Preston Kilwien Bio
Preston Alexander Kilwien (born November 25, 1996) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender. He is best known for his time in the United Soccer League system, where he built a reputation as a reliable central defender across multiple clubs. He currently plays as a defender for USL Championship side Miami FC.
Standing 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) tall, Kilwien has been valued for his aerial presence, passing range, and organizational skills at the back. Over the course of his professional career, he has also represented clubs in Costa Rica after becoming a dual citizen of the United States and Costa Rica.
Early Life and Background
Kilwien was born on November 25, 1996, in Lubbock, Texas, United States. He is the son of Richard Kilwien and Karen (Yee) Kilwien. His mother, Karen, is a native of Limón, Costa Rica, and was a prep All-America and TABC Class 5A Player of the Year at Alief Elsik High School in Houston, Texas. She went on to play three seasons as a scholarship women’s basketball student-athlete at the University of Houston.
Kilwien began playing organized soccer at the age of four. He played club soccer for DeAnza Force SC in Cupertino, California, at the U-8 and U-9 levels, and later returned to the same organization at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-17 and U-18 levels. He also spent time as a youth player with Crossfire Premier in Redmond, Washington, Snohomish United in Washington, East Bay Eclipse in Moraga, California, and Diablo FC in Concord, California.
In 2016, he helped lead FC Florida to the United States Youth Soccer Association U-19 national championship final. He played three soccer seasons at Campolindo High School, earning Offensive MVP honors twice, and also played receiver on the football team. He graduated in 2015 from College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California.
Path to Soccer
Kilwien spent his entire college career at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he made 60 appearances for the Eagles and tallied four goals and five assists. He received a B.A. in Integrated Studies in May 2020 and later completed a master’s degree in data science from Bellevue University in June 2026.
In his first college appearance in 2015, Kilwien scored the game-winning goal against Princeton on a 35-yard volley, a play that was selected as the No. 3 play on ESPN SportsCenter’s top 10 plays. He was a member of the ASUN Conference All-Freshman Team in 2015, was named Second Team All-ASUN Conference as a junior in 2017, and in his senior year earned United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Atlantic Region honors, ASUN Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-ASUN Conference.
While at FGCU, Kilwien also played for Premier Development League sides South Florida Surf, Seattle Sounders U-23, and Tampa Bay Rowdies U-23. In 2016 he was named to the PDL Team of the Week, and in 2018 he was named one of the league’s preseason top 50 professional prospects. He was named FGCU’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete in summer 2019.
Preston Kilwien Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Kilwien’s first notable senior appearances came in the Premier Development League, where he played for South Florida Surf in 2016, Tampa Bay Rowdies U-23 in 2017, and Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in 2018. His PDL showings caught the attention of professional scouts, and in 2018 he was named one of the league’s preseason top 50 professional prospects.
His performances at FGCU and in the PDL paved the way for his move into the professional ranks, and he signed a professional contract with New York Red Bulls II of the USL Championship on March 8, 2019, following a two-week trial.
New York Red Bulls II (2019–2020)
Kilwien made his professional debut on April 13, 2019, in a 2–1 victory at Charlotte Independence. During his rookie season he made 24 appearances and started 18 games as a central defender for New York Red Bulls II, ranking ninth on the team with 1,673 total minutes. On December 4, 2019, the club announced it had exercised the option on his contract.
In April 2020, he represented New York Red Bulls II in the United Soccer League’s USL eCup: Rocket League Edition. On August 13, 2020, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–1 loss to Loudoun United at Red Bull Arena. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season he played in 12 matches and ranked third on the team in minutes played, before being released by Red Bulls II on November 30, 2020.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2021)
On January 21, 2021, Kilwien signed with USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds. He started 22 of his 30 appearances during the regular season, finishing fifth on the team with 941 total passes, fourth in clearances, and fifth in interceptions. On June 2, 2021, he was named Man of the Match by USLChampionship.com following the team’s 3–2 victory at Loudoun United.
Following the regular season, Kilwien tied for runner-up as the team’s Defender of the Year in a fan vote held by the Steel Army supporters group.
