Attinella Earns Preseason Accolades

TAMPA (Aug. 11, 2010) – Just one day after the University of South Florida men’s soccer team was listed in both the College Soccer News (No. 13) and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (No. 16) preseason polls, senior net-minder, Jeff Attinella, received some preseason honors of his own.

Attinella, a 6-2, 190-pound goalkeeper from Safety Harbor, Fla. coming off a 2009 season that saw him named just USF’s second first team All-America NSCAA All-American under head coach George Kiefer, was chosen as one of 39 players to be named to the prestigious Hermann Trophy Watch List. Attinella is also one of just two BIG EAST Conference players to be named to the list joining Colin Rolfe of Louisville.
The Hermann Trophy, given by the Missouri Athletic Club to collegiate soccer's men's and women's national player of the year, has been awarded since 1986.
In addition to being listed on the Hermann Trophy Watch List, Attinella was also named by College Soccer News as a preseason second team All-America, once again joining Rolfe as the only BIG EAST players to be named.
“I’m really excited because I know that it’s a big honor to be named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List,” said Attinella. “Just being mentioned with some of the players named on that list is a tremendous honor. I’m also very excited to be named a preseason All-American, but it’s all preseason talk and you can only take it with a grain of salt. But to get this recognition before the season starts, I’m really happy and appreciative of whoever voted.”

“I was extremely excited to see Jeff recognized on both the Hermann Trophy Watch List and as a preseason All-American by College Soccer News,” said Kiefer. “I feel that he’s the best goalkeeper in the country, combined with his character both on and off the field, he’s a guy that you love being a part of what we’re doing here at USF.”

Last year, Attinella earned a 14-4-3 record while recording seven shutouts and letting up only 18 goals in 1,964 minutes of play. Attinella, who was a critical piece of the puzzle for the Bulls, posted a 0.83 goals against average and a .849 save percentage while also recording seven shutouts.
During the 2009 season, Attinella was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week for the week's ending Sept. 13, Oct. 4 and Oct. 25. He was also named BIG EAST Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and first team All-BIG EAST.
In addition, Attinella was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week for the week ending Sept. 13 and he was named to the third team TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season.
The Bulls will kick-off the 2010 season with three consecutive home exhibition matches beginning with in-state foe Jacksonville on Aug, 18, and then against cross-town rival Tampa on Aug. 21. USF will close out its exhibition slate on Aug. 28 when it faces off against preseason No. 1 ranked – and 2009 national runner-up – Akron.
Kiefer has turned the USF men’s soccer program into one of the top program’s in the country. Over the past five seasons, the Bulls have posted a 65-27-14 record while making four NCAA Tournament appearances in the past five years and winning the BIG EAST Conference championship in 2008. The season, the Bulls will enter the 2010 campaign boasting the longest home unbeaten streak in the nation, 30 games.
Last year, USF advanced to the second round of the 2009 BIG EAST Championships and then to the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Bulls finished 2009 with a 14-4-3 overall record and a 6-3-2 record in the BIG EAST Conference.