By Sebastian Quiroz-Gutierrez – @SebastianQuir0z
On October 1, Nashville SC defeated Austin FC 2-1 at Q2 Stadium to claim the U.S. Open Cup trophy. The match showcased not only high-level professional soccer but also the lasting impact of the college game. In total, 12 players who took the field for both clubs that night built their foundations in the NCAA before rising to the professional ranks. Their journeys highlight the diverse routes players continue to take through the college system on their way to competing on one of American soccer’s biggest stages.
Austin FC
Brad Stuver — Cleveland State
Stuver played for Cleveland State University from 2009 to 2012 and made 71 appearances for the Vikings, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders in appearances. Stuver played 4 seasons in goal for the Vikings, winning the starting spot during his freshman year. He ranks third in CSU’s record book with 293 saves while also ranking third 20 career shutouts. During his time at CSU, he helped the Vikings win the 2012 Horizon League Tournament, which secured Cleveland State’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament in 32 years. After college, he was drafted 32nd overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by Montreal and moved through the MLS “pool” system before eventually establishing himself in the professional ranks.
Brendan Hines-Ike — Creighton / South Florida
Hines-Ike began his college career at Creighton, where he quickly established himself as a reliable defender. He earned All-MVC Freshman Team honors in 2012, then started all 20 games in 2013, helping the Bluejays post six shutouts and earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team. After transferring to South Florida for his senior season in 2015, he was named team captain, started all 20 matches, and landed on the American Athletic Conference First Team, while scoring two goals, including a game-winner against Georgia Southern. His strong collegiate résumé set the stage for a professional career that has included time in Sweden with Örebro SK, Belgium with KV Kortrijk, and three MLS seasons with D.C. United before joining Austin FC.
Daniel Pereira — Virginia Tech
Pereira starred at Virginia Tech, where in just two seasons he recorded six goals and six assists in 26 matches. As a freshman in 2019, he earned a spot on the All-ACC Freshman Team, and the following year he was named ACC Midfielder of the Year, All-ACC First Team, and VaSID Player of the Year after a standout sophomore campaign. His success at Virginia Tech propelled him to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, the first-ever draft pick in Austin FC history.
CJ Fodrey — San Diego State
Fodrey spent the fall of 2022 at San Diego State, where he led the Aztecs in scoring with seven goals and four assists. His breakout freshman season earned him a string of accolades, including Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team, and Top Drawer Soccer National Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman First Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team. Following his standout year, Fodrey was selected 13th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Austin FC.
Jon Gallagher — Notre Dame
Gallagher enjoyed a standout career at Notre Dame, where he totaled 39 goals and 15 assists in 84 matches. The Dundalk, Ireland native earned numerous accolades, highlighted by being named the 2016 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and a College Soccer News All-America Second Team selection. He was also a two-time All-ACC honoree, earned a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2014, and collected multiple All-Region and Academic Team recognitions. His consistent production and versatility with the Irish paved the way for his professional career, as he was selected 14th overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United, then spent a brief time on loan with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen FC before eventually joining Austin FC.
Nashville SC
Brian Schwake — DePaul
Schwake played one season at DePaul University before turning professional, making one appearance in a preseason exhibition match registering five saves in the Big East. In 2020, he signed with Scottish club Livingston FC, where he began his European journey and earned regular minutes on loan. Over the next few seasons, he went on to post 24 clean sheets in 92 appearances across several clubs in Scotland and with CD Castellón in Spain’s second division. In 2025, Nashville SC acquired Schwake on a deal through 2026 with an option for 2027, bringing the 23-year-old American back stateside to continue his career in the MLS.
Daniel Lovitz — Elon
Lovitz was a four-year standout at Elon University from 2010–2013, helping the Phoenix capture four conference championships, including three straight tournament titles, and make three NCAA Tournament appearances. Individually, he was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2013, earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors in 2010, and was selected to the NSCAA All-South Region and the SoCon All-Tournament Team in 2012. His impact at Elon made history for the program, as he became the highest-drafted player in school history when Toronto FC selected him 24th overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
Jack Maher — Indiana
Maher was a defensive leader at Indiana University, where he earned a host of honors during his two standout seasons. In 2019, he was named a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Big Ten Tournament, while also collecting First Team All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Tournament Team recognition. His commanding play on the back line made him one of the top prospects in the nation, and he was selected second overall by Nashville SC in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
Alex Muyl — Georgetown
Muyl was a key playmaker at Georgetown, finishing his three-year career with 12 goals and 25 assists in 62 appearances, leading the Hoyas in assists all three seasons. In 2015, he tallied six goals and a team-best 10 assists, ranking second in the BIG EAST and eighth nationally in assists, while scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime to clinch the program’s first-ever BIG EAST Championship. He was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region that year, adding to a resume that already included All-BIG EAST Second Team, All-Rookie Team, and Preseason All-BIG EAST honors. After leaving school, Muyl signed a Homegrown contract with the New York Red Bulls, where he played from 2016–2020 before being traded to Nashville SC, where he quickly became a key contributor.
Josh Bauer — New Hampshire
Bauer was a dominant presence at University of New Hampshire, where he was a 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and a two-time America East Defender of the Year. He earned First Team All-America honors in 2019, Second Team All-America in 2018, and twice was named ECAC Defender of the Year, while helping the Wildcats win back-to-back conference titles. Over his college career, he collected numerous awards, including America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors in both 2018 and 2019. Selected 31st overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Atlanta United, Bauer later joined Nashville through the MLS Re-Entry Draft and has since grown into a steady contributor on the back line.
Walker Zimmerman (pictured above) — Furman
Zimmerman was a two-year standout at Furman University (2011–2012), making 39 appearances with 11 goals from the back line. He earned All-America honors in both 2011 and 2012, was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2011, and was a two-time All-SoCon and All-South Region selection. Zimmerman helped lead Furman to a 26-8-7 record over his two seasons, including an NCAA Tournament berth in 2011, and was later recognized as Furman’s Frank Selvy Male Athlete of the Year in 2013.
He signed a Generation Adidas contract and was selected No. 7 overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas, launching a professional career that has spanned more than a decade. A cornerstone defender in MLS, Zimmerman has been named to the MLS Best XI four times (2019–22), won MLS Defender of the Year in 2020 and 2021, represented the U.S. at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and was inducted into the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
Teal Bunbury — Akron
Bunbury was a prolific striker at the University of Akron, scoring 23 goals in 45 matches over two seasons (2008–09) under coach Caleb Porter. As a sophomore in 2009, he led the nation with 17 goals, won the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy as the top college player in the country, and earned First Team All-America honors while helping the Zips reach the College Cup Final. A two-time MAC champion and key figure in Akron’s rise to national prominence, Bunbury signed a Generation Adidas contract and was selected 4th overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by Kansas City. He went on to establish himself as a consistent MLS scorer, later spending eight seasons with the New England Revolution before joining Nashville SC in 2022.
The College Pathway’s Continued Impact
The 2025 U.S. Open Cup Final not only delivered an exciting result, with Nashville defeating Austin 2–1, but also highlighted the enduring importance of the college soccer pathway. From ACC stars like Daniel Pereira and Jon Gallagher to mid-major standouts like Josh Bauer and Brad Stuver, the match brought together players from a wide range of programs who developed their games at the collegiate level. Their impact on such a prestigious stage underscores how college soccer remains a vital part of the American soccer pipeline, continuing to produce players capable of excelling in MLS and beyond.
