Northwestern University Athletics
Three-Time All-Big Ten Goalkeeper Tyler Miller Signs with Seattle Sounders
12/22/2015 1:32:00 PM | Men's Soccer
"Tyler has great potential as a goalkeeper and showed promise in the limited time we had to work with him last season," said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid in a press release. "We're excited to continue that development in 2016 as he works further with our staff and the rest of the goalkeeper group."
Miller was drafted in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft in January 2015, becoming the fifth Wildcat student-athlete to be drafted by the MLS. All of the NU players to be drafted have been recruited and developed by Wildcat head coach Tim Lenahan.
After Miller's selection, he played in Germany for SVN Zweibrücken then returned stateside, signing a contract with the Sounders' reserve team. Before succumbing to a thumb injury, Miller made one appearace for the squad, notching a 4-0 shutout.
He was a four-year starter at Northwestern, earning First Team All-Big Ten Honors three times in his career. In his senior campaign, Miller led the Big Ten and ranked third in the country with his .854 save percentage. He was also the unanimous Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and was named to the NSCAA All-Midwest Region First Team.
Miller helped lead the #B1GCats to a pair of Big Ten regular-season titles in his first two seasons in Evanston. In his sophomore season, he played every minute in net and tabbed a pair of shutouts in NCAA Tournament play, becoming only the second NU player to record double-digits in shutouts in a season.
The Woodbury, New Jersey, native was a member of the United States U-23 team after his senior season in which he had nine shutouts, earning his way to the NU all-time record in shutouts, 36. The three-time Academic All Big Ten honoree is now one of three goalkeepers on the Sounders' roster, joining Stefan Frei and Charlie Lyon.
Miller was also signed at the same time as forward Andy Craven. "Despite both players battling injuries this past year, our staff was impressed with the progress they made in their first professional season," said Garth Lagerwey, Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer. "We think they can be long-term contributors to our squad going forward."
The Sounders begin their preseason preparation for the 2016 campaign next month with a pair of "Desert Friendlies" in Tucson, Arizona.
Northwestern in Major League Soccer
J.D. Martin - 2003 MLS Draft, goalkeeper
Brad Napper – 2006 Supplemental Draft (FC Dallas, 2nd Round)
Brad North – 2007 SuperDraft (DC United, 2nd Round)
Dave Roth – 2008 Super Draft (New York Red Bulls, 4th Round)
Mark Blades – 2010 Preseason Camp Invitee (Chicago Fire)
Matt Eliason – 2011 MLS Combine Invitee
Oliver Kupe – 2012 Supplemental Draft (Real Salt Lake, 2nd Round)
Matt Eliason – 2013 New York Red Bulls Reserve League
Chris Ritter – 2013 Homegrown Player (Chicago Fire)
Joey Calistri — 2015 Homegrown Player (Chicago Fire)
Tyler Miller — 2014 MLS SuperDraft (Seattle Sounders, 2nd Round); contract signed in 2015
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