Wake Forest Athletics
Jake Swallen Signs MLS Next Pro Contract with Sporting Kansas City II
1/16/2024 3:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The December Wake Forest graduate enters the professional ranks following 65 career appearances for the Demon Deacons.
KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Wake Forest men's soccer's Jake Swallen has signed an MLS Next Pro Contract with Sporting Kansas City II, the organization announced on Tuesday.
A member of the Wake Forest men's soccer program for six seasons, Swallen appeared in 65 matches with 39 starts, recording 35 points from 17 assists and nine goals. His 17 career assists ranks top-30 in program history as he led the Demon Deacons in the statistical category in 2021 and 2023.
Returning to the pitch in 2023, Swallen appeared in 15 matches with three starts to record a career-high seven assists with two goals. After scoring on a penalty kick in a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 12, the Shoreview, Minn., native also scored against Campbell along with collecting two assists in a 3-1 win over the Camels.
In a 5-1 victory over Robert Morris on Oct. 17, Swallen became the first Demon Deacon since Oct. 10, 2017 to record three assists in a match.
Swallen earned All-ACC third-team honors during the 2021 campaign, as he scored a personal best five goals along with six assists. Four of his five goals came against conference opponents including the late game-winner in a 2-1 victory over North Carolina.
During his on-field debut in 2019, Swallen scored in the regular season against High Point while also appearing in the team's 3-0 NCAA Tournament victory over Maryland ahead of Wake Forest clinching the program's sixth College Cup appearance.
Swallen is the fifth Demon Deacon from the 2023 ACC Atlantic Division title-winning squad to enter the professional ranks, joining Garrison Tubbs (Homegrown signing with Atlanta United before being traded to DC United), Roald Mitchell (Homegrown signing with the New York Red Bulls), Hosei Kijima (2024 MLS SuperDraft selection by St. Louis City SC) and Jahlane Forbes (2024 MLS SuperDraft selection by Charlotte FC).
Demon Deacon legend Ike Opara, a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year and 2007 National Champion, serves as an assistant coach on the Sporting KC II technical staff.
A member of the Wake Forest men's soccer program for six seasons, Swallen appeared in 65 matches with 39 starts, recording 35 points from 17 assists and nine goals. His 17 career assists ranks top-30 in program history as he led the Demon Deacons in the statistical category in 2021 and 2023.
Returning to the pitch in 2023, Swallen appeared in 15 matches with three starts to record a career-high seven assists with two goals. After scoring on a penalty kick in a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 12, the Shoreview, Minn., native also scored against Campbell along with collecting two assists in a 3-1 win over the Camels.
In a 5-1 victory over Robert Morris on Oct. 17, Swallen became the first Demon Deacon since Oct. 10, 2017 to record three assists in a match.
Swallen earned All-ACC third-team honors during the 2021 campaign, as he scored a personal best five goals along with six assists. Four of his five goals came against conference opponents including the late game-winner in a 2-1 victory over North Carolina.
During his on-field debut in 2019, Swallen scored in the regular season against High Point while also appearing in the team's 3-0 NCAA Tournament victory over Maryland ahead of Wake Forest clinching the program's sixth College Cup appearance.
Swallen is the fifth Demon Deacon from the 2023 ACC Atlantic Division title-winning squad to enter the professional ranks, joining Garrison Tubbs (Homegrown signing with Atlanta United before being traded to DC United), Roald Mitchell (Homegrown signing with the New York Red Bulls), Hosei Kijima (2024 MLS SuperDraft selection by St. Louis City SC) and Jahlane Forbes (2024 MLS SuperDraft selection by Charlotte FC).
Demon Deacon legend Ike Opara, a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year and 2007 National Champion, serves as an assistant coach on the Sporting KC II technical staff.
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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Midfielder
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