Gina and Tina DiMartino when they performed for the Philadelphia Independence.
This is a feature about the Gina DiMartino of Massapequa Park, N.Y. that was posted in BigAppleSoccer.com on Dec. 18, 2009.
By Michael Lewis
Gina DiMartino’s most memorable moment? That’s easy — as a member of the U.S. U-20 team that captured the Women’s World Cup in that age group in 2008.
“It was unbelievable,” she said. “Just standing up on the podium with the gold medal around our neck with all the girls. It was just amazing. Some people were just crying. It was just awesome with all the girls and the fans going crazy and running around the field.”
Winning certainly isn’t foreign to the 5-3, 120-lb. Gina, who was a member of two New York high school state girls championship teams with Massapequa High School (as a sophomore and as a senior) and several State Cup winners with the Commack Soccer Club and Albertson Fury.
“She used to beat me in the State Cup final,” said Philadelphia Independence coach Paul Riley, who coached Gina on the Albertson Fury. “She used to play for Commack. She always scored on us. She was one of our adversaries.”
Gina, 22, said she loved playing for BC. “It’s a great college town,” she said. “I loved the girls on my team. They’re all so close.”
Selected by the Boston Breakers in the sixth round of this year’s WPS draft, Gina eventually found her way to the Independence, to be reunited with her sister and Riley.
Not surprisingly, she was an All-American at Massapequa H.S. and was a member of Eastern New York ODP for five years. She also performed for the Massapequa Soccer Club.
She enjoyed a standout career as a midfielder at Boston College. For the Eagles, she recorded 25 goals and 21 assists for 71 career points over 84 matches. She was named to the 2007 Hermann Trophy Watch List.
The third child and second daughter of Dan and Patricia DiMartino, the 5-3, 120-lb. Gina has played for the Long Island Fury and Long Island Rough Riders and the U.S. U-20 and U-23 National Teams.
Riley’s assessment:
“Gina’s a little bit different player [than Tina], but Gina is a very good player, too,” he said. “Gina’s got a great finish around the goal. Again, another bright player. I’ve always liked Gina. she can play at the midfield. Can go both ways.”
Here are some other stories you might be interested in:
THE AMAZING DIMARTINO SISTERS: 4 siblings stand out at the national level
VICKI DIMARTINO: Making her name in college, internationally
