Men's Soccer

Alumni Q&A: Eduardo Martinez

Drew University | Men's Soccer

TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference’s Alumni Q&A series highlights former student-athletes and gives us a chance to catch up on what they’ve been up to since graduation. This edition features former Drew University men’s soccer student-athlete Eduardo Martinez, who graduated in 2018.

Martinez was part of Drew’s 2017 team that captured the Landmark Conference championship and finished the season with a 21-1-1 record, advancing to the NCAA Division III tournament’s Sweet 16. Since graduating, he has pursued a career in corporate finance and now works in strategic sourcing at Datadog, a publicly traded technology company.

Martinez reflects on his time at Drew, the teammates and relationships that made his experience special, and the lessons from his student-athlete career that continue to shape his life today.

Looking back on your collegiate experience, what originally drew you to attend your institution and compete in the Landmark Conference?
The ability to continue my athletic career at a program where I felt I could have a strong impact, within a competitive conference. That, coupled with an academic balance like Drew offered - with proximity to NYC and lots of unique “outside of the classroom” learning programs.

What lessons from your experience as a student-athlete have had the greatest impact on your life and career after graduation?
Many, but the clear ones are work ethic, discipline, and relationships.

Can you share a memorable moment from your time as a student-athlete that still stands out today?
Captaining our team to a Landmark Conference championship my senior year in 2017 - with a historic record of going unbeaten. Finished the season with a 21-1-1 record, with our only loss coming in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 game.

Tell us about your career path since graduation and what you're doing today.
I went into a corporate finance career path post-graduation, to which I have carved out a career trajectory within finance in Strategic Sourcing. I currently work at Datadog, which is a publicly traded technology company.

In what ways did your student-athlete experience help prepare you for success after college?
It helps shape you as an individual but also as a team member. Nothing in life can be achieved without work ethic, drive, and ambition - all of which are traits you take with you as a student-athlete. But also relationships, team management, and leadership, which come with being part of a team that is working towards a common goal.

Who had the greatest influence on you during your college experience and why?
My teammates. We built a bond and relationship that helped us grow together on and off the field. We were always there for each other while we were doing sprints at 6:00 a.m., or in the library studying for exams. Those friendships still exist and continue to become stronger with time - even many years post-college.

If you could relive one game, which would it be?
Landmark Conference championship win vs. Elizabethtown College. And every moment after that which led us to the NCAA Tournament.

What advice would you give current Landmark Conference student-athletes?
Enjoy the ride. Take it all in. Lean on the people around you. Your friends, your coaches, your professors, your advisors. Lean into mentors. Experience many things - whether different classes, internships, programs, etc. Build meaningful relationships as much as you can.

Favorite team tradition or memory from your playing days?
Too many good ones. Hard to pick just one! Those long bus rides to away games always left a good story behind, though!

Complete the sentence: "Being a Landmark Conference student-athlete taught me.
To always give your best version to each day.