The following press release was sent to the Bloomingtonian Friday:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2023
Indiana Men’s Soccer
Contact: Austin Coats
O: (812) 855-4770
C: (979) 595-4041
ProIU: MLS Season Kicks Off Saturday
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fifteen former Indiana men’s soccer student-athletes will represent 13 different Major League Soccer clubs when the league begins its 2023 season on Saturday (Feb. 25).
MLSsoccer.com’s Matt Doyle thinks three Hoosiers could be primed for “breakout” seasons.
On Atlanta United’s Andrew Gutman: “Was arguably the best (left-back) in the league for a stretch last season.”
On Nashville SC’s Jack Maher: “(1) The starting job is his. (2) He’s got the measurables and the experience to lock it down for a decade.”
On Columbus Crew’s Aidan Morris: “Morris reads the game well and has always been an animal at winning the ball back.”
Morris is carrying plenty of momentum into the new season. He was a regular towards the end of the Crew’s 2022 season as the club just narrowly missed the MLS Cup Playoffs. Then, in January, Morris was called-up to the United States Men’s National Team for January training camp as it begins its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Morris earned his first senior cap starting the team’s first match against Serbia and going all 90 minutes.
FC Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano was also named to the USMNT January camp roster after an outstanding rookie campaign in MLS last year. Celentano took over the starting spot in late April and never relinquished it. Then, he and fellow former Hoosier and first-year FCC head coach Pat Noonan, led Cincinnati to its first playoff appearance and victory.
Indiana saw two members of its 2022 NCAA College Cup squad earn first-round selections in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft in December, and both players have made first-team rosters. Two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and No. 10 overall pick Daniel Munie scored two goals from his center-back position during preseason for the San Jose Earthquakes. No. 24 overall pick Herbert Endeley also impressed in preseason as FC Dallas signed him to its active roster.
Munie will play alongside veteran Tommy Thompson in San Jose. Thompson, who was the Earthquakes’ first-ever homegrown signee in 2014, is set for his 10th season with his home club in 2023.
Meanwhile, another former Hoosier and MLS veteran is set for a new start. Will Bruin recently signed with Austin FC after a trial period with the club during preseason. Bruin will begin his 13th season in the league, where he has scored 77 goals and tallied 33 seasons across 226 matches.
Off the pitch, Ned Grabavoy will serve in his first season in his new role as general manager for the Portland Timbers. Grabavoy has spent the last eight seasons as a player, director of scouting and technical director before receiving the promotion in January. Since Grabavoy joined the Timbers’ technical staff in 2017, Portland has made five postseason runs (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017) and two MLS Cup appearances (2021, 2018), while claiming the MLS is Back title in 2020.
The MLS season kicks off Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET in a match between Nashville SC and New York City FC. A former Hoosier is rostered in nine of the 12 matchups Saturday.
FORMER HOOSIERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Victor Bezerra – Chicago Fire
Will Bruin – Austin FC
Roman Celentano – FC Cincinnati
Griffin Dorsey – Houston Dynamo
Herbert Endeley – FC Dallas
Ned Grabavoy – Portland Timbers (General Manger)
Andrew Gutman – Atlanta United
Jack Maher – Nashville SC
Aidan Morris – Columbus Crew
Daniel Munie – San Jose Earthquakes
Pat Noonan – FC Cincinnati (Head Coach)
Justin Rennicks – New England Revolution
Tommy Thompson – San Jose Earthquakes
Mason Toye – CF Montréal
Eriq Zavaleta – LA Galaxy
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men’s soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. #GoIU
