Friday, August 12, 2011

FORT MYERS, Fla. – After a breakout junior campaign in 2010, No. 14 FGCU men’s soccer senior Josey Portillo (Metairie, La./Grace King HS) earned preseason All-American honors on Friday morning, as College Soccer News (CSN) named the midfielder to its third team.

“Josey continues to be a tremendous leader both on and off the field for our program,” said fifth-year head coach Bob Butehorn. “It’s great to see his dedication and hard work be recognized with this preseason honor.”

Portillo, a 2011 Atlantic Sun preseason All-Conference selection, was the lone representative from the A-Sun to land a spot on the All-America team. In 2010, the Metairie, La. product finished second on the FGCU squad with 12 points off of four goals and four assists, with three goals and four assists in A-Sun play. Also a NSCAA All-South Region first team selection a season ago, Portillo netted two game-winning goals and contributed greatly to the offensive attack that held a 24-goal advantage (35-11) over its competition last season, earning him a spot on the A-Sun All-Conference first team.

With five first place votes, the Eagles topped the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll with 77 points, one point better than 2010 A-Sun Tournament champion ETSU (76) which received the remaining four first place votes. Additionally, the Eagles had four players named to the preseason All-Conference team, including a pair of unanimous selections. Entering their first year of postseason eligibility following the four-year reclassification period, the Eagles also received five votes as the 2011 tournament favorites.

Finishing the season with a 13-3-2 record (9-0-0 A-Sun), the Eagles finished the 2010 season ranked No. 20 nationally. The Blue and Green are set to return 20 players from last year's A-Sun regular season championship squad, including six All-Conference performers, when they open the 2011 campaign with an exhibition match against Florida Southern on Aug. 17 at the FGCU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. The 2011 home opener is scheduled for Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. with in-state rival FAU.

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