FRISCO, Texas - Former IUPUI men's soccer standout Eduardo Cortes recently signed a contract to join the MLS FC Dallas for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. Cortes, a 5-foot-10 goalkeeper, participated in the Dallas Academy system through 2012 when he moved to Indianapolis to begin his collegiate career. He joined the academy's youth program in 2009 and helped them to the 2012 USSDA National Championship, playing with current FC Dallas players Kellyn Acosta and Aaron Guillen. 

Known affectionately as "Pollo", Cortes was a four-time All-League performer for the Jaguars, closing his career ranked second on the program's all-time list in saves (354), minutes (5618:03), appearances (61) and starts (60). He recorded 11 shutouts in goal during his four seasons and was named Third Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region as a senior in 2015. Cortes was equally skilled in his ability to stop shots and distribute from the keeper position and finished his collegiate career with a .776 save percentage and 1.63 goals against average. 

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity," Cortes told FCDallas.com. "I've been working very hard throughout these months and the coaching staff, it's a vote of confidence for me to get the opportunity and even thought it's been a rough journey here. Just to be here and to be able to have the opportunity to play for my hometown is a blessing. I'm very happy."

He has previous professional stops with Saint Louis FC (USL) in 2016 and was in preseason camp with the Indy Eleven in 2017, but ultimately didn't make the roster. He has continued to train in the Dallas-area before getting the nod as a third keeper earlier this month. 

He joins Kyle Hyland (OKC Energy FC) as former Jaguars among the professional ranks.