Tor Saunders

American soccer player

Tor Saunders
Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-04-30) April 30, 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth	Bothell, Washington, United States
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	North Carolina FC
Number	12
Youth career
0000–2012	Crossfire Premier
2013–2016	Seattle Sounders FC
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Akron Zips	18	(0)
2020–2021	Coastal Carolina Chanticleers	15	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017	Seattle Sounders FC U-23	2	(0)
2019	South Georgia Tormenta 2	5	(0)
2021	Nashville SC	0	(0)
2022	Indy Eleven	0	(0)
2022	→ Chattanooga Red Wolves (loan)	5	(0)
2023–	North Carolina FC	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 17, 2023

Tor Saunders (born April 30, 1998) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for North Carolina FC in USL League One.

Career

Youth

Saunders attended Glacier Peak High School in Snohomish, Washington, also playing with the Seattle Sounders FC academy from 2013 to 2016.^[1]^[2] Prior to playing with the Sounders academy, Saunders was with Crossfire Premier.^[3]

College & amateur

In 2016, Saunders attended Akron University to play college soccer. In three seasons with the Zips, Saunders made 18 appearances. He also earned Academic All-MAC accolades in 2018 and 2019.^[2] In 2020, Saunders transferred to Coastal Carolina University, where he went on to make 15 appearances across the 2020–21 season. Saunders season with Coastal Carolina saw him earn All-Sun Belt honors along with the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year award, Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-American, Sun Belt Conference Championship Most Outstanding Player, and was named to the 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy watchlist.^[4]

While at college, Saunders also played in the USL League Two with Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in 2017,^[5] and South Georgia Tormenta 2 in 2019.^[6]^[7]

Professional

Nashville SC

On January 21, 2021, Saunders was selected 74th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Nashville SC.^[8] He officially signed with the Major League Soccer team on June 17, 2021.^[9] Saunders was released by Nashville following the 2021 MLS season.^[10]

Indy Eleven

On March 4, 2022, Saunders signed with USL Championship club Indy Eleven.^[11] The same day he was loaned to USL League One's Chattanooga Red Wolves for the 2022 season.^[12] He made his professional debut on April 2, 2022, starting in a 1–1 draw with Forward Madison.^[13] He was released by Indy Eleven on November 30, 2022, following the conclusion of the 2022 season.^[14]

North Carolina FC

Saunders signed with USL League One side North Carolina FC on January 19, 2023.^[15]

References

^ FC, Seattle Sounders. "Academy | SoundersFC.com". Seattle Sounders FC.
^ ^a ^b "Tor Saunders - Men's Soccer". University of Akron Athletics.
^ Wilson, Scott. "Fear the Akron Roo".
^ "Tor Saunders - Men's Soccer". Coastal Carolina University Athletics.
^ "Eastside FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Tor Saunders -". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
^ "South Georgia Tormenta FC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
^ "Tormenta FC 2 Strengthens Roster With Four More Additions".
^ "Saunders Drafted by Nashville SC in 2021 MLS SuperDraft". Coastal Carolina University Athletics.
^ SC, Nashville. "Nashville Soccer Club Signs Defender Tom Judge and Goalkeeper Tor Saunders". Nashville SC.
^ SC, Nashville. "Nashville Soccer Club Announces 2021 Roster Decisions". Nashville SC.
^ USLChampionship com Staff (March 4, 2022). "Indy Eleven Strikes Loan Deal for Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco". USL Championship.
^ USLLeagueOne com Staff (March 4, 2022). "Red Wolves Acquire Goalkeeper Tor Saunders on Loan From Indy Eleven". USL League One.
^ "Match Center | USLLeagueOne.com". www.uslleagueone.com.
^ "Indy Eleven Announces Additional Player Transactions".
^ "North Carolina FC Signs Goalkeeper Tor Saunders". NorthCarolinaFC.com. North Carolina FC. Retrieved January 19, 2023.