mason. It was a good experience for me and I learned my lesson.

Then, early this season, Martinez was slowed by injuries, first a slipped disk in his back, then a strained quad,  which he initially tore in the 2006 state soccer finals, that prevented him from making as strong an initial impression as he might have liked.

But, just like his Patriot teammates, Martinez has overcome initial adversity to experience a healthy reawakening of late.

George Mason (13-6-2) began the season with a 5-2-1 record and two victories against nationally-ranked opponents before hitting a mid-season lull.

Coach Greg Andrulis, whose team has won seven straight games, said the coaching staff never doubted the team’s ability to win and the Patriots followed suit, winning three games in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, including a 5-3 victory over William and Mary that netted the Patriots the conference title and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

The Patriots host Ivy League champion Penn (11-2-4) tonight in a 7 p.m. first-round contest. Martinez, who scored a goal and two assists in the title game, earned all-tournament honors.

Andrulis, who followed Martinez’ s career throughout high school, said he is particularly pleased with Martinez’s competitiveness, which was one of the hallmarks of his brilliant prep career.

“I think he has really enjoyed playing with Irvin as well as the opportunity to play locally,” Andrulis said. “We are really proud that we not only won the conference title, but also led the conference in attendance and I think one of the big reasons why is the Martinez family. They tend to bring lots of fans with them to games.”

Martinez said he enjoys playing with Irvin a great deal.

“My brother and I have played together all our lives and we know each other like the back of our hand,” said Martinez, who has scored one goal and added three assists in 13 games this season. “It was a dream come true to be able to play at Mason.”

Andrulis, who is in his fourth year at George Mason after a previous coaching stint with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, says Martinez has yet to experience the depth of his potential.

“I think another year of (collegiate) play and the ability to overcome some of the injuries he’s had, he will be ready to take (his game) to the next level,” Andrulis said. “He is not there yet, but the sky’s the limit for him.”

Martinez said he hasn’t set specific goals for the future, though he would one day relish the opportunities to play for the American team in world-class competitions or be signed to an MLS contract.

The Patriots have also opened some eyes locally, Andrulis said, as the team received a thunderous ovation Monday night after being introduced at the school’s men’s basketball game. 

He added that the team’s recruiting strategy is aimed at securing the top local talent first and then scouring the country for top talent. The strategy has been successful as GMU’s roster features eight players from Maryland and thirteen from Virginia, including the Martinez brothers and former Woodbridge standout, junior midfielder Ernesto Marquez.

“We have really been successful recruiting from the Northern Virginia and southern Maryland areas. Most of the top players in the area are players we have had on our radar first,” Andrulis said. “We realize some kids want to go away to college, but for many of our players, playing before the local fans and some of their family and friends has been very rewarding.”

If the No. 18 Patriots get past Penn, they will run their record in NCAA tournament games to 5-9 overall and their reward will be a date with the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins (18-3-0) in the second round.

“We can’t look past the first game,” Martinez said. “The tournament is a hard competition because everyone wants to win it. We will just have to pull it together and be unified if we want to win. We have to continue to do what we have done during this (seven-game) streak.“