Braintree’s Caldwell relishes challenge

The 18-year-old Caldwell is a freshman reserve for the University of Akron’s men’s soccer team, which is off to a 5-0 start. Among NCAA Division 1 men’s teams, the Zips are ranked first in the Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer polls, and second by College Soccer News.

A 5-foot-8, 130-pound midfielder, Caldwell has played 63 minutes in three matches, with 50 minutes last Friday in a 4-0 victory over High Point University marking his longest stint in a game. He has not registered a point yet.

“It can be difficult sometimes,’’ Caldwell said of his reserve role. “I know the guys are ahead of me, so I need to work harder to get into a starting role or more playing time as a sub.’’

Akron head coach Caleb Porter said Caldwell, who was rated as the ninth-best prospect in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, has adjusted to the new role.

“He’s handled it very well,’’ said Porter, who has guided the Zips to the second-best winning percentage (.794) in Division 1 since 2005 and a Sweet 16 tournament appearance last year. “He’s never had a negative attitude and he’s worked hard in training.’’

Caldwell, part of what one scouting service considered the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, could have played right away at other top universities, but he relished the challenge.

“I thought about it both ways,’’ said Caldwell, who briefly considered Boston College, where older sister Amy is a junior forward, and Boston University, whose head coach, Neil Roberts, helped develop his game with the South Shore United Blazers club team. “In the latter, if I could just start a bunch of games, that’d also be helpful. But I think if I can work my way into it, that’d be even more helpful.’’

In the Zips’ four-man midfield, Caldwell has played once as a holding, or defensive, midfielder and once as the attacking midfielder.

“He’s better suited as a linking midfielder,’’ Porter said. “In our buildup, it’s important to have guys who can dictate the rhythm of the game. He can open up the game with his probing passes.’’

Caldwell’s assimilation into college soccer was aided by enrolling in classes in the spring. As a member of the US Soccer Residency Program for U-17 national team players, Caldwell attended Edison Academic Center in Florida, which graduates early so Residency players don’t have to worry about school work in preparation for the FIFA youth championships in the fall. Rather than return to Braintree for some downtime, Caldwell wanted to hit the ground running at Akron.

“I was able to train with the team and it gave me a step ahead, rather than coming in the fall and being behind, soccer-wise,’’ said Caldwell, who trained with the New England Revolution as a member of their youth academy this summer.

Caldwell has already endeared himself to the Akron coaching staff, who have a nickname for him: Larry Bird. “Being that he’s from Boston is a part of it,’’ Porter said with a laugh, “but, very similar to Larry Bird, what he might lack in overall athleticism he makes up for in being extremely technical and intelligent as a player.’’

Despite having several potential All-Americans and Major League Soccer draftees as teammates, Caldwell could still forge more minutes for himself.

“He’s going to play a major role this fall,’’ Porter said, “and it’ll be a support role, but who knows. Maybe a week or two from now, maybe we’re saying we need him in the starting lineup. He’s just gotten better every single week.’’