Preston Kilwien

Following a 2-week trial, Kilwien signed a professional contract with New York Red Bulls II on March 8, 2019.[1] He made his professional debut on April 13, 2019 in a 2-1 victory at Charlotte Independence. Kilwien made 24 appearances, among the most rookies on the team, and started 18 games as a central defender for NYRB II in 2019. His 1,673 total minutes ranked ninth on the team. The club announced on Dec. 4, 2019 it exercised the option on Kilwien's contract.[2] In April 2020 he represented New York Red Bulls II in the United Soccer League's USL eCup: Rocket League Edition.[3]

Kilwien spent his entire college career at Florida Gulf Coast University, receiving a B.A. in Integrated Studies in May 2020. He made a total of 60 appearances for the Eagles and tallied 4 goals and 5 assists.[4] In summer 2019 he was named FGCU's Most Outstanding Male Athlete.[5] During his senior year at FGCU, he was named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Atlantic Region, Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference.[6] As a junior in 2017, Kilwien was named Second Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference and was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team in 2015.

During his four years, FGCU compiled a 38-19-11 record, claimed two Atlantic Sun Conference championships and earned a second round 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament appearance. He scored the game-winning goal against Princeton on a 35-yard volley in his first college appearance in 2015, which was selected as the No. 3 play on ESPN SportsCenter's top 10 plays.[7]

While at college, Kilwien played for Premier Development League sides South Florida Surf, Seattle Sounders U23 and Tampa Bay Rowdies U23. In 2016, he was named to the PDL Team of the Week. In 2018, he was named one of the league's preseason top 50 professional prospects.

Kilwien began playing organized soccer at the age of four. He played club soccer for DeAnza Force SC (Cupertino, Calif.) at both the U8-9 and U17-18 USSDA level. He also spent time as a youth with Crossfire Premier (Redmond, Wash.), Snohomish United (Shohomish, Wash.) East Bay Eclipse (Moraga, Calif.) and Diablo FC (Concord, Calif.). In 2016, he helped lead FC Florida to the United States Youth Soccer Association U19 national championship final. He played three seasons at Campolindo High School and graduated in 2015 from College Park High School (Pleasant Hill, California).