By Caleigh Bartash
Matt and Ben Di Rosa have played soccer together since they were four years old. Now they are going their separate ways.
The brothers, both University of Maryland men’s soccer players, made history on Jan. 21 as the first twins chosen in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
Left back Matt Di Rosa was drafted in the first round at number 25 overall by 2017 MLS Cup winners Toronto FC. Right back Ben Di Rosa was chosen in the second round at number 44 overall by fellow Eastern Conference club New York City FC.
Some might expect the pair to have a rivalry going but Matt Di Rosa said aside from some gameday banter, they are in full support of each other.
“You’re in a situation where you want your brother to compete as much as you want to compete yourself almost,” he said.
The Di Rosas’ cousin Peter Foggo said seeing the brothers’ pride in each other is one of his favorite parts about watching them play. Foggo said he admires the way they handled coming off the bench early in their Maryland careers.
“Their commitment to the grind and their willingness to push through adversity and not give up — it just speaks to their character and how hard of workers they are. And the result has shown,” said Foggo, a senior at Swarthmore College.
Foggo grew up playing sports alongside the pair and spoke of a healthy level of competition.
“They go after it and they push each other,” he said. “But at the end of the day it’s all love between them.”
The two defenders trained together to stay in game form after the Terrapins’ fall season was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. They give each other plenty of advice and support, Matt Di Rosa said, but that does not mean he will be gentle on his brother now that they are on opposing teams.
“On the field he’s not my friend anymore — he’s also my rival. Hopefully after the game we’ll laugh about it, but hopefully during the game I can get the best of him,” Matt Di Rosa said.
The Di Rosas’ close bond could intensify a brewing rivalry between northern powerhouse Toronto and 2013 expansion team New York City, which eliminated the Canadian side in the second round of the MLS is Back Tournament last year.
Matt Di Rosa praised Toronto and its great tradition of U.S. Men’s National Team players, which includes Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and legendary Terp Omar Gonzalez. He said he will be focused on making his mark at the Canadian club before he considers his own potential future as an international.
Ben Di Rosa is not looking too far ahead, either. He said his biggest goal is earning his new teammates’ respect.
“Once you earn the respect of your teammates, everything else kind of follows after that,” he said. “If you show your teammates that you’re a hard worker and that you can play at the level and that you’re humble, then things will start to fall into place for you.”
Ibrahim Shaw, a senior public health science student, said he is excited to see the Di Rosas make the switch to the pros. A longtime fan of Maryland Soccer, Shaw started at UMD the same year as the brothers, but first attended games over a decade ago when his cousin, Matt Oduaran, played for the men’s team.
Shaw said he thinks the pair will play valuable roles for their new teams, but he wished they could have played for UMD this past fall.
“I know that Ben and Matt will have long, successful careers in MLS. They’re ready for it. It’s just a shame that we weren’t able to see them play one last time before they graduated,” Shaw said.
The brothers received advice from fellow Terps in MLS, including Minnesota United’s Chase Gasper and Dayne St. Clair. Ben Di Rosa said he has had several conversations with former teammates and other Maryland Soccer alumni as he trains for New York City’s preseason.
“They’ve all said it’s a long preseason,” Ben Di Rosa said. “If you have a good practice or a bad practice, just keep your work rate high and that’s all you can control.”
Shaw seemed confident that the Di Rosas would be well prepared. He said the success of Maryland alumni, such as Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, sends an impressive message about the Maryland Soccer program.
“There aren’t any Maryland players that are afraid of the spotlight. They’re ready for the moment,” Shaw said. “Ben and Matt joining those two great squads in MLS is another great reflection on the strong foundation we have here at Maryland.”
Matt Di Rosa sounded ready for the opportunity despite the challenges of joining a new team.
“Obviously there will be some nerves in your first preseason,” he said. “But at the end of the day it’s still soccer and it’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”
The left back said he feels very fortunate to have fulfilled his dream of getting drafted. Now, he wants to return a favor to Maryland and the rest of the community that supported him.
“I’m very grateful for everyone who’s helped me and I hope I can repay them by having a great rookie season,” Matt Di Rosa said.
Featured photo: Maryland Soccer’s “Terp Twins” Ben and Matt Di Rosa, center left, are now aiming to make their marks on the fields of Major League Soccer. Photo courtesy of Matt Di Rosa.
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