Northwestern University Athletics
Miller Selected By Seattle Sounders In 2015 MLS SuperDraft
1/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 15, 2015
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Northwestern senior goalkeeper Tyler Miller was selected Thursday with the 33rd pick of the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Seattle Sounders. Miller is the fifth Wildcats student-athlete to be drafted by an MLS franchise, all of whom have been recruited and developed by head coach Tim Lenahan since 2006.
The Woodbury, N.J., native was chosen with the 12th selection of the second round of Thursday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Philadelphia. The Seattle Sounders traded homegrown prospect Sean Okoli to the New England Revolution in exchange for the 33rd overall pick to move up and draft the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.
"Everything we talk about in terms of Northwestern Soccer being `Something Special' has been put on display with Tyler Miller,” said Wildcats head coach Tim Lenahan. "He is a tremendously successful goalkeeper, an outstanding student and also a very good person and teammate. Everyone at Northwestern is very excited about his future, be it in the MLS or Europe"
Miller capped one of the most decorated careers in Wildcats history by leading the Big Ten in goals against average (0.56) save percentage (.853) and shutouts (9) this season as a senior. He was a unanimous choice as Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, and named to both the NSCAA All-Midwest Region First Team and All-America Second Team. He was also named to the 2014 NSCAA Scholar All-America First Team, becoming the only player in the nation to earn both All-America and Scholar All-America honors, and be invited to the MLS Combine this year.
The netminder is part of a senior class recruited by Lenahan that led Northwestern to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and three pieces of Big Ten hardware. In addition to his senior accolades, Miller was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in both 2011 and 2012 before injury cut short a 2013 campaign where he still ranked second in the league with eight clean sheets. The Wildcats career shutout record-holder earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors this season on Sept. 22 and Nov. 6.
Miller is the fifth MLS draft pick in program history, and the first since Oliver Kupe was chosen in the second round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by Real Salt Lake. Dave Roth was a fourth-round selection by the New York Red Bulls in the 2008 SuperDraft, Brad North was a second-round choice by DC United in the 2007 SuperDraft and FC Dallas selected Brad Napper in the second round of the 2006 Supplemental Draft.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter and Instagram, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook and sign up to receive promotional text alerts for the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
