USL Charleston Battery

Midfield Wizard Justin Portillo to Rejoin Battery for 2016

Published on January 8, 2016 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


Charleston Battery Midfielder Justin Portillo
Charleston Battery Midfielder Justin Portillo
(Charleston Battery)

CHARLESTON - Deep-lying playmaker Justin Portillo, a third-year central midfielder generally recognized as one of the top passers in USL, has re-joined the club for the 2016 season, Battery General Manager and Coach Mike Anhaeuser announced Friday.

Per club policy, contract details remain private.

"Justin has been an important player for us in the midfield both offensively and defensively for two years," Anhaeuser said. "He's a focused player who wants to succeed, and he's great in the locker room."

Portillo, 23, is a New Orleans native who went on to become a record-breaking star at NCAA powerhouse Coastal Carolina University. He called the decision to re-sign with the Battery "a no-brainer," and said he plans to step into more of a leadership role in his third professional season.

"I've fallen in love with the city, with the people there, the staff, a lot of my teammates," Portillo said. "It's an opportunity, and everything else just fell into place."

Overlooked in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft due to concerns about his size, the 5-6 tactician began his rookie Battery season as a regular sub, emerging as a trusted starter midway through the schedule. His play helped spark the team's "Oatmeal Power" surge to the playoffs, earning him the Battery's 2014 Newcomer of the Year award.

Anhaeuser clarified Portillo's duties at the start of the 2015 season, deploying him alongside defensive midfielder and team captain Jarad van Schaik in the Battery's stock 4-2-3-1. Though not an overtly physical player, Portillo proved his tenacity on defense and thrived as in his new role, initiating a high percentage of the Battery's most dangerous attacks. Portillo and van Schaik also split the team's corner-kick duties,with Portillo taking most of the team's attacking free kicks.

He took over as the Battery's go-to penalty specialist on May 17th, scoring a clutch equalizer against New York Red Bulls II in Manhattan, and never relinquished the role.

Portillo finished the season as the team's No. 2 goalscorer, with eight goals across all competitions. Only one of them -- a spectacular long-distance blast against Orlando City SC in the U.S. Open Cup -- came from the run of play, with five coming from penalties and two more scored off direct free kicks. Portillo also dished out four goals, three of them from set pieces, including the game-winning corner cross to Forrest Lasso in the waning moments the Battery's playoff with Richmond. He was named to the USL Team of the Week three times, twice as a starter.

Anhaeuser said Portillo has "the opportunity and ability" to make it to the next level, and rates him among the best players in the league at his position.

"Possession-wise, he's really the guy who can control the middle of the field, and he has the ability to work it around," he said. "It makes us dangerous, and forces the other team to defend."

"But the big thing he does is he opens the field up to our wing backs. (That utilizes) our pace, because he can drive a good 60-yard ball. Yes, he's a possession guy, but he can also hit the long pass. He's not just hitting five yards square, and he's shown that he can score from distance.

Portillo said he's comfortable with where he is at this point in his career and confident that he can develop into a better player. But his biggest goals are for the team.

"You know, from my first year to last year, I thought we improved a lot, chemistry-wise and everything. That first year was really tough: A lot of guys in and out of the lineup, a lot of big injuries, a lot of people coming and going. Last year we had (more continuity) from beginning to end, and I think that helped a lot. I expect us to continue from where we left off, get even further in the playoffs, and finish better in the regular season."

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Charleston Battery Midfielder Justin Portillo
Charleston Battery Midfielder Justin Portillo
   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from January 8, 2016


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