CINCINNATI, OH --- Goalkeeper Evan Newton will make the switch to the Eastern Conference and join FC Cincinnati for the 2018 season.
“Evan is an experienced goalkeeper in the USL who has had a taste of the MLS,” said Head Coach Alan Koch. “He is an excellent shot stopper and commands his box very well. I firmly believe that he has not yet peaked and am excited to see what Jack Stern and our club can get out of him. He is a fantastic guy who will mesh very well with the group that we have assembled. Our goalkeeping unit is going to be incredibly competitive and will bring out the best in each other.”
Newton spent the last four seasons in the United Soccer League’s Western Conference. The Virginia Beach, VA native played the last two seasons with Sacramento Republic FC. He finished the 2017 season tied for eighth in saves with 73 while stopping 42 of 53 attempts in 2016. During his time with Republic FC, Newton logged 15 clean sheets while making 46 appearances.
Prior to his move to Sacramento, Newton spent a year with Oklahoma City Energy FC, where he was a USL Goalkeeper of the Year finalist. He posted a Western Conference-best 10 shutouts and guided Energy FC to the No. 2 seed in playoffs. Starting in 27 fixtures, Newton allowed 33 goals.
As a member of Arizona United SC in 2014, the 6-2 standout started in 28 matches while amassing 111 saves to finish second in the league to go along with five clean sheets. He was with San Jose Earthquakes in 2012 and 2013.
Newton was a 2011 second-round draft choice by the Houston Dynamo and was loaned to FC Tampa Bay, posting a shutout in two appearances. He made his debut with FC Tampa Bay in a friendly against English Premier League side, Bolton Wanderers, and made six saves in a combined 1-0 blanking.
Newton honed his talents at Old Dominion University, where he led the Monarchs to three NCAA Tournament berths and a Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2007 during his sophomore season. He earned all-conference accolades every season, including an All-Rookie nod in 2006, second-league honors in 2007, was a third-team choice in 2009 and capped his career with first-team recognition in 2010. As a senior, he set ODU’s career record in saves with 254 and shutouts with 36. In his freshman campaign, Newton helped the Monarchs to the third round of the NCAA Tournament after posting 10 shutouts, including five consecutive, while recording a sub-1.00 goals-against average over 17 starts.
He was the PDL’s 2007 Goalkeeper of the Year after holding the opposition to just three goals in 14 games as a member of the Hampton Roads Piranhas.
Name: Evan Newton
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185
Date of birth: April 1, 1988
Age: 29
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Country: USA
Last club: Sacramento Republic FC
How acquired: Signed on Jan. 5, 2018
