TAMPA, Fla. - Former Premier Development League and current FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Newton has been named the 2018 Golden Glove award winner by the United Soccer League following a stellar first season with the Eastern Conference club.

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Newton -- who began his career in the PDL with IMG Academy Bradenton -- earns the top honor for a goalkeeper in USL after posting nine shutouts this season, as well as the lowest goals-against average tally (0.80). 

Overall, he spent four seasons in PDL, making over 40 appearances in the league.

The 30-year-old keeper joined Cincinnati in 2018 after spending two seasons with Sacramento Republic, where he kept 15 clean sheets combined in 2016 and 2017.

Newton helped guide Cincinnati to the top overall record in USL during the regular season, with the Ohio-based team losing just three of its 34 matches.

A part of the United Soccer Leagues, which also operates the USL (soon to be the USL Championship), the new USL League One and Super Y League, the PDL (sson to be USL League Two) has served as the proven stepping-stone for aspiring professionals.

More than 70 percent of all MLS SuperDraft selections since 2010 have PDL experience, including a total of 66 alums chosen in 2018. Among the many players to have played in the PDL before making their professional debuts include Werder Bremen's Josh Sargent, Newcastle United FC defender DeAndre Yedlin, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Columbus Crew forward Gyasi Zardes.