Miles Robinson & Jeff Caldwell Highlight Top PDL Prospects
Players on the Rise — The PDL has ranked University of Virginia goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell and Syracuse defender Miles Robinson as its top ranked college prospects in their positions. Caldwell protected the net for Sounders FC U23, while Robinson held the back line for FC Boston during the 2016 PDL season.
PDL Soccer News: With the collegiate regular season coming to a close, the PDL has ranked Virginia goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell and Syracuse defender Miles Robinson as the top PDL prospects in their respective positions.
Caldwell recorded 19 saves while maintaining a 0.83 save percentage and 0.57 goals-against average for the Sounders FC U23 during the 2016 PDL regular season. A 6-foot-3 junior, Caldwell has continued to excel for the Cavaliers, recording eight shutouts, a 0.81 save percentage and 0.88 goals-against average en route to guiding his program to a 9-2-5 overall record.
“Jeff has been great for the Sounders U23 team,” Sounders U23 Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said. “He has been training in the Sounders organization on one level or other for over three years, and his meticulous method will translate into the professional game when he is ready to make the leap.”
Robinson played in six matches for FC Boston during the 2016 PDL season, helping the franchise secure four victories. Robinson competed in a summer friendly with Boston against Italian Serie A club AS Roma. The defender also received a call-up to the U.S. U20 National Team for the 2016 U20 Men’s NTC Invitational in Carson, California. Robinson, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, has scored four goals and tallied one assist in 14 games played for the Orange in 2016.
“I am not surprised by Miles’ growth as a soccer player,” FC Boston Head Coach Brian Ainscough said. “He has all the tools to push to the next level. Besides his great athleticism, he has the mentality that most young players are lacking.”
More than 20 scouts across North America provide insight on players who performed at the highest level within the PDL, possess strong technical and tactical qualities and have the potential to play at the professional level. The Top 10 Goalkeepers and Top 10 Defenders lists rank PDL players based on these components, as well as their performance during the 2016 college campaign.
Top 10 Goalkeepers
- Jeff Caldwell – Virginia – Sounders FC U23
- Nico Campbell – Valparaiso – Des Moines Menace
- Paul Christensen – Portland – Sounders FC U23
- Andrew Epstein – Stanford – San Francisco City FC
- Ben Lundgaard – Virginia Tech – Fresno Fuego
- Eric Klenofsky – Monmouth – New York Red Bulls U23
- James Pyle – UNC-Chapel Hill – Charlotte Eagles
- JT Marcinkowski – Georgetown – Burlingame Dragons FC
- Billy Heavner – UMBC – Baltimore Bohemians
- Drew Shepherd – Western Michigan – Michigan Bucks
Honorable Mentions: William Pyle – South Carolina – Charlotte Eagles; David Greczek- Rutgers – Jersey Express; Brandon Watson – Simon Fraser – Victoria Highlanders; Adam Allmaras – San Diego State – San Diego Zest FC; Auden Schilder – Washington – Washington Crossfire.
Top 10 Defenders
- Miles Robinson – Syracuse – FC Boston
- Francis de Vries – Saint Francis (PA) – Michigan Bucks
- Lalas Abubakar – Dayton – Michigan Bucks
- Kyle Bjornethun – Seattle – Sounders FC U23
- Jimmy Fiscus – Michigan State – Des Moines Menace
- Dominick Zator – Calgary – Calgary Foothills FC
- Aaron Herrera – New Mexico – FC Tucson
- Walker Hume – UNC-Chapel Hill – Portland Timbers U23s
- Sergi Nus – Virginia – Fresno Fuego
- Brian Nana-Sinkam – Stanford – Burlingame Dragons FC
Honorable Mentions: Macauley King – Young Harris College – Charlotte Eagles; Kamal Miller – Syracuse – K-W United FC; Nathan Aune – Seattle – Washington Crossfire; Robby Sagel – Penn State – Reading United AC; Callum Montgomery – UNC-Charlotte – Victoria Highlanders.
The Top 10 Midfielders and Top 10 Attackers lists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Photo Credit: United Soccer League
