The Swope Park Rangers have signed former Sporting KC Academy forward Tucker Stephenson, the club announced today. Stephenson, who wrapped up his college career with Loyola in 2018, will officially be added to the Rangers roster pending league and federation approval.
Stephenson, 22, split his college career between the West Virginia University and Loyola University Chicago. In his first two years at West Virginia, Stephenson tallied four goals and three assists across 31 appearances, before transferring to Loyola.
At Loyola, the Overland Park, Kan. native recorded two assists in 24 games. Stephenson suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in his junior season before returning as a senior and earning a spot on the All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team.
Last summer, Stephenson was an integral part of the inaugural Kaw Valley FC team led by Sporting KC Director of Talent Identification Istvan Urbanyi in USL League Two.
Stephenson was a revelation for Kaw Valley, tallying nine goals in 11 appearances and earning Kaw Valley FC MVP honors, as well as being named to the USL League Two All-League team, All-Central Conference First Team, while he was also a two-time Central Conference Team of the Week honoree.
Stephenson spent the previous summer in 2017 playing for fellow USL League Two side the Des Moines Menace.
During his time with the Sporting KC Academy, Stephenson scored nine goals across his final two U.S. Soccer Development Academy campaigns in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
The Rangers (3-10-6) are back in action this Saturday when the side hosts the Charleston Battery at Children’s Mercy Park. All USL Championship games are streamed live on ESPN+, while tickets for home games are available via SeatGeek.com.
VITALS
Tucker Stephenson
Position: Forward
Born: 10/23/1996 (22 years old)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160 lbs.
Hometown: Overland Park, Kan.
Birthplace: Overland Park, Kan.
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: YABOI_TUCK
Instagram: @t_step
