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'Cuse Alumni Making Waves in Professional Soccer
4/3/2025 1:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With professional soccer seasons in full swing, several Syracuse men's soccer alumni are making their mark in leagues around the world. From Major League Soccer (MLS) to international competitions like La Liga and China League One, former Orange standouts are excelling at the professional level.
As the 2025 season progresses, here's a look at how 'Cuse men's soccer alumni are performing.
Kamal Miller – Portland Timbers (MLS)
Miller, who played for the Orange from 2015-18 and helped Syracuse reach its first-ever College Cup as a freshman, is now in his seventh MLS season and second with Portland. Last season, he started 22 of the 23 matches he played on the backline and has already started four of his first five appearances this year.
Deandre Kerr – Toronto FC (MLS)
Kerr enters his fourth season with Toronto after playing for the Orange from 2020-21. The forward is coming off a strong season, making 26 appearances with 12 starts while recording three goals and two assists. To open the 2025 campaign, he has already netted two goals in five appearances, including a pair of starts.
Alex Bono – New England Revolution (MLS)
Bono, who played at Syracuse from 2012-14, finished his collegiate career ranked in the top 10 in several goalkeeping categories before being selected No. 6 overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. After spending the past two seasons with D.C. United, he signed with the New England Revolution through 2026. While he has yet to make his debut for the Revs, he started all 29 of his appearances in 2024, recording 82 saves.
Miles Robinson – FC Cincinnati (MLS)
Robinson played for the Orange in 2015 and 2016, earning All-ACC and All-America First Team honors before being selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United. Now in his second season with FC Cincinnati, the defender started all 25 of his appearances in 2024 and has started each of his five matches to open the 2025 campaign.
Jeorgio Kocevski – Orlando City B (MLS NEXT Pro)
Kocevski turned pro after a standout Syracuse career from 2020-23, joining Orlando SC as the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. As a rookie, the midfielder made 11 appearances, including one start, with Orlando's first team. To begin the 2025 season, he has been competing with Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro, starting all three of his league appearances.
Gabriel Mikina – St. Louis CITY2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Mikina played one season with the Orange in 2023, starting all 21 matches and scoring five goals, including three game-winners. After his standout year at Syracuse, he signed with St. Louis CITY2 and has made 30 appearances over the past two seasons. In 2025, he has already recorded three starts and scored one goal.
Olu Oyegunle– Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Oyegunle was a key defender for Syracuse from 2021 to 2023 before being selected 33rd overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire FC. He later signed with Chicago Fire FC II in MLS NEXT Pro and has appeared in two matches off the bench this season.
Nate Edwards – Toronto FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Edwards transferred to Syracuse for the 2023 season and made an immediate impact, starting all 21 matches. After his senior year, he signed with Toronto FC II through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. Over two seasons, he has made 27 appearances, including 21 starts. To begin the 2025 campaign, he has started all three of the team's matches and scored one goal.
Josh Belluz – Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Belluz joined Syracuse as a graduate student for the 2023 season, starting every match and scoring the game-winning goal in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. After his successful year with the Orange, he signed with Colorado Rapids 2 and has made 23 appearances over two seasons, including 16 starts. To begin the 2025 season, he has started both matches and played significant minutes.
Levonte Johnson – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship)
Johnson was selected 29th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC after playing a key role in Syracuse's National Championship run. In just one season with the Orange, he earned MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist honors, was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team and selected to the All-ACC First Team and USC All-South Region First Team. After two years with the Whitecaps, Johnson signed with Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL, making three appearances and two starts in his first season with the team.
Jason Smith – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL L1)
Smith played two seasons with the Orange, making four appearances and recording seven saves. In his first professional season, he has made two appearances and earned a spot on the league's Team of the Week. Smith aims to build on this strong start as he progresses through his inaugural professional season.
Russell Shealy – Union Omaha (USL L1)
Shealy spent three years in goal for the Orange, anchoring the net for the 2022 National Championship-winning squad. After a standout college career, he was selected in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by LA Galaxy. Following stints with several clubs, Shealy recently signed with Union Omaha and is poised to make an immediate impact as the team's goalkeeper.
Tajon Buchanon – Villarreal
Buchanon joined Villarreal in Spain's La Liga earlier this year on a loan from Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan. He has made six appearances for the Spanish club and recently competed with the Canadian Men's National Team in the Concacaf Nations League. The forward played for the Orange in 2017 and 2018 before being selected ninth overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
Ryan Raposo – Lianing Tieren F.C.
Raposo played for the Orange during the 2018 and 2019 seasons before being selected No. 4 overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder now plays for China League One club Lianing Tieren F.C. After five seasons in MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, he started 18 of 30 appearances last season, recording three goals and four assists.
Nathan Opoku – Leicester City
After helping Syracuse win the 2022 national championship and earning NCAA College Cup Most Outstanding Player honors, Opoku signed with Leicester City of the Premier League, beginning his career with a loan move to Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven. The forward suffered a double leg fracture in April of last year but is now on the road to recovery as he continues his professional career.
Buster Sjoberg
Sjoberg played three seasons at Syracuse from 2021 to 2023, appearing in 55 games and recording two goals and two assists. After his college career, he signed with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, making 22 appearances on the backline in 2024. Following the decline of his 2025 contract option with WFC2, he is seeking to continue his professional career with a new club.
