Ryan Kirby, junior and English and communication major, is cool and confident about his team this season and his team in the future. Kirby plays at midfield for the men’s soccer team and wears the number 2. Kirby is no newcomer to the soccer world. He has been playing the game since the age of 4.
After competing all through middle school and playing varsity for his high school, this talented young player decided to attend Cabrini College after, “being recruited by a bunch of places,” Kirby said.
The team has been having an excellent season. The Cavaliers have won 11 games and lost six, and won the Haverford College tournament. Four of Cabrini’s players were also named to the All- Tournament team including Kirby, along with Barry Magagna, a junior chemistry major, Joseph Blaney, a junior business major, and Colin Hinkelmon, a sophomore early childhood education major.
“The All-Tournament team,” Kirby said, “is a team they pick at the end of the weekend when the tournament is won. There are 11 Players from the four teams participating and since we won the tournament we were lucky enough to have four guys on there. Then, from those 11, they select the MVP.” Kirby, proving himself to be an outstanding player, was named MVP of the tournament.
Kirby and senior captain Brent Benner were also runners up for PAC player of the week. Kirby acknowledged that Benner was having an outstanding season as well.
This paramount season may be, “surprising to some,” Kirby said, “[but] not surprising to us [the team,] we have a great group of guys and we’ve been playing together for a while.” He also said that the freshman guys just starting out “have a lot of talent.”
Personally, Kirby believes he has improved from last season by gaining “more confidence.” This determined Springfield, PA native has five assists and two goals this season, and has established an excellent future for the himself in soccer.
