HARRISBURG, Pa. – Former FGCU men's soccer standout Miguel Jaime has become the program's eighth professional player as the talented and heady central midfielder has inked a contract with Penn FC in the United Soccer League.
 
A decorated player throughout his four years in the Green and Blue, Jaime was named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team, ASUN Second Team as a sophomore, ASUN All-Tournament Team as a junior and was one of only two players in program history to be a two-time ASUN All-Academic Team selection.
 
Playing almost exclusively in the midfield for the Eagles – and helping orchestrate and organize FGCU's offense all four years, including its nation-leading attack in 2016 – Jaime played in 67 career games, which is tied for the 9th-most in program history. His nine assists are tied for the 7th-most in program lore, and the Denver native also tallied five goals to post 19 points.
 
"I'd like to thank everyone at FGCU, especially my coaches, teammates the support staff for the best four years of my life," said Jaime, who is completing his degree online this semester while already having arrived in Harrisburg for the season opener later this month. "I am so appreciative and grateful for the opportunities and doors that FGCU has opened for me.
 
"I'm excited and looking forward to this new challenge," Jaime added. "I'm entering it with the mindset of just trying to get better and learn from everyone every day."
 
Jaime is joining a Penn FC squad which recently re-branded from the Harrisburg City Islanders this winter. The United Soccer League (commonly referred to as USL) is in the tier below Major League Soccer. Jaime will be playing for German head coach Raoul Voss – who was a defender at FIU – and was just hired last month.
 
"We are all so proud of Miggy; he epitomizes the quality of character, maturity and talent we want in our men's soccer program here at FGCU," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "He always works at ways he can improve himself and his game. There isn't one person in this program – from coaches to players – that Miggy hasn't positively impacted. We knew Penn FC had a gem of a player and person when they smartly decided to take him on." 
 
Jaime helped lead the Eagles to their ninth-straight winning season courtesy of an 8-6-3 overall record in 2017. FGCU posted a 4-1-1 ASUN mark to claim the No. 2 seed in the ASUN Tournament, continuing a stretch of never being seeded lower than 2nd and reaching at least the semifinals in all seven years the program has been eligible for the postseason.
 
FGCU climbed as high as #15 in the College Soccer News Poll, marking the fourth-straight season – each of Jaime's years – the club has been nationally ranked. During his time with the Eagles, Jaime was part of two ASUN regular-season championships and a pair of ASUN Tournament titles and NCAA appearances – including helping the Eagles advance to the Second Round for the first time in 2016.
 
Jaime becomes the aforementioned eighth FGCU professional product in just the 11-year history of the program, joining:
 
Nicolas Samayoa: New England Revolution (MLS)
Aaron Guillen: FC Dallas (MLS)
Rodrigo Saravia: Swope Park Rangers (USL); Previous: Columbus Crew SC (MLS)
Nathan Ingham: FC Edmonton (North American Soccer League)
Cristian Raudales: FC Edmonton (North American Soccer League)
Daniel Stanese: VfR Aalen (Germany); Previous: FC Augsburg II (Germany)
Manny Gonzalez: South Florida Surf (Premier Development League); Previous: Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)
 
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.
 
HEAD COACH JESSE CORMIER
Jesse Cormier guided FGCU to an 8-6-3 (4-1-1 ASUN) record in his 1st season with the team in 2017. The Eagles reached the ASUN Tournament semifinals for the 7th-straight season (every year of eligibility), and Cormier coached a program-record 10 all-conference selections. Hired in January of 2017 to become just the 2nd head coach in program history, Cormier was the head coach at Vermont for the previous 13 seasons. He won 14 games with the Catamounts in 2016 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round. During his time with Vermont, Cormier guided the program to the America East Tournament in 12 of 13 seasons, making five title game appearances, winning two tournament crowns, claiming a regular-season championship and advancing to three NCAA tournaments, including a pair of Second Round appearances. Cormier has a 122-95-50 (.551 winning percentage) overall record as a head coach.
 
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.