Trey Muse (Goalkeeper, Indiana University)
Muse returns to Bloomington, Indiana, on the back of a breakout freshman season, during which he led the nation in every single goalkeeping metric as he guided the Hoosiers to the NCAA National Championship match. As a true freshman, the Sounders Academy alum started 25 matches, recorded 65 saves and led the NCAA in shutouts (18), Goals-Against Average (.26) and Save Percentage (90.3%). After missing the start of preseason – he was with the U.S. U-18 National Team at the Slovakia Cup – he immediately locked down the starting job for one of college soccer’s most storied powerhouses. As impressive as he was in the regular season, recording a shutout streak of 966 minutes at one point, the Rave Green youth system product kicked it up a notch in the postseason. With a spot in the Final Four on the line, Muse produced three stunning saves in a PK shootout against Michigan State. In the national championship game, he pulled off a pair of miraculous saves to give the Hoosiers a fighting chance against Stanford University. Heading into his sophomore campaign, he’s been named to the Preseason All-American Second Team by College Soccer News. Muse could miss some time for the Hoosiers, though, as the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team begins World Cup qualifying.
Jackson Ragen (Center Back/Defensive Midfield, University of Michigan)
A teammate of Muse’s in the Academy, Jackson Ragen appears poised for a stellar second season with the Michigan Wolverines. Ragen, who anchored the Sounders backline that finished third in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs, started 10 matches for the Big Ten powerhouse, with six further appearances as a substitute. Standing at 6’5”, the Seattle native is a truly modern center back, blending technical skills and rugged defending. In fact, several of his starts for Michigan came as a No. 6 as he shielded the back four and set the tempo of the match with his cultured passes. If he can capitalize on the momentum from his freshman season, Ragen could establish himself as one of the best center backs in the NCAA in 2018.
Paul Rothrock (Attacking Midfield, Notre Dame)
Another player from the 2016-17 U-18 squad that fell just short of the USSDA National Championship game, Paul Rothrock returns to the Fighting Irish with a point to prove. The Lakeside High School alum compiled a phenomenal U-18 season in 2016-17 for Sounders Academy as he tallied double digits goals and assists, including a goal against Real Monarchs SLC in his S2 debut back in July 2017. Shortly before attending preseason with Notre Dame, he received was called up to the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team. Though he didn’t see the field for the Fighting Irish in 2017, he’s performed well in the current preseason, including earning a penalty kick in Notre Dame’s 3-1 win over Valparaiso in the final tune-up match. Dynamic and creative in the final third, Rothrock could follow in the footsteps of Sounders FC midfielder Harry Shipp if he shows well in 2018.
Dylan Teves (Midfielder, University of Washington)
The multi-faceted midfielder heads to Montlake this season after lighting it up for Sounders Academy for the past three years. Teves, who can play out wide, as a No. 10, or in a box-to-box midfield role, will hope to follow in the footsteps of Homegrown players Handwalla Bwana and Henry Wingo by continuing his development with the Huskies. The Hawaii native enters the college game with a wealth of professional experience, though, as he trained regularly with the First Team throughout the 2018 season. He even started seven matches for Sounders FC 2, going the full 90 five times. Despite being one of the youngest players on the pitch, Teves registered a pass-complete percentage of 83.2% and tallied four key passes. He has featured regularly for the Huskies throughout preseason, a positive sign for his prospects in his inaugural NCAA campaign.
“Teves is a brilliant soccer player that feels the game very well. He can play any of the front six positions and this versatility should help him find a way to contribute early on at UW. He has the rare ability to both be a 1v1 guy who also takes great care of the ball. I think Husky fans will really enjoy watching him play." – Head Coach Jamie Clark
Jacob Hauser-Ramsey (Center Back, University of Connecticut)
A regular member of the Sounders on Campus feature throughout the past two years, Hauser-Ramsey enters his final season with the Huskies as one to watch for all Sounders supporters. The Kings High School alum was a member of the first ever Sounders Academy U-14 team, and his development with the Rave Green has been evident throughout his phenomenal college career. Playing as a central midfielder early in his youth career, Hauser-Ramsey provides a promising medley of defensive steel, organizational skills and excellent passing. With 17 starts in 2017, he was a crucial component of UConn’s three-man backline, leading the defense to eight shutout wins and a Goals-Against Average of .96. After making the American Athletic Conference All-First Team last season, expect big things from Hauser-Ramsey in 2018.
