Photo: Daniel Studio
After playing his collegiate soccer at Division III University of Redlands, Richie Marquez made his way to the Philadelphia Union as the 44th pick of the 2014 MLS Super Draft. While he was an athletic specimen at 6’2 and 185 pounds, John Hackworth and his staff decided to send him over to the Harrisburg City Islanders for further development, where he helped lead the team to the USL Pro finals while leading the league with 2,520 minutes in 28 starts.
This preseason, Marquez fought his way to the backup center-back spot with the Union and impressed in his appearances, during which he scored a goal and helped limit opponents to 1 goal in his 155 minutes on the field. While he did manage to fight his way up the depth chart, Marquez soon found himself behind the curve once again as Jim Curtin sent Maurice Edu to the backline following the disheartening loss to Chicago. The change sent Ethan White to the bench and demoted Marquez into the third string role once again.
That all changed with Steven Vitoria out with a groin injury for Saturday’s game against Toronto FC, sending Marquez up the depth chart once more. He was called on to play in only the 5th minute after Michael Lahoud went down with an injury to his hip flexor, sending Maurice Edu back to midfield.
Marquez put in a solid, if unassuming performance, highlighted by his goal line clearance of Sebastien Giovinco’s scoring chance in the 10th minute. Additionally, he showcased his physical capabilities as he snuffed out several attacks by the dynamic and equally expensive duo of Jozy Altidore and Sebastien Giovinco.
As encouraging as it may have been, Richie Marquez’s performance went to waste thanks to a stunning free kick by Giovinco, combined with poor play by the continually under performing Union attack. But in this dark and dreary season, Union fans must accept what few bright spots this team has to offer.
Marquez may have a long way to go in terms of earning a permanent starting role, but he has done a great deal to increase his demand going forward. For his efforts in shutting down a combined $21 million in attacking talent, he’s PSP’s Player of the Week.
Easy pick. Played a nice game.
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Quick footed. Quick thinking. Good marking generally. So very very very interesting to me this is what it takes for him to see the field, but at least he saw the field and made the most of it….. “Make Make, Be Your Future.”
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More please.
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I’d credit John Hackworth with the decision to give him a year in USL to bridge the gap between collegiate D3 and MLS.
It’s unfortunate the loss overshadowed just how impressive this actually was. Coming into the game in the 5th minute is SOOOO hard to do not only mentally, but physically as well. And then, to go up against, theoretically at least, 3 of the biggest stars in the league in Bradley, Giovinco and Jozy, and we wouldn’t have been surprised to see Raymond Lee-esque debut.
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I would love to see him get another start – especially to see how he does against a little more speedy attackers, but this was a really impressive performance. Expectations are now officially high.