Ben Spencer (soccer)

Ben Fritz Spencer Jr. (born March 28, 1995) is a retired American soccer player who played as a forward.

Ben Spencer
Personal information
Full name Ben Fritz Spencer Jr.
Date of birth (1995-03-28) March 28, 1995
Place of birth Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2010–2011 Real Salt Lake
2011–2012 Chivas USA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Molde FK 2 (0)
2014 → Indy Eleven (loan) 11 (2)
2015 → Toronto FC II (loan) 0 (0)
2016–2017 Toronto FC II 6 (0)
2017–2018 Toronto FC 5 (0)
2017–2018 → Toronto FC II (loan) 13 (1)
2019 Phoenix Rising 16 (5)
2019 → FC Tucson (loan) 3 (0)
2020–2021 San Diego Loyal 31 (1)
International career‡
2012 United States U18 8 (5)
2015 United States U20 5 (5)
2014 United States U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 8, 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 14, 2015

Club career

Youth

A native of New Mexico, Spencer joined Real Salt Lake's Grande Sports Academy ahead of the 2010-11 season. He left the RSL system for the 2011-12 season for the Chivas USA academy (although his MLS rights were retained by Real Salt Lake).[1] Spencer committed to play college soccer for UC Santa Barbara for the fall 2013 season but instead agreed to join Molde in Norway in December 2012.[2]

Professional

After several months of training, Spencer signed a professional deal with Molde in April 2013, shortly after turning 18.[3] He made his professional debut in a 4–0 win over Vålerenga on September 1, 2013.[4]

In March 2014 Spencer moved on a season-long loan to NASL side Indy Eleven,[5] returning to Molde in November 2014 upon the completion of his loan deal.[6]

He moved to Toronto FC II in 2015, on loan, however, he suffered an injury and was unable to appear in a match for the team. After the season, Toronto FC acquired his MLS rights from Real Salt Lake.[7] Soon after his loan ended, he joined Toronto FC II on a permanent transfer. After spending 2016 and the beginning of 2017 with Toronto FC II in the United Soccer League, Spencer made the move up to Toronto FC on May 2, 2017.[8] Spencer was a member of the treble winning Toronto FC team which won the Canadian Cup, Supporters' Shield, and MLS Cup during the 2017 season. He was released by the club in June 2018,[9] after only making 5 appearances in 2 seasons, contributing 2 assists.[10]

In 2019, he joined Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship.[11] He scored a penalty kick in the shootout of their 2019 US Open Cup Second Round loss.[12] Spencer had the highest goals-per-minute ratio in the USL Championship during the 2019 season. During the season, he was loaned to USL League One affiliate FC Tucson.[13] At the end of the season, he was not re-signed by the club.[14]

Spencer joined San Diego Loyal SC in July 2020.[15]

On December 9, 2021, Spencer announced via his social media platforms his decision to retire from playing professional soccer.

International career

Spencer featured for the United States U18 in 2012, scoring three goals in six matches.[16]

Career statistics
As of November 1, 2019[17]
Club Season Division League Cup Playoffs Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Molde 2013 Tippeligaen 2000—0020
Totals2000000020
Indy Eleven (loan) 2014 NASL 11220——132
Totals112200000132
Toronto FC II (loan) 2015 USL 00———00
Toronto FC II 2016 20———20
2017 131———131
2018 40———40
Totals191000000191
Toronto FC 2017 Major League Soccer 2000000020
2018 3000—0030
Totals5000000050
Phoenix Rising 2019 USL Championship 1651020—195
Totals165102000195
FC Tucson (loan) 2019 USL League One 30———30
Totals3000000030
Career total 568302000618

References
  1. Cleverly, Garrett (April 24, 2013). "Former Grande Sports Academy player signs pro contract with Norwegian club".
  2. Rodriguez, Alicia (January 24, 2013). "Chivas USA Academy: Spencer to Join Molde". Angels on Parade.
  3. "SPENCER EYES BRIGHT MOLDE FUTURE". Yanks Abroad. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "Fotball-Eliteserien - NRK". Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  5. "Youngsters Moore, Spencer Add Attacking Talent". Indy Eleven. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  6. "Nine for Indy Eleven 2015". www.nasl.com. NASL. November 30, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  7. Tierney, Mitchell (March 10, 2016). "TFC Acquire Refusal Rights for Ben Spencer". Waking The Red.
  8. USLSoccer com Staff (May 2, 2017). "Spencer Signs With Toronto FC". USL Championship.
  9. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (June 22, 2018). "Ben Spencer released by Toronto FC". Waking The Red.
  10. "Ben Spencer | MLSsoccer.com".
  11. USLChampionship com Staff (February 15, 2019). "Phoenix Swoops for Spencer". USL Championship.
  12. "Phoenix Rising Eliminated from U.S. Open Cup in Penalties". OurSports Central. May 16, 2019.
  13. "FC Tucson Falls in Madison 1-0". FC Tucson. August 3, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  14. Anderson, Jake (November 8, 2019). "Phoenix Rising announces return of 11 players for 2020 season". Arizona Sports 98.7FM. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  15. "SD Loyal Announces Roster Updates Prior to First Match in Return-to-Play Season". San Diego Loyal SC. July 11, 2020. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  16. "RSL Academy Players named to U.S. U-18 National Team | Real Salt Lake". Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  17. "B.Spencer". uk.soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
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