TULSA, Okla. – Ryan Alpers became the eighth signing for Tulsa Athletic as he will return for his third season with the club in 2019.
“It’s always exciting to bring back a local talent such as Ryan Alpers,” Daniel DeVore, GM of Tulsa Athletic, said. “He has a calming presence on the pitch with the ability to unlock a defense from our own half with his vision and rangy passing from the back.”
Alpers started in 10 contests during the 2018 campaign in the green and yellow, playing 861 minutes and going the full 90 minutes in eight matches. The Broken Arrow native scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory at Ozark FC, his only tally of the season.
In the 2017 season, Alpers made four appearances during the NPSL season, including a start at Little Rock Rangers when he went the full 90 minutes. For the year, he played 135 minutes in Heartland Conference action.
Alpers plays collegiately at the University of Tulsa, where he completed his sophomore season in the fall. The defender started in 14 contests and appeared in all 17 matches during the 2018 campaign. He helped the Golden Hurricane post shutouts against No. 4 Michigan State, No. 25 Missouri State and Cincinnati. For his sophomore season, he played 1,266 minutes and totaled 11 shots, including three on goal.
As a freshman at TU, Alpers appeared in five matches with two starts. He helped the Golden Hurricane register shutouts over No. 19 SMU and Memphis. Alpers was named TU’s “Man of the Match” against Saint Louis, Memphis and UConn.
Alpers prepped at Union High School, where he was a four-year starter. He helped UHS record a four-year mark of 49-11 and his team advanced to the Class 6A state championship quarterfinals all four seasons. During his senior season, UHS finished as the 6A state runner-up, and Alpers was named all-state. In his prep career, he was a three-time all-conference and all-district selection. Alpers played club soccer for Blitz United, where he helped his team to the 2013 and 2014 Oklahoma Premier League Championship.
The 2019 season starts on May 5 when Tulsa Athletic play host to the Little Rock Rangers at Veterans Park at 2 p.m.
2019 Tulsa Athletic Season Ticket Memberships are now on sale with three different levels available for the 2019 home schedule at Veterans Park. Buy your season tickets today at www.tulsaathletic.com.
