It’s been quite a run lately for Orlando’s USL team. Orlando City B currently sit in 7th in the standings and in a playoff spot, thanks to their recent 10 game unbeaten run. A huge factor in the team continuing their impressive run of form has been the play of The Landlord, goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. The Lions keeper, on loan from the MLS side for the season, has been one of the best keepers in the USL this year.
He is tied for first with the most saves so far this season with 74 saves and is also tied for first with the most clean sheets in the league, with nine. Five of the last eight games for Edwards have been shutouts, with the latest coming in a 3-0 win at home against Ottawa Fury, the largest margin of victory in OCB history, in which he made nine saves including stopping a penalty kick early in the match.
In the team’s most recent draw against the first placed team in the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Independence, Edwards came up huge for his team. Facing a barrage of chances from one of the most potent attacks in the league at the moment, Edwards stood on his head and made save after save, coming up with eight stops in total.
Despite all the personal accolades so far in the season, Edwards is quick to credit his defense for their part in keeping the clean sheets and making his job a bit easier in goal.
“I think it's been a lot to do with the guys in front of me,” Edwards said, “If you look at our last nine games I'm sure the back four, I don't know if it's been the same two games in a row. So I think guys are constantly coming in, stepping up and getting the job done. Getting the ball in places where I can make saves. I think a lot of the credit goes to the back four and the guys in front of them.”
With eight games remaining on the team's’ schedule, Edwards will look to keep his excellent run of form going and propel his team into the playoffs.
OCB’s next game comes against Orlando City’s former USL affiliate in 2015, Louisville City FC, on Saturday in Kentucky.
