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All year long, we will be bringing you up close to members of the Tampa Bay Rowdies team.

In this installment of the 2012 Get to Know the Rowdies, we feature goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, who is in his second season with Tampa Bay.

Jeff has started all 13 games in 2012 and ranks third in the NASL with a 1.38 goals against average. He has posted two shutouts and was named NASL Defensive Player of the Week on April 30.

Last season with Tampa Bay, Attinella led the NASL in saves with 128. He posted five shutouts and played in 23 games with 22 starts. Attinella was named NASL Defensive Player of the Week twice.

Jeff is originally from Clearwater and played for the University of South Florida from 2007-2010. While with the Bulls, Jeff played in 61 matches and posted a 38-14-9 career record and a 0.79 goals against average. In 2009, he was selected as the BIG EAST Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, was named to the All-BIG East Conference First Team and 2009 NSCAA/Performance Subaru Men’s Division I All-American First Team and was also selected to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Men’s Division I All-Northeast Region First Team.

Jeff was also a high school standout at Countryside High School, where he led his team to a state championship in 2005 and captained his team to a No. 1 national ranking in 2006. He helped lead the Clearwater Chargers to the 2006 Florida State Cup Championship.  He received numerous honors, including three all-county selections, four all-conference distinctions and an all-state team honor, as well as Most Valuable Player in 2006.


Do you have any gameday superstitions or traditions?
I say a prayer before each half. If we win, I try to keep everything the same: what I ate, if I played ping pong in the locker room, etc.

Most memorable soccer moment thus far
Training with the US Men’s National Team last summer

Growing up what soccer team did you support?
Tampa Bay Mutiny

All-time favorite soccer player
Oliver Kahn

Something you want your fans to know that they may not know yet
I have a Tampa Bay lip tattoo - Dedicated to the sports in Tampa!

Top three favorite movies
Boondock Saints, Superbad, Step Brothers

The most memorable moment of your life thus far
Getting married - found the person I’m going to grow old with

Favorite place in the world
Costa Rica

Three words to describe you
Energetic, Determined, Tough

What do you like doing in your free time?
Hanging out with friends, my wife and watching sports

What is your biggest fear?
Spiders

Who is your hero?
Dad because he gave me everything I could ask for growing up and is a true role model

Choose One:
Gatorade or Powerade: Gatorade
Cats or Dogs: Dogs
Facebook or Twitter: Twitter
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Monster or Red Bull: Red Bull
Coke or Pepsi: Coke