FC Westchester alum Richard Martinez, now a Hofstra sophomore defender, has been called up to join the Puerto Rico National Team after originally joining the Under-23 team earlier this month.

Martinez, a Highland, N.Y. native who played with the FCW '88 Boys,, will train with the Puerto Rican National Team until the end January, when he returns to Hofstra for the spring semester. He will be with the team for two international friendlies against Bermuda and rejoin the team for its first World Cup qualifying match against the Dominican Republic March 26.

Martinez told the Times Herald-Record of Middletown, NY that "it's still early, you never know. Right now, I'm worrying about (the Bermuda game). I'm going to be nervous, but once I get in I will settle down."

Martinez, 19, learned of the national team from Stony Brook assistant coach Dariel Collazo, a former Puerto Rico Soccer Federation official who played with the National Team from 1991-2001. Martinez connected for the game-winning goal in Hofstra's 2-1 win over Stony Brook in September.

Martinez said he wasn't surprised to make the team, which is coached by former Dallas Burn coach Colin Clarke. He thought he was trying out for the U-23 side, but instead it was for the full national team.

"I really feel like I did all right out there, I played well," Martinez was quoted in the Monday editions of the Times Herald-Record. "What I think helped me the most was that I'm in great shape. I was running out there a lot, getting to a lot of balls. I was just patient, once I got the ball, I tried to make good, quick passes."

Hofstra coach Richard Nuttall wasn't surprised Martinez made the team.

"He brings energy, fitness, quickness, tenacity," he told the Times Herald-Record. "He came in here a scrawny kid, but he's worked very hard and progressed physically. Richard deserves everything he gets."

Martinez has started on the Pride defensive unit for each of the last two years. He started as an outside defender in 2006, helping Hofstra to a Colonial Athletic Association title and earning a spot on the CAA all-rookie team.

Martinez converted the winning penalty kick in the Pride's championship game shootout win over George Mason. Hofstra reached the second round of the NCAA Division I tournament, defeating Providence, 2-0, before falling to Wake Forest. This past year, Martinez moved to a central defender position and ranked second on the team with four assists.

He played four years of soccer at Our Lady of Lourdes High School. He Helped the Warriors to a pair of league championships and one sectional championship, collecting 42 goals and 66 assists in his career. He was a four-time all-conference selection and a three-time scholar-athlete selection.