Thirteen Hoosiers to Compete in MLS NEXT Pro, USL in 2025
3/8/2025 1:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fourteen Hoosiers kick off their professional seasons this weekend between three tiers of the United Soccer League (USL) and MLS NEXT Pro – the second tier of Major League Soccer.
Five former IU men's soccer student-athletes can make their professional debuts after playing for the program during the 2024 season. Between Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro and USL, 25 Hoosiers will work or compete in major American professional leagues this season.
Two-time All-American Samuel Sarver was selected by FC Dallas in the MLS SuperDraft, spent preseason with the club and then signed with affiliate North Texas SC. Undrafted goalkeeper JT Harms joins him in Frisco after impressing in preseason. Third-year pro Herbert Endeley helped North Texas win the MLS NEXT Cup last season and signed a first-team deal with Dallas over the offseason.
All-American Quinton Elliot signed a pro deal with his youth club, Columbus Crew, and will start his career with the second team. Fellow All-Big Ten first teamer Patrick McDonald signed a second-team deal with Toronto FC II – McDonald returned to IU as a senior in 2024 after Toronto drafted him in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Elsewhere, Portland Timbers II maintained goalkeeper Trey Muse and forward Josh Penn – the second-team's co-leading scorer last season – while Nyk Sessock moved from Inter Miami II to Atlanta United II.
In USL, eighth-year pro Rece Buckmaster begins his second season with top-tier San Antonio FC following a midseason transfer in 2024. After his rookie season with Major League Soccer's Minnesota United FC, Hugo Bacharach joined USL Championship side Rhode Island FC. Both recently featuring in the Hoosier attack, Karsen Henderlong and rookie Justin Weiss will join forces at FC Naples in League One during its inaugural season. They'll see eighth-year veteran Timmy Mehl and Forward Madison, in his third year with the club, in their Matchweek 2 meeting.
HOOSIERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
United Soccer League
Hugo Bacharach – Rhode Island FC
Rece Buckmaster – San Antonio FC
Timmy Mehl – Forward Madison FC
Karsen Henderlong – FC Naples
Justin Weiss – FC Naples
MLS NEXT Pro
Alex Boler – Chicago Fire II (General Manager)
Quinton Elliot – Columbus Crew II
Maouloune Goumballe – Sporting Kansas City II
JT Harms – North Texas SC
Patrick McDonald – Toronto FC II
Trey Muse – Portland Timbers II
Josh Penn – Portland Timbers II
Samuel Sarver – North Texas SC
Nyk Sessock – Atlanta United II
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#NeverDaunted
Five former IU men's soccer student-athletes can make their professional debuts after playing for the program during the 2024 season. Between Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro and USL, 25 Hoosiers will work or compete in major American professional leagues this season.
Two-time All-American Samuel Sarver was selected by FC Dallas in the MLS SuperDraft, spent preseason with the club and then signed with affiliate North Texas SC. Undrafted goalkeeper JT Harms joins him in Frisco after impressing in preseason. Third-year pro Herbert Endeley helped North Texas win the MLS NEXT Cup last season and signed a first-team deal with Dallas over the offseason.
All-American Quinton Elliot signed a pro deal with his youth club, Columbus Crew, and will start his career with the second team. Fellow All-Big Ten first teamer Patrick McDonald signed a second-team deal with Toronto FC II – McDonald returned to IU as a senior in 2024 after Toronto drafted him in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Elsewhere, Portland Timbers II maintained goalkeeper Trey Muse and forward Josh Penn – the second-team's co-leading scorer last season – while Nyk Sessock moved from Inter Miami II to Atlanta United II.
In USL, eighth-year pro Rece Buckmaster begins his second season with top-tier San Antonio FC following a midseason transfer in 2024. After his rookie season with Major League Soccer's Minnesota United FC, Hugo Bacharach joined USL Championship side Rhode Island FC. Both recently featuring in the Hoosier attack, Karsen Henderlong and rookie Justin Weiss will join forces at FC Naples in League One during its inaugural season. They'll see eighth-year veteran Timmy Mehl and Forward Madison, in his third year with the club, in their Matchweek 2 meeting.
HOOSIERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
United Soccer League
Hugo Bacharach – Rhode Island FC
Rece Buckmaster – San Antonio FC
Timmy Mehl – Forward Madison FC
Karsen Henderlong – FC Naples
Justin Weiss – FC Naples
MLS NEXT Pro
Alex Boler – Chicago Fire II (General Manager)
Quinton Elliot – Columbus Crew II
Maouloune Goumballe – Sporting Kansas City II
JT Harms – North Texas SC
Patrick McDonald – Toronto FC II
Trey Muse – Portland Timbers II
Josh Penn – Portland Timbers II
Samuel Sarver – North Texas SC
Nyk Sessock – Atlanta United II
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#NeverDaunted
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
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