Skyline’s secret weapon, an 18 year old freshmen standout from this year’s men soccer team, Andres Portillo, will be returning to the Trojans for the 2012 season.

There’s no denying that it was a rocky season for the Skyline Men’s soccer team, and if there is a theme to describe the season for the young and inexperienced team, it would be that of defeating hardships. Despite the bumpy 3-10-1 conference record season, it’s no secret that this team has the potential to be tough enough to become a championship contending team. Of the current 25 man roster, 21 sophomores will return for next year’s men’s soccer team.

This past season, Andres led the team with seven goals, along with four assists. On his first game ever in a Skyline Trojans uniform, Portillo scored a hat trick (three goals), beating Shasta College in a non-conference match.

Daniel Link, the men’s head soccer coach at Skyline, described Portillo as a very good kid who knows the game well and is very talented. Link confirmed his skills to be on a different level than some of the other players he has coached in the past.

“His first, second, and third step is outstanding. You don’t see a player with his burst too often”, says Link.

As a student athlete, Portillo is currently enrolled in 15 units and was challenged academically by some of his grades, as well as the challenge of his the quality of his leadership, scrutinized by the Skyline men’s coaching staff. Despite the challenges that Portillo faced, he wasn’t stopped from being a standout athlete on the men’s soccer team. Link emphasized that Andres is constantly working on his grades, and that his presence on this team has a major impact.

“Sometimes his intensity is lacking, so his playing time has been limited,” Link admits. “We have had talks with him, he is looking to turn things around and get serious. He knows his change of attitude can change our season; he has that type of ability.”

Ceasar Verastegui, a sophomore this season and also one of the three team captains, will not be returning back next season to the Trojans. Despite this, Verastegui explained the impact that Portillo has had on this season’s team.

“He adds a lot. I definitely wish him, as well as the rest of the team good luck next season.”

After speaking to the young player, it didn’t take too long for Portillo to tell me what he hopes to gain from playing soccer at Skyline.

“I want to play for Sunderland, a professional team in England,” Portillo says proudly.

Portillo also understands the challenges of being a good team next season, and recognizes the mistakes he’s made towards the team and coaching staff this season.

“I felt like I haven’t respected them as coaches as much as I should have in terms of me doing my part,” says Portillo. “I’m not going to stop, I plan on talking to the coaches [and telling them] that I’m going to do whatever it takes to be better next season, even if it means eating differently or lifting weights, but most importantly I know I need to get my priorities straight.”

Andres voluntarily decided to attend Skyline even after being contacted by Feather River College to play soccer. At the time, Portillo ultimately decided to stay near home, thinking that he was not ready to leave his life here to attend and play soccer five hours away from home at Feather River College in Quincy, California.

“I wasn’t ready to leave my family, friends, girlfriend; I just thought it’d be easier to come here. I knew about the good coaching; I love the coaching staff here.”