Amid rumors that IU freshman Trey Muse would pursue professional opportunities, the goalkeeper has decided to return to Indiana for his sophomore season.
In his freshman season, Muse was a big piece in one of the best back lines is the country. He set a Big Ten record and tied an NCAA record with 18 shutouts, tied a Big Ten record with seven goals allowed and had a 966 minute shutout streak good for the fourth longest streak in NCAA history.
His .26 goals against average was also fourth all-time in NCAA history and set a Big Ten record.
The Hoosiers will be glad to have Muse back in the fold in 2018 as they look to build on a season that saw them lose 1-0 in the College Cup Final to the Stanford Cardinal.
According to a source, Muse had interest from a few European clubs along with the Seattle Sounders of MLS. Muse was in their academy which means he is eligible for a Homegrown Contract if he were to go pro.
The Louisville native earned many honors in his first collegiate season. He was named to Top Drawer Soccer's First-Team Freshman Best XI, College Soccer News' All-Freshman First Team, the All-Big Ten Second-Team, the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the College Cup All-Tournament Team.
What this means moving forward?
Getting Muse back for IU is big news. What he did in between the pipes this past season was nothing short of impressive. The freshman set numerous records and will be a welcomed piece back next season.
With center back Timmy Mehl and left back Andrew Gutman moving into their senior seasons and Rece Buckmaster and Jordan Kleyn switching off at right back, it will be an experienced back line. The only question will be who fills in for Grant Lillard who recently signed a Homegrown Contract with Chicago Fire in MLS.
Along with Lillard, the Hoosiers will also lose striker Mason Toye who signed a Generation adidas contract. But having Muse back helps offset whoever will step in for Lillard on the back line.
Indiana has solid depth at goalkeeper. Still, there aren't many college goalkeepers as talented as Muse in the country.
If Muse can turn in a similar season in 2018 as 2017, the professional opportunities will still be there. He recently was called into the U.S. Men's National U-20 team training camp and if his play keeps up, he will still be on their radar.
There will be national team opportunities for Muse coming soon, as well. He will still be gunning for a U-20 CONCACAF Championship roster spot in early 2019. That leads into the U-20 World Cup later next year.
Muse set so many records in his freshman season that anything short of that may seem like a disappointment in 2018. That shouldn't be the case and that might be unfair to him. Yet, it's the truth. That's how good he was in 2017 and that's how impressive he was as just a freshman.
