CONWAY – Coastal Carolina male soccer goalkeeper Tor Saunders was called up for the third round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Nashville SC in January.
Saunders became the 13th player in North Carolina men’s football history to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft and the first since Frantzdy Pierrot was chosen in the second round by Colorado Rapids FC in the 2017 SuperDraft.
“For me, obviously, growing up has always been a dream trying to reach the professional level,” said Saunders. “The draft is a big thing in American sport. It’s just a step for me to try to make my dreams come true. Definitely so happy to have been summoned … an incredible experience for me, my family and everything. “
Saunders remembered the moment when he found out he was going to Nashville.
“Something I can’t quite describe,” he said. “It was a surreal moment. When it happened, I kind of looked back and made me think of everything that had happened to get me to where I was, and that was a really cool thing to do. “
Before coming to Coastal, Saunders played at Akron University for four years.
“In the world of football, it’s kind of a powerhouse, I would say,” said Saunders. “I had great experiences there; many great teammates. I had some heartbreaking defeats in the national championship and in the Final Four, but it is definitely a part of my journey that I will look back on fondly, because I have great memories, great teammates and good experiences along the way ”.
Saunders then decided to move to Coastal Carolina for his last season in college, where he was also successful.
“Coastal was a great springboard that I needed for myself,” he said. “I kind of had a lull in my time in Akron; being there for four years, it looked like it was stuck there. I thought it was time for a change, so coming to CCU was a new start for me. I didn’t know anyone when I was arriving, but I needed an opportunity to prove myself again, and it definitely was definitely very beneficial for me because it gave me a platform to act and put my name there, as we were one of the only ones 18 teams that played in the country last year. “
The Chants ended the season as champions of the Sun Belt, placed 5th in the national ranking and will play in the NCAA tournament this spring, in which Saunders will play before heading to Nashville.
Saunders has received the Defensive Player of the Week award from the Solar Belt Conference on two occasions, while receiving the College Soccer News and TopDrawer Soccer National Teams of the Week award.
After the fall season, he was named Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year to go along with the All-Sun Belt awards. He was also nominated for the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament team on receiving the Honorable Player of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament honor and was also nominated for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list.
“We are all very happy that Tor has this chance with a great club and team like Nashville,” said CCU men’s soccer coach Shaun Docking. “He totally deserves this opportunity after he moved here for us last spring. He has been an essential part of us, winning the Sun Belt Conference last fall and winning 5th place in the national ranking along with the NCAA Tournament this spring. His hardworking attitude and his approach to his development every day has been an example for us all. We are excited to continue to see him grow as a player and person with this well-deserved next step. “
Saunders, who is originally from Spokane, Wash., And later moved to Seattle, has been playing organized football since he was 3 years old.
“My dad played a little, so it was always a family thing,” said Saunders. “As I recall, I would say that I was always playing in my backyard or at home with my brother.”
When Saunders lived in Seattle, he was able to attend the Seattle Sounders Academy, which helped him develop alongside an MLS team from a very young age.
“I joined Sounders Academy when I was 14,” said Saunders. “It is definitely unique. It is almost as if you were playing the college game from an early age … you are treated almost like a professional future there. It was a great experience for me. There have been many trips in our division; we went to California almost every weekend, which was for a 15, 16 year old boy in high school, it was a great thing ”.
Saunders said he enjoyed learning from the coaches there and playing with players who became first division and professional athletes.
“It was the best environment I could be in, I would say,” he said.
Saunders’ goalkeeping skills really started when he played football in the yard with his brother.
“I was always a bigger boy when I was younger,” he said. “My older brother was a striker, so it was kind of like whenever we were out in the yard playing, he kind of stuck me in the goal. So I think I’m going to have to thank you for that. It was luck, I would say. “
Saunders said he doesn’t have a favorite soccer player or goalkeeper, but he learned a lot from goalkeepers along the way, like Stefan Frei of the Seattle Sounders.
“I had guys along the way who really helped me a lot, more than they probably realize,” said Saunders. “Training with the Sounders’ main team and seeing Stefan Frei, obviously a goalkeeper who is at his peak in MLS, was definitely beneficial for me; just seeing your training habits and your skill and everything. He was always very receptive when I had the opportunity to train, so I really appreciated everything he did for me, even though he doesn’t really know it. “
In its first year of existence in 2020, Nashville SC ended its first season in seventh place in the Eastern Division of 14 teams with an overall record of 8-7-8 with 32 points.
“Looking at the team, I thought it was a well-structured, well-organized team that was very successful in the field,” said Saunders. “Arriving when you really don’t have an idea, I thought it was really cool how they could be successful.”
Saunders said he will always have a thing for the Sounders, as he played at their academy and grew up in Washington, but is excited to start his career at Nashville SC.
“I’m definitely excited to get my foot in the door whenever I can,” he said. “Obviously, watching them last year, being their first year, right from the start you could say that the fan base was incredible to watch … It was nice to see the support that the city has had behind the team since the first day … I can ‘Don’t wait to get there and start training and start playing with the guys and see what this is about. “