University of Evansville Goalkeeper Drafted

University of Evansville Goalkeeper Is Going Pro

It's not every day you hear about a local college student going pro! But today is a different day, especially for Michal Mroz, the sophomore goalkeeper for the University of Evansville Purple Aces. Mroz was the 83rd pick by the Minnesota United FC MLS team in the third round of the MLS Superdraft. This is the first time in program history that a player has been drafted. Other players have gone pro: Corey Elanio in 2008 and Robby Lynch in 2011, but were selected supplementally. Pictures of Mroz and video highlights can be found below.

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Originally from Elk Grove, Illinois, the second-year standout has been preparing for this for years. Playing club or travel soccer most of his youth, Mroz spent his youth career playing for FC United, an MLS Next Club (clubs that support the future players of MLS essentially). In fact, one of the coaches for that club, Toney Anderson, also has an Evansville connection, having previously coached the Aces soccer team as an assistant. Mroz ended the season on a historic note, earning the program's first-ever Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year award. From the UE athletics website:

"As a freshman in 2024, Mroz was an integral part of Evansville's run to the MVC Tournament championship, starting all 21 matches in goal. Mroz posted an 11-7-3 record with a 1.55 goals against average and posted five clean sheets, the second-most in the Valley. Mroz also ranked second in the MVC with 4.10 saves per game, holding a season save percentage of .723.
Mroz rose to the occasion during the Aces' 2024 MVC championship run, most notably shutting out top-seeded and nationally-ranked Missouri State in the MVC Tournament semifinal. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Massachusetts, Mroz made a season-high nine saves."

Additionally, the Aces clinched a share of the regular season MVC Conference title, another first in the program's history. While there is no word yet on whether the second-year business major will leave school to chase a professional career, the fact that a local player has the opportunity is pretty cool to me.

Michal Mroz Instagram