Ray Saari

Ray Saari (born April 18, 1995) is a former American soccer player.

Ray Saari
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-04-18) April 18, 1995
Place of birth Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2009–2013 Billy Goat FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Tulsa Golden Hurricane 69 (12)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Houston Dutch Lions 9 (0)
2014–2016 Tulsa Athletic 27 (12)
2017–2018 Seattle Sounders FC 2 39 (4)
2017 Kansas City Comets (indoor) 2 (0)
2019 Sacramento Republic 19 (0)
2019–2020 Kansas City Comets (indoor) 12 (6)
2020–2021 Oklahoma City Energy 3 (0)
Managerial career
2022– Tulsa Golden Hurricane (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 16, 2022

Early life

Saari was raised in the Kansas City area and attended Oak Park High School. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 15 and underwent several months of chemotherapy before returning to the high school's soccer team.[1]

Career

College

Saari spent his entire college career at the University of Tulsa. He was a starter all four years. He made a total of 69 appearances, and tallied 12 goals and 12 assists. His sophomore season he was named to the American Athletic Conference All-conference team.[2] In his senior season despite missing five matches, Saari finished as the team's second leading scorer and earned a spot on the NSCAA All-East region first team.[3]

Saari spent three seasons with NPSL side Tulsa Athletic, playing a pivotal role in winning conference titles in two of his three seasons there. His advanced attacking role with the club yielded nearly a point a game and showcased his creative ability in the final third. Saari is among the all-time point leaders at the club registering 12 goals and 13 assists.

He also played in the Premier Development League for Houston Dutch Lions.[4]

Professional

On March 22, 2017, Saari signed his first professional soccer contract, joining USL club Seattle Sounders FC 2.[5] He made his professional debut four days later in a 2–1 defeat to Sacramento Republic.[6] On September 13, 2018 Saari was released from Seattle Sounders FC 2 having played in 39 matches over two seasons for S2 and recording four goals and six assists.[7]

On January 3, 2019, Saari joined USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC.[8]

On November 12, 2019, Saari returned to the Kansas City area and signed a contract with the Kansas City Comets of the Major Arena Soccer League.[9]

Saari signed with USL Championship club OKC Energy FC on February 3, 2020.[10]

References
  1. Saari, Ray (September 4, 2018). "Soccer Saved Me, Cancer Matured Me: S2 midfielder Ray Saari details his battle overcoming illness". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. "25 - Ray Saari".
  3. "2016 NSCAA NCAA Division I Men's All-East Region Teams".
  4. "Houston Dutch Lions – Archive". HoustonDutchLionsFC.com. Houston Dutch Lions. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  5. "Sounders FC 2 signs seven players ahead of March 26 season-opener against Sacramento Republic FC". SoundersFC.com. Sounders FC Communications. March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  6. "Sounders FC 2 falls 2–1 to Sacramento Republic FC in season-opening match". SoundersFC.com. Sounders FC Communications. March 26, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  7. "Sounders FC 2 releases Ray Saari". Seattle Sounders FC. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  8. USLChampionship com Staff (January 3, 2019). "Energy FC Returns Harris to Back Line". USL Championship.
  9. "Comets Sign Local Standouts". MASLSoccer.com. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  10. "Energy FC Signs Midfielder, University of Tulsa Alum Ray Saari". EnergyFC.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
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