COLLEGEVILLE – Former Ursinus College men's soccer star and 2016 graduate Ryan Butler has signed a professional contract with the Philadelphia Fury of the American Soccer League.
After practicing three times with the team, owner Matt Driver expressed his interest in the Ursinus standout, and Butler made it official last Friday. Butler has been practicing with the club for the past week and will suit up for the first time on Saturday, when the Fury host AFC Lancaster Lions at 7:00 p.m.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know all of the guys," Butler said. "It's going to take a lot of hard work to prepare and train, but I'm excited to get started. I'm very grateful for this opportunity.
I would like to thank Coach (Keith) Cappo for setting me up with Matt Driver and the Fury. I can't express how appreciative I am."
The ASL began play in 2014 and features 10 franchises across the Northeast. The Fury play their home games inside Coach Richard Wackar Stadium on the campus of Rowan University. Currently 7-0-1 and atop the league table, the Fury have two games remaining in the regular season.
Butler has focused primarily on his professional soccer career since graduating last month, but has started working at Outlaw Training & Fitness in Riverton, New Jersey in addition to his time on the pitch.
One of the most decorated players in Ursinus history, Butler is third all-time in goals (36) and points (79) and started 61 of 62 games in which he appeared for the Bears. He was a second team All-Centennial Conference selection this past fall, making him the first player in the history of the program to earn four consecutive all-conference laurels. The CC Rookie of the Year and a second team honoree in 2012, Butler was named to the first team in 2013 and to the second team each of the last two seasons.
Butler led the conference with 77 shots as a senior, racking up a team-best eight goals (T-4th CC) and three assists to rank sixth in the league with 19 points. His 13 goals as a freshman are fourth in Ursinus single-season history, and Butler tied a conference record for goals by a rookie with four in a victory over Gwynedd Mercy.