Grantham, PA – One of the NCAA's branding taglines touts that most of their 38,000 student-athletes "go pro in something other than sports." At a Division III institution like Messiah College, that tagline certainly resonates; however, every now and then, the professional ranks is where the Falcons fly.
 
This spring, recent Messiah men's soccer graduates Brian Ramirez and Jack Thompson made the move to professional soccer, with Ramirez joining Sweden's IFK Stoackard club, and Thompson joining the Charlotte Independence.
 
Ramirez signed his contract at the beginning of this month, and he scored the lone goal in a friendly over the weekend.

 
"I'm excited to carry the 'team over the individual' core value that Messiah has taught me to the IFK program," Ramirez said. "Although I will be one of the main foreign players, I feel as if I've been well prepared to face and overcome the challenges that may come my way."
 
A distinct challenge that Ramirez may face is the culture in which he will now train and compete. While the Falcons' well-respected brand of soccer values individual sacrifice and brotherly love for each teammate, the professional ranks may more readily value an individual's ambition or the winning-at-all-costs mantra. Ramirez believes his experience with Messiah has prepared him for such a culture.
 
"Valuing the team over myself keeps me grounded in my purpose for the benefit of the team," Ramirez shared. "The leadership of the Messiah coaching staff and the loving respect offered to me by my teammates at Messiah has impacted me to combat selfish desires and to fulfill my role on the team.
 
"I'm proud to have been involved in such a program."
 
Thompson, like Ramirez, also believes his experience with Messiah has prepared him well for a professional career.
 
"Messiah prepared me not only as a soccer player, but more importantly as a person who holds himself to a high standard," Thompson said. "I have a real pride about telling people that I come from Messiah."
 
Thompson went on to say that not everyone he talks to has heard of Messiah, despite the Falcons' program capturing 10 Division III National Championships since 2000-- a feat that rivals any other dynasty in NCAA Division I, II, or III history. But that may very well change as Thompson succeeds on the field, as he did by scoring a goal in his first game with Charlotte (video below).
 
But even despite the early success, Thompson knows his experience is about more than just soccer.
 
"The training environment with Charlotte is extremely competitive and gritty, which has suited my personality well," Thompson said. "On top of that, Charlotte is a great city and I'm surrounded by a big network of friends, including a handful of former Messiah teammates and alumni. The opportunity to continue those relationships has been a real blessing."
 
Thompson's next game is, coincidentally, the same day as Ramirez's next game, Apr. 18. Fans can follow the Charlotte Independence at their website here, and the IFK Stockaryd club here.

See Jack Thompson score his first goal with the Charlotte Independence below. Goal scored at 33-second mark.