How Eric Calvillo Became NASL Player of the Month
As one of the youngest players in the NASL, Eric Calvillo making player of the month is no easy feat. Goal Nation explores the journey.
Soccer News: One of the youngest players in the North American Soccer League (NASL) is making his presence felt. After an impressive month of July, New York Cosmos midfielder Eric Calvillo was named NASL Player of the Month by the league’s media.
After waiting a long time for his chance to break into the squad on a regular basis, the U.S. youth international has grasped his opportunity. The 19-year-old midfielder scored three times and added an assist in four games during July.
Four of Calvillo’s five league appearances in 2017 came in July – a crunched amount of time to make an impact. In his three starts, he played all but five minutes in those contests.
The youngster’s confidence has grown each game, punctuating the month with a two-goal effort in a 3-1 win over Spring Season Champion Miami FC to begin the Fall Season. Calvillo scored his first goal of the year in the Spring Season finale on July 15 to lift the Cosmos to a 1-0 victory over FC Edmonton.
In his first start of the year on July 8, Calvillo assisted on the Cosmos’ lone goal – a strike by Emmanuel Ledesma – in a 2-1 loss to Indy Eleven. Beyond the goals and assists, the young midfielder has added a steadying presence beyond his years. At the end of July, his passing accuracy percentage was 94.55.
Calvillo signed with the Cosmos on January 15, 2016, making his debut later that year against Jacksonville Armada FC. He scored his first goal for the club on October 29 – a game-winner in a 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC. Back in 2015, Calvillo represented the U.S. in the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Chile, featuring in all three games for the American side.
The Cosmos head to Calvillo’s home state of California for their next game, paying a visit to the San Francisco Deltas on Saturday. Kickoff at Kezar Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen live on Twitter via the @sfdeltas page.
