Zephyr FC Brings a Pair of Washingtonians Home

June 20, 2024 – USL Super League (USLSL)
Spokane Zephyr FC News Release

Spokane Zephyr FC continues to bolster its roster in the month of June, signing forward Taryn Ries and center back Haley Thomas, bringing the number of inaugural season signees to 15.

Both Ries and Thomas are Washingtonians returning to the United States after playing abroad in Germany’s top league the Frauen-Bundesliga for MSV Duisburg.

Taryn Ries said she is excited about the opportunity to return to the States for Spokane’s first look at professional women’s soccer.

“Being part of the inaugural season in my home state surrounded by friends and family is going to be very special,” Ries said.

Washington is an especially special state for the forward, as she was named the Washington 2A State Player of the Year in both her junior and senior year, and her career for the Ridgefield Spudders is highlighted by a six goal, one assist effort in a match that ended 7-0.

Ries stayed on the West Coast for her collegiate career, playing for the University of Portland. There, she amassed 34 goals in her five seasons with the Pilots, starting 75 of 85 matches played.

Ries ranked seventh nationally in goals scored her sophomore year after logging 15 goals in 20 matches. The 5-foot-8 attacker produced two hat tricks as well, and ended the year on the All-WCC First Team as well as making the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team. Before graduating, she would be named to two more All-WCC First Teams.

After her time in Portland, Ries signed with the Swedish club IK Uppsala. In her two years for the club she played in 26 matches and scored five goals while also recording two assists.

Ries signed with MSV Duisburg in January 2024, and played in 11 matches and knock back three goals.

Thomas, who grew up in Kennewick, Wash., had a decorated collegiate career, playing for Weber State in her first four seasons before finishing up at Boston College as a graduate student. In her time with the Wildcats, she was named to two Big Sky All-Conference First Teams as a junior and senior and an All-Conference Second Team as a sophomore. Her crowning achievement for the Utah university saw Thomas win the Big Sky Co-Defensive MVP in 2020. She started all 58 contests she appeared in, and led the team in minutes played during her final three seasons.

Her collegiate endeavors came to a close with Boston College, where the 5-foot-7-inch center back started all 18 of the Eagles’ contests on the back line, and…