For the Reporter
Tacoma Stars signed defenders Jeff Bader and Trevor Jensen, and midfielder Cam Vickers, coach and general manager Darren Sawatzky announced Monday.
The three join the Stars as they continue to prepare for their first full season in the Major Arena Soccer League. Tacoma opens the season Oct. 24 at the Dallas Sidekicks.
Bader, 33, returns to the Stars after playing for the club last year. The Tacoma native’s indoor soccer resume includes time spent with the Ontario Fury of the MASL. Bader split his four years of collegiate soccer between two local colleges, first at Tacoma Community College and then with The Evergreen State College.
The defender won two championships with the Stars in 2004 and 2010 while the team played in the Premier Arena Soccer League.
“Jeff has been a local indoor player for years and played with us last year on the Stars,” Sawatzky said. “His veteran presence and ability to score from long range gives us yet another nice piece to the puzzle.”
“I feel very excited and fortunate to be able to continue my career, representing my home town, with the Stars,” Bader said.
Jensen, 24, played the last two seasons for the Kitsap Pumas of the Premier Development League and was an instrumental part of a 2014 Pumas squad that finished first in the PDL Northwest Division and reached the league championship. Jensen is a native of Chula Vista, California and played collegiately for Willamette University in Salem, Ore.
“Trevor was a stalwart holding midfield player for the Pumas against our Sounders U-23 team the past two years,” Sawatzky said. “He is very good defensively and he builds well in the attack. We will have him play a few roles for us this winter.”
Vickers, 26, recently wrapped up a season playing for Arizona FC of the United Soccer League. The Lake Tapps native played collegiately at Sonoma State University and has spent time with the Portland Timbers U-23 squad in the PDL. Vickers played for the Stars last year and spent time with the Tacoma Tide from 2008-11.
“We are looking at attacking teams this year in different ways,” Sawatzky said. “Cam is a quick, clever player with a lot of experience and we will look to him to create scoring opportunities for us.”
Season ticket packages, group outings, and suite offerings for the Stars season are available. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit www.tacomastars.com.
For team updates, follow the Stars on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC) or like the team on Facebook.
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