Earl Edwards Jr.

Earl Edwards Jr.
Edwards with Orlando City B in 2017
Personal information
Full name Earl William Edwards Jr.
Date of birth (1992-01-24) January 24, 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth San Diego, California, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 New England Revolution
Number 36
Youth career
2007–2009 IMG Academy
2009–2010 Nomads SC[2]
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 UCLA Bruins 61 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012 Ventura County Fusion 6 (0)
2013 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 8 (0)
2014 Ventura County Fusion 1 (0)
2015–2018 Orlando City 6 (0)
2016–2017 Orlando City B 25 (0)
2019–2020 D.C. United 0 (0)
2019–2020 → Loudoun United (loan) 16 (0)
2021– New England Revolution 8 (0)
2021–2022 New England Revolution II 5 (0)
International career‡
2007–2009 United States U17 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 3, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 19, 2015

Earl William Edwards Jr. (born January 24, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.

College and amateur

Edwards spent his entire college career at UCLA, including a red-shirted year in 2010. He made a total of 61 appearances for the Bruins and finished with 19 shutouts and a 1.07 Goals Against Average. He was named first team All-Pac-12 in 2013 and 2014.

Edwards also played in the Premier Development League for Ventura County Fusion and Seattle Sounders FC U-23.[3][4][5]

Professional career

Orlando City

On January 20, 2015, Edwards was selected in the third round (43rd overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City and signed a professional contract with the club a month later.[6] He made his professional debut on June 17 in a 2015 U.S. Open Cup match against Charleston Battery. Orlando went on to advance on penalties.[7]

He was loaned to Orlando City B in March 2016 before becoming the first-choice keeper in the 2017 USL season.[8]

He made his first MLS start on October 23, 2017, away at Philadelphia Union on the final day of the season when regular starter Joe Bendik was ruled out with concussion. Orlando lost 6–1.

On July 14, 2018, following James O'Connor's appointment as manager, he was given the start over a healthy Bendik in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. Orlando won 2–1 with Edwards registering 3 saves.[9] Edwards would retain the starting job for five games, conceding 13 goals. He was released by the club at the end of the 2018 season when his contract expired.[10]

D.C. United

On December 19, 2018, Edwards was acquired by D.C. United in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[11] On January 8, 2020, Edwards was re-signed by D.C. United for the 2020 season.[12] He was released by D.C. United on November 30, 2020.[13]

Loudoun United

Edwards has appeared in games for D.C. United's affiliate club, Loudoun United. He appeared the first time for Loudoun United in a game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 31, 2019. He was able to keep a clean sheet in his debut as the game ended 0-0.

New England Revolution

On December 19, 2020, Edwards joined MLS side New England Revolution ahead of their 2021 season.[14]

International

Edwards was a member of the United States under-17 squad that competed at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.

Honors

New England Revolution

References

  1. ^ "Earl Edwards Jr". New England Revolution. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Alumni". NOMADS Soccer Club. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "2012 Ventura County Fusion stats". USLPDL.com. Premier Development League. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "2013 Seattle Sounders FC U-23 stats". USLPDL.com. Premier Development League. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "2014 Ventura County Fusion stats". USLPDL.com. Premier Development League. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "Orlando City Signs SuperDraft Selection Earl Edwards Jr". OrlandoCitySC.com. Orlando City SC. February 25, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  7. ^ Chin, Jhamie (June 17, 2015). "Match Recap: Orlando City Defeats Charleston Battery in Dramatic 10-Round Penalty Kick Shootout to Advance in the U.S. Open Cup". OrlandoCitySC.com. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "Orlando City SC Loan Seven Players to OCB". Orlando City Soccer Club.
  9. ^ "Orlando City vs Toronto FC matchcenter", MLSsoccer.com, July 14, 2018, retrieved July 15, 2018
  10. ^ "Orlando City declines options for eight players after tough 2018 season | Pro Soccer USA". www.prosoccerusa.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "DC United acquire goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr. in trade from Orlando City". MLSsoccer.com. July 14, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "D.C. United Re-sign Earl Edwards Jr". January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "D.C. United Announce End-of-Season Roster Decisions | DC United".
  14. ^ "New England Revolution sign goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. | New England Revolution".