By JOSE NEGRON
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Like a number of his fellow classmates, Marshall Richter is currently participating in school online at Thomas Jefferson.
The only difference is the junior isn’t just doing it because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richter is a full-time developmental player with FC Cincinnati Academy, a youth development program which plays in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
He signed on as a full-time player in June.
“It was what I wanted despite the challenge of having to leave home,” said Richter, who spent the fall months living in Cincinnati, Ohio. “I knew things would never be the same, but this was an opportunity I had to take.”
Richter attributes his opportunity with FCC to his participation in the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy, which gives players the opportunity to play in front of various coaches and scouts.
Richter was initially invited to play with the FC Cincinnati Academy during his sophomore year at TJ, when he scored nine goals and 10 assists as a midfielder for the Jaguars.
Richter served as a “discovery player” for FCC as a sophomore, allowing him the opportunity to train and join the team for a few matches.
“This gave me the ability to remain at home in Pittsburgh to train with my Riverhounds team, and to also be a part of FCC,” Richter said. “Following that season, I was offered a roster spot on the FCC Academy team.”
Richter and his FC Cincinnati Academy team finished the fall season with a 9-0 record and went on to be ranked No. 1 in the country.
“It was great to get off to such a good start in my first season at a new program,” Richter said. “It was also a huge accomplishment for the program as well because it is a fairly new academy team.”
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