Wisconsin Soccer Central

Osvaldo Ramirez (West De Pere) has taken a path not often followed by Wisconsin players: Heading south to Mexico to play professional soccer.

The 19-year-old striker had a dream debut for Chiapas Premier on Saturday, coming on at halftime and scoring 10 minutes later as the home side tied Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz 2-2 in a third-tier Segunda División Liga Premier Clausura match.

Ramirez was a Best of the Rest selection on the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team and the Bay Conference Co-Player of the Year as a junior in fall 2013, then had four goals in nine appearances for FC Wisconsin Nationals in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy during the 2014-15 season.

He verbally committed to play at NCAA Division II UW-Parkside, but instead decided to pursue professional options – Ramirez was born in Green Bay, but has Mexican citizenship because both of his parents are natives.

Chiapas Premier is the Under-20 reserve team of Chiapas FC, which plays in the top-level Liga MX; the team is 2-2-1 in Group 3 of the 46-team Segunda División.

On Twitter: @osvaldor97