Germany has its own deaf professional soccer player. So does England. And Canada. And Jamaica. Now the United States can stake claim in having a deaf professional soccer player.
Matt Eby is currently the only known deaf professional soccer player in the United States, playing for Real Maryland in the United Soccer League 2 (USL2) league, which is the third tier of the U.S. soccer system. For his stellar performance at tryouts last fall, Eby was chosen as one of the reserves for the team. Playing in a distinctly deaf community of the metropolitan D.C. area has its advantages, and being an alumna of the soccer program at Gallaudet University has its advantages as well.
Eby, who is 24, grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He played for his high school team before starting for the soccer team and also playing varsity basketball for the Bison. Accomplished as an athlete, Eby was named the Male Athlete of the Year last year for the University. Now he is an assistant coach for Gallaudet and is also a member of the U.S. Deaf Soccer team that will travel to Greece this summer for the World Deaf Soccer Championships.
Eby's Real Maryland team lost their first game of the pre-season on April 20 to Western Massachusetts, 1-0. While on the bench in gear, Eby did not clock a minute of action in that game. In a victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds last Saturday, Eby clocked his first minutes of professional soccer action as he saw thirty minutes of battle.
With those minutes in the game last weekend, Eby became the first deaf soccer player since Curtis Pride (of MLB fame) played for the U-17 national soccer team in 1985.
Eby's natural position is that of a defender, but he was an accomplished player in college, scoring 21 career goals in four years and being named to the Capital Athletic Conference Second-Team three years in a row.
Eby's teammates don't see him any different from them. Eby communicates with his coach Silvio Gonzalo through gestures and sometimes through written communication.
According to a , Eby has several teammates who have played at the MLS level. His teammate Ronald Cerritos played 10 years in the MLS, including two with the local club, D.C. United. Cerritos, impressed with Eby's skills and what he is capable of doing, said in the Post article that while it may be difficult at times because vocal communication is important in a game, in the end, soccer is one language.
When not on the soccer pitch, Eby works as a dormitory assistant at Gallaudet, and finds himself busy with his duties of being an assistant coach for the Bison.
Eby's Real Maryland team will travel to Western Massachusetts to face their first opponent of the season on May 3. The schedule can be found at the website.
For Eby, the distinction of being the only deaf professional soccer player in the United States means little - it's the passion of the game that really drives him.
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