For complete coverage of Syracuse men's soccer, follow us on Facebook (/cusemsoc), Twitter (@CuseMSOC) and Instagram (@cusemsoc).
As the 2025 season progresses, here's a look at how 'Cuse men's soccer alumni are performing.
Kamal Miller – Portland Timbers (MLS)
Miller, who played for the Orange from 2015-18 and helped Syracuse reach its first-ever College Cup as a freshman, is now in his seventh MLS season and second with Portland. Last season, he started 22 of the 23 matches he played on the backline and has already started four of his first five appearances this year.
Deandre Kerr – Toronto FC (MLS)
Kerr enters his fourth season with Toronto after playing for the Orange from 2020-21. The forward is coming off a strong season, making 26 appearances with 12 starts while recording three goals and two assists. To open the 2025 campaign, he has already netted two goals in five appearances, including a pair of starts.
Alex Bono – New England Revolution (MLS)
Bono, who played at Syracuse from 2012-14, finished his collegiate career ranked in the top 10 in several goalkeeping categories before being selected No. 6 overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. After spending the past two seasons with D.C. United, he signed with the New England Revolution through 2026. While he has yet to make his debut for the Revs, he started all 29 of his appearances in 2024, recording 82 saves.
Miles Robinson – FC Cincinnati (MLS)
Robinson played for the Orange in 2015 and 2016, earning All-ACC and All-America First Team honors before being selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United. Now in his second season with FC Cincinnati, the defender started all 25 of his appearances in 2024 and has started each of his five matches to open the 2025 campaign.
Jeorgio Kocevski – Orlando City B (MLS NEXT Pro)
Kocevski turned pro after a standout Syracuse career from 2020-23, joining Orlando SC as the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. As a rookie, the midfielder made 11 appearances, including one start, with Orlando's first team. To begin the 2025 season, he has been competing with Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro, starting all three of his league appearances.
Gabriel Mikina – St. Louis CITY2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Mikina played one season with the Orange in 2023, starting all 21 matches and scoring five goals, including three game-winners. After his standout year at Syracuse, he signed with St. Louis CITY2 and has made 30 appearances over the past two seasons. In 2025, he has already recorded three starts and scored one goal.
Olu Oyegunle– Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Oyegunle was a key defender for Syracuse from 2021 to 2023 before being selected 33rd overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire FC. He later signed with Chicago Fire FC II in MLS NEXT Pro and has appeared in two matches off the bench this season.
Nate Edwards – Toronto FC II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Edwards transferred to Syracuse for the 2023 season and made an immediate impact, starting all 21 matches. After his senior year, he signed with Toronto FC II through 2025, with options for 2026 and 2027. Over two seasons, he has made 27 appearances, including 21 starts. To begin the 2025 campaign, he has started all three of the team's matches and scored one goal.
Josh Belluz – Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
Belluz joined Syracuse as a graduate student for the 2023 season, starting every match and scoring the game-winning goal in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. After his successful year with the Orange, he signed with Colorado Rapids 2 and has made 23 appearances over two seasons, including 16 starts. To begin the 2025 season, he has started both matches and played significant minutes.
Levonte Johnson – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship)
Johnson was selected 29th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC after playing a key role in Syracuse's National Championship run. In just one season with the Orange, he earned MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist honors, was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team and selected to the All-ACC First Team and USC All-South Region First Team. After two years with the Whitecaps, Johnson signed with Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL, making three appearances and two starts in his first season with the team.
Jason Smith – Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL L1)
Smith played two seasons with the Orange, making four appearances and recording seven saves. In his first professional season, he has made two appearances and earned a spot on the league's Team of the Week. Smith aims to build on this strong start as he progresses through his inaugural professional season.
Russell Shealy – Union Omaha (USL L1)
Shealy spent three years in goal for the Orange, anchoring the net for the 2022 National Championship-winning squad. After a standout college career, he was selected in the second round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by LA Galaxy. Following stints with several clubs, Shealy recently signed with Union Omaha and is poised to make an immediate impact as the team's goalkeeper.
Tajon Buchanon – Villarreal
Buchanon joined Villarreal in Spain's La Liga earlier this year on a loan from Italian Serie A champions Inter Milan. He has made six appearances for the Spanish club and recently competed with the Canadian Men's National Team in the Concacaf Nations League. The forward played for the Orange in 2017 and 2018 before being selected ninth overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.
Ryan Raposo – Lianing Tieren F.C.
Raposo played for the Orange during the 2018 and 2019 seasons before being selected No. 4 overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. The midfielder now plays for China League One club Lianing Tieren F.C. After five seasons in MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, he started 18 of 30 appearances last season, recording three goals and four assists.
Nathan Opoku – Leicester City
After helping Syracuse win the 2022 national championship and earning NCAA College Cup Most Outstanding Player honors, Opoku signed with Leicester City of the Premier League, beginning his career with a loan move to Belgian Pro League club OH Leuven. The forward suffered a double leg fracture in April of last year but is now on the road to recovery as he continues his professional career.
Buster Sjoberg
Sjoberg played three seasons at Syracuse from 2021 to 2023, appearing in 55 games and recording two goals and two assists. After his college career, he signed with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, making 22 appearances on the backline in 2024. Following the decline of his 2025 contract option with WFC2, he is seeking to continue his professional career with a new club.
For complete coverage of Syracuse men's soccer, follow us on Facebook (/cusemsoc), Twitter (@CuseMSOC) and Instagram (@cusemsoc).
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