Greg Walter is not used to watching soccer, which is what he did as a freshman at Marshall University last fall.

He hadn't thought about playing much this summer, then the opportunity presented itself to hook up with the United Soccer League's Premeier Developmental League.

"(Marshall) Coach (Bob King) said I should play in the PDL," said Walter, a graduate of 2005 graduate of Slippery Rock High School.

"There's a team in Charleston (W.Va.), but our (starting) goalie at Marshall is playing for them.

"They asked me where in the country I'd like to play and I thought the closest to home would be Cleveland," he added.

The PDL is a under-23 men's amateur soccer league, considered a high-caliber developmental league for predominately college-aged players.

This year, the league has 59 teams in four conferences (10 divisions), playing 16 games running through July 23.

The Cleveland Internationals are in the Central Conference's Great Lakes Division along with the Chicago Fire Premier, Fort Wayne Fever, Indiana Invaders, Kalamazoo Kingdom, Michigan Bucks and West Michigan Edge.

Cleveland will kick off its season May 19 at Kalamazoo and wrap up the regular season July 22, hosting Kalamazoo.

"It's something to do to this summer to stay in shape," said Walter.

At Slippery Rock, Walter was a Butler Eagle Elite 11 player as a senior when he had 14 shutouts in 24 games for the Rockets. He was an honorable mention as a junior, getting playing time behind Elite 11 teammate Eric Greaves.

Walter, 19, a four-year letterwinner while with the Rockets, was also goalie for the 2003 U.S. club soccer's U-16 national championship team and also was a member of the PA-West state championship team the following year and the Region 1 Director's League title last year.

As a freshman at Marshall, last fall, however, Walter played in just two games, a total of 57 minutes, 40 seconds. Greg Terhune played in 19 games and Brad Kennedy played in two games .

"It was tough to sit on the bench," said Walter. "You watch the team win and celebrate in games you're not playing in.

"It was tough, but I got used to it. You pay your dues and hopefully, you'll get to the top," Walter added.

Walter only recently joined the Internationals, so he's not sure of the goalie situation yet. That will be determined in the next two weeks.

"I just made the team and there are two other keepers there. "I'm just trying to gain more game experience at this level," said Walter. "I'll use it to try and make myself better."

And Walter wants to use that to better his position entering his sophomore campaign with the Thundering Herd.

"Actually, I talked to Coach and he said all three of us are neck and neck," said Walter. "If I come in with more confidence and refine my game, I see no problem with me starting."