Owensboro native Lucas Stauffer is taking another step in his professional soccer career, this time joining El Paso Locomotive FC. While the sport has carried him across the country and other parts of the world, Stauffer remains humble and credits Owensboro with helping set him up for success.
Stauffer, who plays defender, signed with El Paso ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season, the club announced today.
“I’m grateful to add to the culture, community, and sporting success that has already been established,” Stauffer said. “I’m excited to get down to El Paso, meet [the fans], and have an exciting 2024 season.”
The 28-year-old had a strong season with the Las Vegas Lights FC in 2023, playing in every match of the regular season to finish as the club’s leaders in assists (6), chance creations (49), and minutes (2,938). Additionally, he scored three goals and was third in duels won (157) and tackles won (47) for Lights FC.
“I was in Vegas last season, and it was it was a difficult season team-wise,” Stauffer said. “Results didn’t necessarily go our way, but being back and being more accessible to my friends and family was kind of at the forefront of where I wanted my career to go at this point. To be able to stay in the United States at a place like El Paso is fantastic. I really think it’s gonna be an awesome year.”
Like Las Vegas, El Paso competes in the United Soccer League Championship (USL), which is the second-highest tier under Major League Soccer in the U.S.
Local fans will have a chance to see Stauffer play in Indianapolis early in the season. He said that when he played in Louisville last year, there were about 500 people from Owensboro United in the stands.
Like many Owensboro soccer greats, he spent his younger years playing with Owensboro United and training with his dad, Ty, who owns SportsTutor. Sports Tutor is a premier training academy in the tri-state dedicated to developing technically superior athletes.
“I grew up spending every day at SportsTutor with my dad,” Stauffer said. “The support from my family has been monumental, and I’m blessed to have them in my life. I’m very fortunate.”
He added, “Owensboro is to credit for a lot of my sporting success. I’m very proud to be from there. The people are fantastic, and I love the blue-collar mentality.
Prior to Las Vegas, Stauffer spent four seasons playing in Germany. Stauffer got his professional start in the USL Championship with New York Red Bulls II in 2018 after playing collegiately at Creighton University, where he earned a bevy of conference awards.
“It’s nice and exciting to bring Lucas to El Paso,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut. “He is an extremely technical competitor with top mentality who leaves everything on the field and is a student of the game. He is an experienced right back who has high-level games in the USL Championship as well as in Germany. Our roster grows stronger by adding Lucas and I can’t wait to get him on the pitch to show our fans what he is capable of.”
