MACON, Ga. – Coming off an unprecedented sixth-straight Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season championship in 2015, the FGCU men's soccer team has been installed as the 2016 preseason league favorites, as voted on by the conference's seven head coaches and unveiled by ASUN officials Monday.
 
Additionally, a trio of Eagles have been named to the Preseason ASUN All-Conference Team: Nicolas Samayoa, Miguel Jaime and Albert Ruiz, with Samayoa being selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Ruiz being the only unanimous selection to the 14-player team.
 
FGCU – which is receiving votes in the NSCAA Preseason Poll – garnered two of the seven first-place votes and collected 42 points overall, four clear of second-place North Florida (38) and six ahead of third-place Lipscomb (34), as both teams also picked up two first-place votes. Jacksonville secured the other first-place vote and was predicted to finish fourth with 31 points, eight ahead of ASUN men's soccer newcomer NJIT (23). USC Upstate (17) and Stetson (11) rounded out the sixth and seventh spots, respectively. It marks the fourth-straight year FGCU has been installed as the preseason league favorites.
 
"Our goal as a program each year is to win the ASUN title, and it's certainly nice to again be recognized collectively before the season begins," said head coach Bob Butehorn, who has led FGCU to seven-straight winning seasons. "I'm happy for Nico (Samayoa), Miggy (Jaime) and Albert as their honors are certainly well deserved, but I believe we have a deep and talented roster with a number of guys who will make an impact throughout the year."
 
Samayoa (Guatemala City, Guatemala/Colegio Valle Verde) is coming off an ASUN Second Team selection in 2015 as he started all 12 of the games he appeared in as a defender. The junior helped anchor a defensive unit that paced the ASUN in goals allowed (13 – nine fewer than any other team), goals-against average (0.88 – 0.45 better than any other team) and shutouts (seven – two more than any other team). During conference matches, the Eagles scored 14 more goals than their opponents, allowing just one goal in their five ASUN games.
 
Ruiz (Barcelona, Spain/UE Cornella/CE L'Hospitalet) posted one of the most explosive offensive seasons in program history in 2015 en route to being named an ASUN First Team selection. The junior led FGCU in points (16) and goals (seven) to rank fifth in the ASUN in both categories. The 16 points were one shy of tying the single-season program record, and his 1.45 points per game average was the highest in single-season program history and ranked third in the league.
 
The lethal striker – who missed the first five games of the season with an injury – tied the single-season program record with seven goals, going a perfect 5-5 on penalty kicks to break the program's all-time mark of four. Additionally, his 0.65 goals per game average were the most in single-season program history and ranked second in the ASUN.
 
Jaime (Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek HS) was an ASUN Second Team selection as a sophomore in 2015. He started 11 of the 12 games he played in at the midfield position. Jaime scored two goals and issued two assists on the year to finish with six points to rank fourth on the team. His first goal came at Brown in late September before adding his second goal a few days later at Stetson in what turned out to be the game-winner.
 
FGCU was ranked nationally for nearly half of last season, climbing as high as #19. The Green and Blue posted a 7-4-3 overall record against a preeminent non-league slate and again claimed the aforementioned league regular-season crown with a 4-0-1 mark.
 
The Green and Blue lost six starters from that team, but return 17 letterwinners, including three of their top four scorers. FGCU produced three professional players off its 2015 roster: Rodrigo Saravia (MLS, Columbus Crew SC), Aaron Guillen (MLS, FC Dallas) and Nathan Ingham (NASL, FC Edmonton).
 
The 2016 season gets underway for the Eagles at Northwestern on Friday, Aug. 26, before returning for their home opener against Michigan on Monday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. The slate features 11 non-league matchups, eight home contests (all scheduled for 7 p.m. starts) and nine road competitions. Four opponents made 2015 NCAA Tournament appearances and four accumulated double-figure wins last season. Eight teams join FGCU in having finished in the top 100 of the RPI last year, three of which were inside the top 30.
 
Season and single-game tickets are now available for the 2016 campaign, with season tickets starting at just $35. More information, including special discounts and group rates, can be accessed by visiting FGCUTickets.com. To purchase tickets, or for additional inquiries, call the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
FGCU owns the longest home conference regular-season unbeaten streak in the nation at 28 straight (25-0-3). The Eagles have not lost a home ASUN regular-season game in nearly eight years, dating back to a 2-0 defeat against Jacksonville in October of 2008 – the program's second season.

2016 Atlantic Sun Men's Soccer Preseason Honors and Awards
 
Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank) Team (1st Votes) -- Points
1) FGCU (2) -- 42
2) North Florida (2) -- 38
3) Lipscomb (2) -- 34
4) Jacksonville (1) -- 31
5) NJIT -- 23
6) USC Upstate -- 17
7) Stetson -- 11

Preseason Player of the Year: Ivan Alvarado, Lipscomb
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Nicolas Samayoa, FGCU
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: Micah Bledsoe, Lipscomb

Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team

Pos.	Name	School	Cl.	Hometown
GK	Micah Bledsoe	Lipscomb	Sr.	Cincinnati, Ohio
D	Nicolas Samayoa	FGCU	Jr.	Guatemala City, Guatemala
D	Joe Amico	Jacksonville	Sr.	Indianapolis, Ind.
D	Joe Kerridge	Lipscomb	Jr.	Golden, Colo.
D	Jay Bolt	North Florida	Sr.	Jacksonville, Fla.
D	Lukas Sommer	USC Upstate	Jr.	Nordwalde, Germany
MF	Miguel Jaime	FGCU	Jr.	Denver, Colo.
MF	Ivan Alvarado	Lipscomb	Jr.	Fort Worth, Texas
MF	Josh Castellanos	North Florida	Jr.	Ponte Vedra, Fla.
MF	Ivan Castro	North Florida	So.	Plant City, Fla.
*F	Albert Ruiz	FGCU	Jr.	Barcelona, Spain
F	Ejiroghene Mrabure	Jacksonville	Jr.	Mississauga, Ont.
F	Logan Paynter	Lipscomb	So.	Bradenton, Fla.
F	Mamadou Guirassy	NJIT	Jr.	Paris, France

* Denotes a unanimous selection to preseason team
** A tie in voting resulted in a 14-person team
 
Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year: Mamadou Guirassy, NJIT (377)
Fan-Voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Nicolas Samayoa, FGCU (306)
Fan-Voted Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: Patrick Harding, Jacksonville (311)

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, Instagram @FGCU_MSoccer, Facebook /FGCUMSoccer and YouTube /FGCUAthletics.
 
COACH BUTEHORN
FGCU is led by Bob Butehorn, who has coached six professional players and 54 A-Sun All-Conference selections since FGCU started its program in 2007. In just five 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 six-straight A-Sun regular-season championships. His teams have been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets. Having completed his 13th season as a head coach, Butehorn has a 115-90-25 (.554) overall record, 81-58-21 (.572) mark in his nine seasons at FGCU and 48-17-6 (.718) record in A-Sun contests.
 
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.