In his third year with Orlando City SC, goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. has an opportunity to be the starter for the club's United Soccer League side.

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. has taken advantage of his opportunity to start for Orlando City B this year, using the occasion to make an impact both on and off the pitch. For head coach Anthony Pulis, Edwards Jr. has made OCB his team.

“Well I think it just comes down to the individual and the way that they approach things, and he’s approached this in a really professional manner and understands how important that this is that he’s getting minutes week in, week out,” Pulis said before training Wednesday. “And he knows, barring an injury or two, that he’s gonna be playing for us every week.

“So he’s now kind of approaching this as his team, which is fantastic, and that is what we want.”

Coincidentally enough, this was a conversation Pulis had with first-year OCB defender Zach Carroll about his experience with the New York Red Bulls II.

“It’s funny because I had a conversation with Zach Carroll at the start of the year on why New York Red Bulls II was so successful last year,” Pulis said. “He kinda said to me, ‘Well the [Major League Soccer] guys that came across every week treated it as their team and treated it as their way of being successful and playing well while also still gaining experience. They wanted to win. They wanted to be successful.’”

This is the first year Edwards Jr. has had the chance to lead a team. While with the MLS side, Edwards Jr. only made appearances in two friendlies and two U.S. Open Cup matches in 2016. The addition of veteran goalkeeper Josh Saunders has given the first team another option at backup goalkeeper, allowing Edwards Jr. to accrue minutes for the United Soccer League side.

So far this season, Edwards Jr. has started all eight games, leading the league in saves with 24. In those eight matches, Pulis has seen a new side of Edwards Jr.

“I didn’t really see that before,” Pulis said. “That’s why I think he’s been great, and I had a chat with him last week and told him how pleased we’ve been with him, not just on the field but the way he’s been around the group. Because he’s now had that two years of being an MLS backup, he’s been around the environment, and I think he’s now really kind of relishing that role of being our starting goalkeeper and being able to…really help the younger guys out.”

For midfielder Jordan Schweitzer, Edwards Jr. exemplifies his leadership not necessarily in what he says but in what he does. Schweitzer credited Edwards Jr.’s league-leading ability for keeping OCB in close games.

“He’s made stops, he’s made saves, he’s kept us in games. I think he’s a leader by example,” Schweitzer said before training Wednesday. “You know, he’s not maybe the most outspoken guy in the locker room but when he talks, people listen. He’s got a good presence, and, at the end of the day, he’s been performing. You can’t deny that, so I think to have someone like him in goal making those saves and keeping us in games—we’ve gotta rally around that.”

OCB end their two-week break when they play away from home against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Follow Tom Cardinal on Twitter at @NDR_TomCardinal.