{{short description|American soccer player (born 1998)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Tor Saunders | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1998|4|30}} | birth_place = Spokane, Washington, United States | height = 1.96 m | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = North Carolina FC | clubnumber = 12 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012 | youthclubs1 = Crossfire Premier | youthyears2 = 2013–2016 | youthclubs2 = Seattle Sounders FC | collegeyears1 = 2016–2019 | college1 = Akron Zips | collegecaps1 = 18 | collegegoals1 = 0 | collegeyears2 = 2020–2021 | college2 = Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | collegecaps2 = 15 | collegegoals2 = 0 | years1 = 2017 | clubs1 = Seattle Sounders FC U-23 | caps1 = 2 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2019 | clubs2 = South Georgia Tormenta 2 | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2021 | clubs3 = Nashville SC | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2022 | clubs4 = Indy Eleven | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2022 | clubs5 = → Chattanooga Red Wolves (loan) | caps5 = 5 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2023– | clubs6 = North Carolina FC | caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 0 | pcupdate = 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/academy/alumni|title=Academy | SoundersFC.com|first=Seattle Sounders|last=FC|website=Seattle Sounders FC}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://gozips.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/tor-saunders/6335|title=Tor Saunders - Men's Soccer|website=University of Akron Athletics}}</ref> Prior to playing with the Sounders academy, Saunders was with Crossfire Premier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alltheedge.com/sports/2015/12/07/fear-the-akron-roo/|title=Fear the Akron Roo|first=Scott|last=Wilson}}</ref>
===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.<ref name="auto"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goccusports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/tor-saunders/15392|title=Tor Saunders - Men's Soccer|website=Coastal Carolina University Athletics}}</ref>
While at college, Saunders also played in the USL League Two with Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/18033575|title=Eastside FC - 2017 Regular Season - Roster - # - Tor Saunders -|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}</ref> and South Georgia Tormenta 2 in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/32441729|title=South Georgia Tormenta FC | uslleaguetwo.com|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/tormenta-fc-2-strengthens-roster-with-four-more-additions/|title=Tormenta FC 2 Strengthens Roster With Four More Additions}}</ref>
===Professional=== ====Nashville SC==== On January 21, 2021, Saunders was selected 74th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Nashville SC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goccusports.com/news/2021/1/22/mens-soccer-saunders-drafted-by-nashville-sc-in-2021-mls-superdraft.aspx|title=Saunders Drafted by Nashville SC in 2021 MLS SuperDraft|website=Coastal Carolina University Athletics}}</ref> He officially signed with the Major League Soccer team on June 17, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-signs-defender-tom-judge-and-goalkeeper-tor-saunders|title=Nashville Soccer Club Signs Defender Tom Judge and Goalkeeper Tor Saunders|first=Nashville|last=SC|website=Nashville SC}}</ref> Saunders was released by Nashville following the 2021 MLS season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-announces-2021-roster-decisions|title=Nashville Soccer Club Announces 2021 Roster Decisions|first=Nashville|last=SC|website=Nashville SC}}</ref>
===Indy Eleven=== On March 4, 2022, Saunders signed with USL Championship club Indy Eleven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1213245-indy-eleven-strikes-loan-deal-for-goalkeeper-elliot-panicco|title=Indy Eleven Strikes Loan Deal for Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco|author=USLChampionship com Staff|date=March 4, 2022|website=USL Championship}}</ref> The same day he was loaned to USL League One's Chattanooga Red Wolves for the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1213249-red-wolves-acquire-goalkeeper-tor-saunders-on-loan-from-indy-eleven|title=Red Wolves Acquire Goalkeeper Tor Saunders on Loan From Indy Eleven|author=USLLeagueOne com Staff|date=March 4, 2022|website=USL League One}}</ref> He made his professional debut on April 2, 2022, starting in a 1–1 draw with Forward Madison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/chattanoogaredwolvessc-forwardmadisonfc-2264053|title=Match Center | USLLeagueOne.com|website=www.uslleagueone.com}}</ref> He was released by Indy Eleven on November 30, 2022, following the conclusion of the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2022/11/30/roster-departures-113022/|title=Indy Eleven Announces Additional Player Transactions}}</ref>
===North Carolina FC=== Saunders signed with USL League One side North Carolina FC on January 19, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=North Carolina FC Signs Goalkeeper Tor Saunders |url=https://www.northcarolinafc.com/news/2023/01/19/north-carolina-fc-signs-goalkeeper-tor-saunders/ |website=NorthCarolinaFC.com |publisher=North Carolina FC |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Soccerway|tor-saunders/609880}}
{{North Carolina FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Tor}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:American men's soccer players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Akron Zips men's soccer players Category:Coastal Carolina Chanticleers men's soccer players Category:Chattanooga Red Wolves SC players Category:Indy Eleven players Category:Nashville SC draft picks Category:Nashville SC players Category:North Carolina FC players Category:Sportspeople from Snohomish, Washington Category:Soccer players from Snohomish County, Washington Category:Seattle Sounders FC U-23 players Category:Tormenta FC 2 players Category:USL League One players Category:USL League Two players Category:21st-century American sportsmen