QuickTake:

Defender Jonathan Robinson becomes the first name on the Sporting Cascades roster ahead of the team’s March debut.

Eugene officially has its first Cascade.

Cascadi? Cascader?

Whatever it may be, the result is the same: The area’s new professional soccer team now has its first player.

Sporting Cascades FC announced Tuesday morning, Oct. 6, the signing of defender Jonathan Robinson, 25. 

“I’ve known (head coach Darren Sawatzky and assistant coach Connor Cappelletti) pretty much since I came out of college,” Robinson said. “I’ve had conversations with them and I’ve had former teammates who have played for them, and after those conversations it was just a no-brainer. They love how their outside backs get forward, and it was just one of those things where it felt like it had to happen.” 

Robinson is a native of Gurnee, Ill., who played collegiately at Marquette and Western Michigan, where he finished second nationally with 13 assists in 2023 before being selected by Sporting Kansas City with the 80th pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.

He made 14 appearances with Sporting Kansas City II in MLS NEXT Pro in 2024 before heading to the Southern Hemisphere.

Robinson spent 2025 with Western Suburbs in Porirua, New Zealand, before signing with Auckland FC in January 2026. He played for Auckland’s OFC Pro League squad, which went on to win the inaugural league championship in May.

When he returned home to Chicago this summer, he said he started to look for opportunities that would let him play just a little bit closer to his family.

Eugene checked that box — and a few others on Robinson’s list. 

“I really like nature, and I like to go on hikes — obviously with living in New Zealand,” he said. “I love New Zealand. It was like home and what I’m used to now. So when I saw all theses pictures of Eugene, it was like, ‘Wow, this is just like back to being home.’” 

Robinson said he also feels at home when it comes to being in Sawatzky’s system. As a left back, Robinson plays defense on the left side of the field. But with his athleticism and eye for the attack, he’s not just a stay-at-home defender whose name never appears on the goal sheet.

“We want quality players who can play both sides of the ball and bring their personality to the game,” Sawatzky said. “J.R. impacts the game in stopping opposition talent, and he has the ability to stretch teams and create goal-scoring opportunities. His ability to get behind teams, coupled with his silky left foot, will help us create chances from the left side.”

Robinson’s signing is, of course, just the first of many. USL League One teams must have at least 15 players and are allowed up to 30, meaning Sporting Cascades has plenty of work to do before unveiling its starting 11 when the club debuts in March.

Sporting Cascades FC hosts closed combine as club-building process continues

But for now, Sporting Cascades has Robinson.

And that’s a start.

“What I’ve learned after a few years playing pro is you can only control what you can control,” Robinson said. “I have faith in the staff to get a team around me, and I know what their vision is. 

“I was like, OK, as long as I handle my business of making sure I’m fit and ready to go, they’ll take care of that end.” 

Tyson Alger covered the Ducks for The Oregonian and The Athletic before branching out on his own to create and run The I-5 Corridor. He brings more than a decade of experience on the University of Oregon sports beat. He has covered everything from Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy-winning season to the Ducks’ first year in the Big 10.