Charleston Battery (2022)
On December 31, 2021, Kilwien signed with USL Championship club Charleston Battery. In 2022 he finished fourth on the team in starts with 24, fifth in appearances with 28, and played the fourth-most minutes with 2,103. He wore the captain’s armband on six occasions and registered a team-high 20 blocks, while finishing second on the squad in total passes (1,182) and clearances (71). Following the 2022 season he was released by Charleston.
South Georgia Tormenta (2023–2024)
On January 23, 2023, Kilwien signed with defending USL League One champion South Georgia Tormenta on a two-year contract. On April 25, 2023, he was named to the USL League One Team of the Week after recording his first professional assist on a Matheus Cassini match-winning goal at One Knoxville SC, a play that was selected as one of ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Day and marked his 100th professional match appearance.
He ended the 2023 season with 28 USL League One appearances and two in the U.S. Open Cup, finishing second on the team in minutes played (2,222) and leading the squad in passes (1,296), clearances (101), and blocks (21). In 2024, he was the only Tormenta FC player to start each of the team’s 30 league and Jägermeister Cup games, appearing in 33 of the team’s 34 total contests and leading the team in minutes played and blocked shots. He was named the team’s Player of the Month twice, in June and August, and was named to the USL Team of the Week on August 20. He finished sixth among all players in USL League One in minutes played and was one of just 12 players to start all 22 regular season league matches.
Miami FC Era (2025–Present)
Kilwien signed for USL Championship expansion side Miami FC on December 17, 2025. He continued to be deployed as a central defender, providing leadership, aerial duels, and distribution from the back as the new club built its inaugural roster. Following a mutual termination of his agreement with Miami FC, Kilwien signed a contract with A.D. San Carlos on June 3, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kilwien is regarded as a composed central defender with strong aerial ability, sound positioning, and dependable distribution from the back. Across multiple clubs he has ranked among team leaders in clearances, blocks, and passing accuracy, demonstrating consistency in both defensive duties and ball progression.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first college goal against Princeton in 2015 reached No. 3 on ESPN SportsCenter’s top 10 plays, and his assist for South Georgia Tormenta in 2023 also landed on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Day. He earned his 100th professional match appearance during the 2023 season and became a dual citizen of the United States and Costa Rica through his mother.
Preston Kilwien Career Wins
While individual goal-scoring totals are not broadly tracked for his role as a defender, Kilwien has produced several verified highlights across his professional career, including his first professional goal with New York Red Bulls II in 2020 and a milestone assist with South Georgia Tormenta in 2023.
Team and Individual Honors
Kilwien was named Man of the Match following Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ 3–2 win at Loudoun United on June 2, 2021, and was named to the USL League One Team of the Week on April 25, 2023. With South Georgia Tormenta he was named the team’s Player of the Month in June and August 2024 and earned another USL Team of the Week nod on August 20, 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Kilwien helped Florida Gulf Coast University compile a 38–19–11 record, claim two ASUN Conference championships, and earn a second-round 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament appearance. He also helped lead FC Florida to the United States Youth Soccer Association U-19 national championship final in 2016.
Preston Kilwien Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Kilwien was born to Richard and Karen (Yee) Kilwien. His mother, Karen, is a native of Limón, Costa Rica, and was a standout high school basketball player before playing three seasons as a scholarship women’s basketball student-athlete at the University of Houston. Through his mother, Kilwien holds dual citizenship of the United States and Costa Rica.
Personal Life
On December 20, 2024, Kilwien married Camila Perez in Coral Gables, Florida. In October 2022, while with the Charleston Battery, he discussed his dual citizenship status during the club’s recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, and he has publicly expressed his desire to represent the Costa Rica national team.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Kilwien signed for USL League One expansion side Texoma FC on January 30. He started 15 of his 16 USL League One appearances during the season, while also starting the team’s lone U.S. Open Cup contest and two of its four USL Jägermeister Cup contests. He remained a leader at the back for the expansion side throughout the year.
Following the season, Texoma FC released its entire professional roster after dropping out of USL League One, opening the door for Kilwien’s next move. He signed with USL Championship expansion side Miami FC on December 17, 2025, signaling a return to the second tier of American professional soccer.