Issue date: 11/10/04 Section: Sports

If you are looking for some sort of inspiration to get back up on your feet after being knocked down, you need not look any further than the Suffolk University men's soccer team for encouragement. Specifically, have a talk with senior midfielder Carlomagno Ortha and you will hear a story of magnificent will and determination.

Ortha, a computer information systems major who will be graduating this December, originally did not intend to play soccer here at Suffolk. He came to America from Caracas, Venezuela and enrolled into a part time program at Boston University where he learned English.

Ortha's father, who has a real estate company here in Boston, convinced his son to come live in the United States. "I wanted to experience American life," said Ortha. "It was a different life and I really liked it."

At Boston University, Ortha tried out and made the soccer team. However, his season was cut short after NCAA rules prohibited him from playing because he was not officially enrolled fulltime at the institution.

"I was very disappointed at the beginning, but then I realized that rules are rules," remarked Ortha. Soon after, he applied to Suffolk and in virtually no time he found his new soccer team.

Ortha excelled during his freshman year, earning Rookie of the Week honors after scoring two goals in one game. Yet, his promising season was put off again and this time there was no quick return in sight.

"That day was very cold, and I didn't warm up very well," recalled Ortha. "One guy kicked me in my leg and I fell on my leg very weird." Ortha tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, sidelining him for eight months. He missed the rest of the Ram's post season and had only surgery and therapy sessions to look forward to.

"It was a big injury because I never stopped playing soccer in my life for one week," said Ortha. "I've been playing soccer since I was five."

He followed his doctor's instructions, doing therapy three times a week and the other small things to restore the strength in his knee. Ortha made a full recovery and returned to the team his sophomore year, although his physical ability couldn't keep up with his intensity on the field.

Continued...

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