Abby Wambach's name is synonymous with soccer in Rochester. The Pittsford native and Hall of Famer retired from the sport in 2015. While she now lives in Florida, several of her siblings still reside in Rochester, including her brother Peter. His son, Mitchell is heading to St. Bonaventure where he will play soccer.  

“I couldn't be more proud of him, but listen, everybody's going to want to talk about me and how this whole family has this soccer in its blood and the truth is, it's gotta be way harder for Mitchell Wambach or any other niece or nephew to even wanna undertake trying to play soccer because they think there's this massive standard," said Wambach.

Mitchell’s decision to join the Bonnies was an easy one.

“When I got there, they made me feel like I was a part of the team and I just felt like I was on the team, when I was even just a recruit and I really admired that like a ton. I just feel this is gonna be a really great four years I'm going to attend there,” he said.

The Pittsford Mendon grad played his club soccer for the Empire United Academy, which features a National Development Program. That's where Wambach became friends with sixth grader Max Morganstern.

“It started off when I was a Mendon ball boy. I was a ball boy for the Mendon High School team and we interacted through there and the relationship, it just stuck. He's someone I really look up to on and off the field. I look up to him, so it's just fun that I get to play with someone like Mitchell," said Morganstern.

“He actually inspires me. He motivates me every day and I just want to give him a good person to look up to," said the Mendon grad.

Just like Wambach looked up to his Aunt Abby. "I really respect Abby, I feel like she's really been a very good role model throughout my life," he said.

"I'm proud of him for getting to where he is. It's really difficult to go and to play college soccer, no matter what. I do wanna celebrate this for him because he's done it, his parents have done it," said Wambach.

Mitchell will have to wait a little bit longer to play for the Bonnies because the Atlantic 10 Conference postponed the fall season until the spring.