Jan. 31, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, PA -­­­ La Salle University senior soccer standout Jeremy Ortiz (Mt. Laurel, NJ/ Lenape) has been drafted as the third overall pick by the New Jersey Ironmen in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) College Draft, announced January 29th.
"It's an honor to get drafted third overall. It's been a goal of mine for the past four years to play professionally and I'm excited to stay in the area," said Ortiz.
The Explorer forward played four successful seasons at La Salle where he was named co-captain prior to his senior season and was selected to the A-10 All-Conference Honorable Mention Team in 2007. After leading the Explorers in goals (six) and points (16) his junior year in only ten games, Ortiz was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team, Philadelphia Soccer 7 All-Star Team, NSCAA First Team All-Mid Atlantic Team and the Drexel Invitational Tournament Team. He is a 2004 graduate of Lenape High School in Medford, New Jersey, earning All-State accolades as a senior.
A communication major, Ortiz plans on completing his degree at La Salle before beginning his professional career.
"I'm going to graduate in May and then start playing in the summer and fall. The MISL season runs October through April," Ortiz stated.
He also played two seasons with the Ocean City Barons of the USL Premier Development League, scoring 16 goals in 30 games. He was named the Barons' Most Valuable Player in 2006, and Ironmen Head Coach Namazi saw the potential in the Mount Laurel product.
"Ortiz has been on my radar for two years," he commented. "I followed him with the Barons, and he jumped off the stat sheet as a goal scorer. I have heard a lot of good things about him, and I was told he is the real deal. He has the potential to make an immediate impact."
The La Salle senior will see familiar faces on the Ironmen bench as the club also drafted defender Matt Sleece (Villanova University) and A-10 midfielder Travis McKenzie (Duquesne University)- both teams the Explorers faced in 2007.
The MISL draft consisted of one territorial round and four numerical rounds. MISL teams that participated in last year's season were ranked in reverse order of last seasons' final win-loss percentage, and expansion teams drafted with the first three picks in reverse order of their current season standings.
"When approaching the college draft, you look for good players based on your current needs," Coach Namazi stated about his approach to the draft. "We were looking for some talented local players, and we addressed those needs."
For more information on the NJ Ironmen, click here.
