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COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Maryland men’s soccer student-athletes Ben Bender and Brett St. Martin were selected in the MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas Tuesday afternoon. Bender was drafted No. 1 overall by Charlotte FC while St. Martin was picked in the second round 50th overall by Sporting Kansas City.
Bender and St. Martin became the 50th and 51st Maryland players selected in the history of the SuperDraft. Bender is the third Terp to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the SuperDraft (Maurice Edu, 2007; Leo Cullen, 1998). Maryland has had 17 selections in the last 18 SuperDrafts.
“I couldn’t be happier to see Ben Bender and Brett St. Martin get selected in the MLS SuperDraft,” Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski said. “Both represented the University of Maryland with distinction and now have the chance to achieve their professional dreams. We pride ourselves as a program on building champions first, and Ben and Brett are both championship people and players.”
The first SuperDraft pick in the history of Charlotte FC, Bender goes to the Queen City as a 2021 United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American and Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. He led the Terps with seven goals and five assists and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection.
“This opportunity is amazing. MLS is such a great league,” Bender said. “Playing professionally is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. The downside to going pro is leaving Maryland and leaving my friends and coaches there. I’ve had so many close friends at Maryland. The coaching staff, Sasho, Jake [Pace] and Miles [Vaughn] did such a great job developing me that last few years and I’m going to miss it. But I think I’m ready for this next step.”
The United Soccer Coaches selected Bender as a first-team All-Region selection. The Baltimore, Md., native was also named a…
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