NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 30, 2022 – National Champion and All-American goalkeeper Oliver Semmle '19, alumnus of the Monroe College Mustangs men's soccer program, was selected by the Colorado Rapids in the second round of the 2023 Major League Soccer SuperDraft last week.
Semmle was drafted with the 41st overall pick (Round 2, Pick 12) in the MLS SuperDraft on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Semmle is the second Monroe Mustangs alumnus selected in the MLS SuperDraft since 2021, when George Asomani '18 was also taken with the 12th pick in the second round by the San Jose Earthquakes.
Semmle produced an All-American effort in his lone season with the Mustangs in 2019, helping lead Monroe to its first ever NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship. The Au am Rhein, Germany native played in 12 games for Monroe, allowing just two goals with 25 saves. Splitting opportunities with fellow All-American goalkeeper Victor Camps, Semmle went 9-0-0 in 2019 with four shutouts (10 combined shutouts), accumulating a miniscule goals-against average of 0.22 with an incredible .926 save percentage. Semmle made five saves and allowed just one goal in Monroe's 2-1 victory over Eastern Florida State College in the 2019 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship final.
Semmle moved on from Monroe to play his junior and senior seasons with NCAA Div. I Marshall University, where he built upon an incredibly prestigious collegiate career. Semmle was the Herd's starting goalkeeper in the 2020-21 season in which they earned the 2020-21 NCAA College Cup National Championship. In his junior season, Semmle set a Marshall record with 11 shutouts, including the National Championship victory over No. 3 Indiana University. He led the entire NCAA in 2020-21 with 11 shutouts, ranked fourth with a 0.38 goals-against average and earned numerous accolades such as the Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Year, Conference USA Golden Glove Award and First-Team All-Conference USA. He produced a 12-1-2 record on the season.
In his senior season of 2021, Semmle had another terrific season for the Herd. He producted a 1.12 goals-against average to go with his 10-4-3 overall record. Semmle had a seven-match shutout streak during the 2021 season. He was named to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team and 2021 Second Team All-Conference USA.
Semmle came back to Marshall for his graduate season in 2022. He played all but 16 minutes in net for the Herd, accumulating an 11-4-4 overall record. Semmle led the Sun Belt Conference with a .738 goals-against average, and ranked second with a .774 save percentage. Semmle's six shutouts in 2022 helped him reach a Marshall University record of 25 clean sheets during his three-year career.
The Colorado Rapids are coming off a 2022 season in which they went 11-13-10 overall, placing 10th in the MLS Western Conference. The Rapids were one of 10 founding clubs of Major League Soccer, playing its inaugural season in 1996. Colorado won its first MLS Cup in 2010. The Rapids play their home games at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 11 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
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