UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – Utica City FC announced on Tuesday, September 5 that they have signed forward Cole Stephens from the Milwaukee Wave.

“We feel Cole will be able to step in and compete right away,” Utica City FC owner Tommy Tanner said in a statement. “He is explosive, has the ability to beat players off the dribble, and score goals. He will add to the pace of our team getting forward and has an innate ability to defend.”

The Eastern Illinois product will enjoy his second season in the MASL in Utica, and with a familiar face coaching him. Utica head coach Hewerton Moreira coached Stephens in elementary school in Wisconsin, where he was an all-conference forward at Shorewood High School. Stephens was named his conference’s MVP in 2017 as well.

In 11 games at Eastern Illinois University, Stephens logged over 900 minutes of play, but was unable to score any points for the Panthers. He did not play a game for the Wave in the 2022-23 season.