GUATEMALA – For the second time in its brief history, the FGCU men's soccer program has produced a full national team member as rising senior Rodrigo Saravia was recently called into the Guatemala National Team Camp.
 
A native of Guatemala City, Saravia is the lone collegiate and amateur player in the camp. While he did not make the final national team's roster for an international friendly against the United States in Nashville on Friday, Saravia was selected to U-23 Guatemala National Team. That club will face the U-23 El Salvador National Team in an international friendly on July 4 at 3 p.m. Eastern.
 
The Guatemala National Team, which Saravia could still join, is currently preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup – a biennial event to determine the regional champion of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Fans can stay informed by visiting the official Guatemalan website at www.fedefutguate.org.
 
"I'm extremely pleased and happy for Rodrigo to have this opportunity to represent his country," said FGCU head coach Bob Butehorn. "He was the last person removed from the roster for the U.S. game, which is a tremendous accomplishment considering he's the only amateur. This is also a great moment for our program as we've now produced two national team players."
 
Saravia joins Daniel Stanese as FGCU's national team representatives, with Stanese first being promoted to the Canada National Team as just a 21 year old in October 2013. This January, he earned his first national team cap as part of an international friendly with Iceland. Stanese signed a professional contract in February of 2013 following his freshman season at FGCU.
 
A central midfielder with the Eagles, Saravia is a three-time Atlantic Sun Conference all-team recognition, having been named to the All-Freshman Team in 2012, Second Team in 2013 and First Team this past fall. Additionally, he was tabbed as an A-Sun Academic All-Conference selection this past year.
 
Saravia played in 19 of 20 games in 2014, making 18 starts. While controlling the middle of the pitch for the Green and Blue he scored his lone goal of the season at Northern Kentucky as part of a 3-1 FGCU win. He helped FGCU allow the fewest goals in the A-Sun (15) – nine less than any other league member – and post nine shutouts – three more than any other A-Sun team. He was an integral member of the Eagles' backline which had a shutout streak of 495:40 broken in the 86th minute of the NCAA Tournament.
 
That NCAA Tournament appearance for Saravia was his second in three years wearing the Green and Blue, and third for the team in only four years of Division I postseason eligibility. The Eagles last year won an unprecedented fifth-straight A-Sun regular-season title with a 4-1-1 record. FGCU went on to defeat UNF in the A-Sun Championship title game, 1-0, to earn its automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament where it faced Coastal Carolina on the road.
 
Overall in 2014, the Eagles went 8-7-5 and utilized a grueling non-conference schedule in which they played seven top-100 RPI teams to help prepare them for another A-Sun Championship. Furthermore, FGCU extended the nation's longest home regular-season conference unbeaten streak during the 2014 campaign. FGCU has not lost a home regular-season A-Sun game since 2008 – its second year as a program – a stretch of 26 in a row in which the Eagles are unbeaten (23-0-3).
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information and a behind-the-scenes look at the FGCU men's soccer program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_MSoccer and Instagram @FGCU_MSoccer.
 
COACH BUTEHORN
FGCU is led by Bob Butehorn, who has coached 45 A-Sun All-Conference selections since FGCU started its program in 2007. In just four years of postseason eligibility, Butehorn has guided FGCU to three A-Sun Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances – in 2011, 2012 and 2014 – and has won an unprecedented five-straight A-Sun regular-season championships. His teams have been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets, and in 2013 he won his 100th career game.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.