by EPLWA Media
VANCOUVER, WA — The Vancouver Victory didn’t have to look very far for an experienced midfielder. Concordia University in Portland was the college where Mirza Ramic brought his game into adulthood. Now with the Victory he’s scoring goals and trying to help his team to an EPLWA title.
It was word-of-mouth that brought Ramic, who leads the Victory with five goals, to the new club. “Some of my good friends were trying out so that’s how I got involved,” Ramic tells EPLWA.com.
Mirza graduated from Prairie High School in Vancouver but his early journey was moving from Germany to the United States. He was born in Bosnia but lived in Germany for eight years before coming to America.
His time with the Victory is just the latest chapter in his soccer life.
Hamming it up with his pals at the Gatorade commercial shoot.
“One of the big highlights of my soccer career would be winning the state title twice with my club team and going to regionals in Hawaii and New Mexico. I was on the Oregon ODP (Olympic Development Progam) team and made the regional team in 2008. I played for Concordia University in Portland and made second team my freshman and sophomore years. We also made the national tournament my second year.”
Players in the EPLWA work hard on the pitch but they also work hard for a living. Ramic spends his days working at the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington in Vancouver. He works with kids and is part of the staff that helps coordinate big events like fundraisers. He also plays basketball on the staff team (can you spot him? He’s wearing #9.)
‘When I’m not playing soccer I’m working, working out and just hanging out with my friends doing the usual 23 year old things,” he says.
Pre-match music ritual.
Ramic’s goals have been part of a wild first season for Vancouver, who are now getting known for their late-match heroics. “Two of my goals (this season) came off headers and the other ones I have just been in the right place at the right time. I like to read the game and try to anticipate where the ball will be. I like the older style of play. I’m calm on the ball and I always look for the pass first. I try to make my teammates look good and then just feed off of them.”
With four matches to go, Mirza is tied for fourth in the league in goals scored. He’s giving as much as he’s getting from the new competition.
“The league itself has a cool professional feel to it at the majority of the games. It’s nice to play in front of a big crowd and just showing your skills out in front of people.”
The Victory are providing the club atmosphere that gives Mirza and his soccer friends a chance to keep going. “My favorite part is playing with a few of my really good friends who I grew up playing soccer with. We all went separate ways for college ball and this has given us the best chance to play together again.”
