Colleges: Attinella named to NSCAA All-America First Team

South Florida goalkeeper Jeff Attinella has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Performance Subaru All-American First Team, the school announced in a press release on Friday, crowning what has been an outstanding junior season for the former Countryside High standout.

Attinella allowed only 18 goals in 21 games for a 0.83 goals against average, posting seven shutouts. He was named as the Big East goalkeeper of the week three times, and was the conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

“I am extremely excited to have received this honor," Attinella said in the release. "When you grow up and then become a college player, you dream about receiving awards like this. I am just very grateful that I, and our team, could have the kind of year that put me in the position to be named All-American."

Bulls coach George Kiefer said he was extremely pleased that Attinella’s performances throughout the season had been recognized.

"Jeff is certainly a very worthy recipient of this honor,” Kiefer said in the release. "I have said it since the very beginning of the year; Jeff is the best goalkeeper in the nation and now it is obvious that a lot of other coaches out there feel the same way. I couldn't be happier for him."

Also honored on Friday was Bulls assistant coach Ryan Anatol, who was named the NSCAA's Assistant Coach of the Year for the Northeast Region.

A former player for the Bulls from 1997-2000, Anatol has been crucial to the Bulls success on the field, and also in their recruiting efforts. Since joining the program as an assistant in 2005, the Bulls have had 23 players named to the Big East All-Conference team, with nine being named to All-Region teams, and Attinella joining Yohance Marshall as the second NSCAA All-American in that span.

"I believe Ryan is well deserving of the award and I'm very happy for him," Kiefer said. "Ryan is one of the hardest working assistants in the country."

Anatol's regional award also makes him eligible for the Glenn "Mooch" Myernick National Assistant Coach of the Year Award, which will be presented on Jan. 15 at the NSCAA Awards Banquet.