In a big announcement on Tuesday, Major League Soccer revealed that Kentucky men’s soccer sophomore Casper Mols has been invited to the prestigious 2023 adidas MLS College Showcase. Mols, a talented goalkeeper, will have the opportunity to display his skills on the big stage from December 6-9.
Head coach Johan Cedergren expressed his excitement for Mols, stating, “This invitation is a huge honor for Casper. I’m excited for him to have the opportunity to showcase his abilities on such a large stage. I think he will be very impressive in the net.”
Mols has been no stranger to recognition since joining the program as a freshman. In his first year with the Wildcats, he earned several accolades including First-Team All-America and First-Team All-Southeast Region honors. He was also named Sun Belt Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and made the First-Team All-Conference and Sun Belt All-Tournament teams. Additionally, he finished the 2022 season ranked No. 7 in the final Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Top-100.
Heading into his sophomore season, Mols was named Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference team. He was also listed on the MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watchlist and the United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper to Watch list. Mols’ exceptional performances in back-to-back shutouts against nationally ranked No. 1 and No. 2 earned him a spot on College Soccer News’ Men’s National Team of the Week and a TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week honorable mention.
Having played two full seasons for the Wildcats, Mols has already made a significant impact on the team. He has appeared in 34 matches with 34 starts, accumulating 3,037 minutes in the net. Throughout these games, he has recorded 91 saves and 14 shutouts, allowing only 33 goals. Mols currently boasts a 19-7-8 record, adding to his impressive resume.
The MLS SuperDraft, sponsored by adidas, made a significant change in October, expanding its eligible player pool to include collegiate sophomores, juniors, and above. This expansion ensures that athletes can participate in the combine while maintaining their NCAA eligibility. Previously, only collegiate seniors and above, as well as Generation adidas signees, were eligible for selection.
Regarding the draft process, a player who is selected by an MLS club and still has eligibility with their college team can choose to return to school and continue their development. However, they will not be eligible for future drafts. In contrast, if a selected player decides to go back to college or remains unsigned, the drafting club will hold their SuperDraft Priority for approximately two years.
For those who appear on the draft-eligible list but are not selected in the SuperDraft, they have the option to return to school and can be nominated for the following year’s draft. The 2024 MLS SuperDraft is scheduled to take place on December 19 at 3 p.m. EST.
Fans can stay up to date with all the latest news on Kentucky Men’s Soccer by following @UKMensSoccer on various social media platforms or visiting UKAthletics.com.
