Knox Soccer Athlete in Elite Summer League

A Prairie Fire men's soccer player is staying sharp this summer by competing in a developmental league that includes players from all NCAA divisions.

Charles Edemba, a defender for Knox last season, is a member of the St. Louis Lions. The Lions play in the 2013 Premier Development League (PDL), which features 65 amateur men's teams within four conferences throughout the United States and Canada

A graduate of Santana Rhetoric International School in Nigeria, Edemba started all 17 matches and tallied six points on three goals for Knox in 2012.

The PDL brings together NCAA Division I, II, and III from across the country. The league is a division of the United Soccer Leagues, the largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues -- both men and women -- in North America. The Lions, in their eighth season in the PDL, play at least 14 matches from May through August.

"It is great to have Charles competing at a high level throughout the summer," Prairie Fire men's soccer coach Matt Edwards said. "He will learn from the older and more experienced players around him, which will be great for his development."

Knox begins the 2013 season at home against DePauw University at 3 p.m., Saturday, August 31.