The Orange will have eight representatives in the top level of American soccer to start this season
On Saturday, Major League Soccer will kick off its regular season with matches across the nation through the weekend. This slate of games will feature eight former Syracuse Orange players who will hope to make their mark in the campaign for the title.
Alongside the eight MLS players, the Orange still have Nathan Opoku (Leicester City – England), Tajon Buchanan (Villareal – Spain), and Mo Adams (Al-Khaleej – Saudi Arabia) playing overseas.
Buster Sjoberg (Vancouver), Gabi Mikina (St. Louis), Josh Belluz (Colorado), and Olu Oyegunle (Chicago), will also start the season in the MLS Next Pro, a feeder program for the MLS which could give them opportunities going forward. The Next Pro season begins in about two weeks.
Let’s look at these eight talents who may feature this weekend and their prospects for the season.
Alex Bono | 2012-14 | New England Revolution | GK
After falling out of favor playing behind a leaky DC United defense last season, Bono’s time as a starting MLS keeper appears to be over. He will provide close competition for Aljaz Ivacic for the starting spot this season but projects to start as the second option in the net.
After conceding tons of goals last season, Bono fell out of the starting lineup and struggled for form after being reinstated. Most MLS teams will look to develop young talent rather than try to elevate the levels of the now 30-year-old.
Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Miles Robinson | 2015-16 | FC Cincinnati | CB
After featuring as one of the best defenders in the league last year, Robinson will likely continue on in this trend as he enters his prime. Robinson has international experience and has even had talks about a European move in recent years, further increasing his value.
Cincy is poised to be one of the top teams in the league this year, and Robinson will be relied on to anchor the defense. His partner, Matt Miazga, is also quality, but is coming back from a PCL injury, meaning Robinson will have to command the defense as Miazga gets back up to fitness.
Photo by Roy K Miller/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
Kamal Miller | 2015-18 | Portland Timbers | CB
After a shaky start to the campaign, having newly joined the Timbers last season, both Miller and the team’s fortunes improved as the year went on. As he was at the end of last season, Miller should be a nailed-on starter and the leader of the defense this year.
The Timbers are not projected to cause too much of a ruckus this season, but a run for the club would need to see Miller at his 2022/2023 best to marshal the MLS’s ever-improving attacking talents.
Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images
Ryan Raposo | 2018-19 | Vancouver Whitecaps | LM/LWB
Last season, Raposo was a valuable rotational option for the Whitecaps, who played in most games and often featured off the bench. This season, his role doesn’t project to change much as a middling Caps’ franchise lacks clear direction or ambition.
The players with whom Raposo will be competing for minutes are still around, and he had a solid year last season, but not enough to justify him being a clear-cut starter. A run of good form could see him earn a first-team position, but time at the top level might be starting to dwindle for the 25-year-old, who has made no marked impact in the MLS.
Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Deandre Kerr | 2020-21 | Toronto FC | ST
Kerr enjoyed a great end to the 2024 season and looks to be rewarded with an increased role this year. Toronto lacks any apparent competition for him at striker (although they do have some individuals who COULD play there), meaning that Kerr could well have another run in the first team.
If the goals and assists start flowing early on in the season, Kerr should be able to solidify himself as a starter in a Toronto team that projects to finish near the bottom of the MLS standings. Even if things don’t go as well as he would like, at 22, Kerr should still have a role to play.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Levonte Johnson | 2022 | Vancouver Whitecaps | LW/RW
Johnson plays a similar role to Raposo for the Whitecaps. He received minimal minutes last year and likely projects to see a slight uptick this season. Unfortunately, Vancouver’s current tactical system does not allow Johnson to play in his best position, just off the striker.
A move for the dynamic winger would be a good option, but if he stays in Canada, he should still see a decent bit of playtime as a bench option. If Johnson can find his way to a few goal contributions in the early stages of the season, his minutes could shoot up in a Vancouver team that is struggling for direction.
Photo by Jamie Douglas/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jeo Kocevski | 2020-23 | Orlando City | CM
Last season, Kocevski split time between Orlando’s first team and the MLS Next Pro side. Of all the players on this list, it is probably most difficult to project what he will do this year. In limited minutes with the first team, Kocevski showed his quality last year, but it may not be enough.
The Syracuse native is still adjusting to the pro game, has lots of competition for his position, and is playing for a club that will be improved from last year and looking for the playoffs. Kocevski has quality MLS potential, but it remains to be seen how much of a chance he will get to show it.
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Nate Edwards | 2023 | Toronto FC | RM/RWB
The biggest winner of last year, Edwards, broke into Toronto’s MLS Next team, ripped the division up, earned a full MLS contract, and showed great promise and character with the first team.
Toronto’s current situation could also benefit the wideman as they project to finish in a middling position and only have an aging Richie Lareya competing for his position. I have a sneaking suspicion that Edwards could really break through this year with his work rate and ability, but let’s see him get in a few games to start the season first.
Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos/Getty Images
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Hopefully, this weekend, we will get to see all eight players feature for their respective teams. It will take a few weeks to get a better gauge of where they stand in their squads, but all SU fans should be wishing them the best. For more updates on these players and all things SU Soccer, stay tuned.