Darwin Espinal might not necessarily have a reputation as a goalscorer, but as he enters his second season with the New York Cosmos, the midfielder certainly is forging one.
 
In 2018, the 24-year-old midfielder scored seven times for the Cosmos last year in the National Premier Soccer League.
 
In his first two preseason matches, Espinal has tallied three times in only 90 minutes of action, including twice in the second half in the recent 4-0 win over Queens College.
 
"He's looking good," Cosmos captain Danny Szetela said. "So, we're not worried about him scoring too many goals in the preseason and not having any left for the season."
 
Espinal enters his second year with the organization more confident and knowing his responsibilities right from the start as an outside midfielder.
 
"I think mostly it has a lot to do with the coaching staff," he said. "I have more of an idea of what they want from me and the position I play. That's the big difference between this year and last year. Last year I was trying to figure out how they wanted an outside mid to play."
 
Against Queens College, the former Honduran youth international knew exactly where he had to be, scoring early and late in the final half. Espinal's goal three minutes into the second half was a perfectly-placed curling effort from the left side past the goalkeeper.
 
Asked if he thought the ball was going into the net when he kicked it, Espinal replied, "I would like to think so. It doesn't always. That's the plan. I practice that shot sometimes. Just glad it went in."
 
So was head coach Carlos Mendes, who has seen Espinal grow as an important player on the team.
 
"The way he's scoring, the first goal he scored the other day [against Hofstra] and the first goal he scored tonight, incredible," he said after the Queens College encounter. He's got a lot of qualities, a special talent. With Darwin, the more you get him involved the better it will be for us and that's going to be key -- and being consistent."
 
After several weeks of training, Mendes has liked what he has seen, saying Espinal was "very sharp."
 
"He came in looking very sharp from day one," he said. "It's showing on the field. He's scoring goals. He's at a good level at a good moment."
 
Beyond the early success, Espinal realized he and the team have a lot more to improve on before the NPSL season kicks off against New York Athletic Club at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., on Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m.
 
Espinal attributed both wins to hard work. Midfielder Ricardo Bocanegra, who played for the opening 60 minutes, and striker Bledi Bardic, who competed in the second half, also contributed goals against Queens.
 
"We just went out there and worked," he said. "The chances came up for me and Bledi and we just tried to put them in. It was a team effort."
 
While the Cosmos have three more preseason matches after playing Adelphi University to a 0-0 draw on a Tuesday night, Espinal said he has been encouraged from what he has seen from returning players and newcomers.
 
"A lot to do with it is some of the guys we have. We have more experience," he said. "So, they're leaders to some of us, which are younger. That's bringing the team together."
 
Last year's playoff elimination has fueled Espinal's desire to win this year. The Cosmos finished at a perfect 10-0-0 in the North Atlantic Conference, but lost to FC Motown, 3-2, in the Northeast Region Final in its bid to reach the NPSL Final Four.
 
"Absolutely," Espinal said. "I think last year was a learning experience for this year. Hopefully, we get what we want, which is a trophy."
 
Actually, Espinal hoped for more than just one. The Cosmos will have three opportunities to earn some hardware. Besides the NPSL, they will compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup again and in the NPSL Founders Cup starting in August.
 
His goals are "to win as much as we possibly can. Every tournament the Cosmos play in, they are expected to win or to be in the final, fighting for a trophy, for sure."