FRESNO, Calif. – The challenge facing 18-year-old Noah Verhoeven when he signed his first professional contract with Fresno FC this spring was a large one.

Going from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy, where he had performed well enough to earn a place this January with the U.S. U18 National Team, to an expansion USL squad filled with veteran players, would he be able to earn a regular place on the field in his first full season in the pro ranks?

So far, Verhoeven has answered that question in impressive fashion. Wednesday night saw him make his third start out of five appearances overall as the Foxes played to a 2-2 draw with Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Chukchansi Park and record his first assist on Pedro Ribeiro’s long-range blast that opened the scoring.

As the youngest player in the Foxes’ squad, the welcome he’s received has helped Verhoeven quickly feel comfortable in expressing himself on the field.

“They welcomed me with open arms,” he said this week. “A lot of the older guys really made me feel at home right away and they were offering, trying to see if I needed anything as I made the transition here. It’s been great.”