News

Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella has been named the North American Soccer League Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and the sixth time in his career, the league announced on Monday. The four honors are the most by a defensive player in the NASL this season and tied for most overall with San Antonio’s Pablo Campos, who has claimed the offensive award four times.

A Clearwater native and graduate of the University of South Florida, Attinella helped lead Tampa Bay to its fifth consecutive victory at home, as well as its seventh win in eight games overall with a 1-0 victory over FC Edmonton last Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. Attinella earned his third straight shutout, his sixth overall this season and the 11th clean sheet of his career. Tampa Bay extended its current shutout streak to more than 315 minutes as the Rowdies have not allowed a goal since the 45th minute at Minnesota on July 12.

“Congratulations to Jeff, and really the entire team, for this honor,” said Rowdies head coach Ricky Hill. “Jeff performed well once again and it was great to maintain another clean sheet against Edmonton, which continues to build our confidence.”

Attinella, who has started all 19 games, ranks first in the NASL with 86 saves and fourth in the league with a goals against average of 1.11. The honor marks the ninth time a Tampa Bay player has received a weekly NASL offensive or defensive award, the most for any team in the league in 2012. The Rowdies claimed the league’s defensive award four times in July, including each of the last three weeks.

Tampa Bay currently sits in second place in the NASL standings, just two points behind league leaders San Antonio. The Rowdies travel to Carolina this Saturday, August 4 before returning home to face Atlanta on Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, presented by Buick/GMC. For tickets, call 813-287-1539 or click here.


2012 Tampa Bay NASL Honors
NASL Player of the Month
Tsuyoshi Yoshitake - June

NASL Defensive Player of the Week
Jeff Attinella - April 30
Frankie Sanfilippo - May 29
Jeff Attinella - July 2
Jeff Attinella - July 16
Frankie Sanfilippo - July 23
Jeff Attinella - July 30

NASL Offensive Player of the Week
Daniel Antoniuk - May 21
Tsuyoshi Yoshitake - June 18
Tsuyoshi Yoshitake - June 25