Why did UNH’s Josh Bauer bypass the MLS SuperDraft?

Josh Bauer has earned All-American honors in two straight seasons at UNH. (Michelle Bronner)

When Major League Soccer released its eligibility list for the 2020 SuperDraft on Tuesday, 141 players were included. Of that total, 11 from schools in New England made the cut.

But there was one standout player notably absent: University of New Hampshire center back Josh Bauer (Bedford, N.H.). That’s because Bauer, who has one year of eligibility remaining and three courses left to complete his degree, withdrew his name from contention.

So, Bauer is set to return to the Wildcats in 2020 after earning All-American and America East Defender of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. The decision wasn’t a simple one, though.