MM 1.7: Maryland men’s soccer’s Ben Bender signs Generation adidas contract with MLS, eligible for selection in MLS SuperDraft

Maryland men’s soccer midfielder Ben Bender inked a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer, the program revealed on Thursday afternoon. With the signing, Bender is now eligible to be selected in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, which will happen on Jan. 11.

“We are thrilled for Ben to have the opportunity to sign with MLS,” head coach Sasho Cirovski said in the press release. “Ben represented Maryland with class on and off the field during his time in College Park and has all the attributes necessary to succeed at the next level. He will follow in the footsteps of the great Terps that have flourished in MLS since the league’s inception.”

The sophomore has collected nine goals and five assists throughout his two seasons at Maryland with seven of those goals and all five of those assists coming during his impressive campaign this past season. Bender had a ton of accolades to go along with his season, including being named a 2021 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American and the 2021 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. He was also named to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team and the 2021 All-Big Ten First Team.

Bender is the first Maryland Generation adidas signee since Dayne St. Clair in 2019. Bender is just the 15th Terp in the history of the program to become a Maryland Generation Adidas signee.

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