Ben Bender

Benjamin Bender (born March 7, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC. He was the first overall selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.

Ben Bender
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Bender
Date of birth (2001-03-07) March 7, 2001
Place of birth Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Charlotte FC
Number 15
Youth career
2009–2015 Fewster FC
2015–2016 Philadelphia Union
2016–2020 Baltimore Armour
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Maryland Terrapins 29 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Baltimore Christos 7 (6)
2022– Charlotte FC 45 (6)
2023– → Crown Legacy 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Youth and college

Prior to playing college soccer, Bender played youth soccer, from the age of 6 through 15 for Coach Barry Stitz and Fewster FC. The one-team, independent Fewster FC Club won 4 Maryland State Cups, 2 USYSA Regional Championships and played for the U15 USYSA National Championships in 2015 2015 USYSA U15 National Championships page. After USYSA changed their age categories (to birth year), Bender then played academy soccer, one season for the Philadelphia Union academy and four years for Baltimore Armour. Concurrently, Bender played high school soccer for Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland. With Calvert Hall, Bender served as the team's captain, being named an Allstate All-American his junior year, and earning honors from TopDrawerSoccer.com, All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association honors, and was named a Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection.[1]

Ahead of the 2020 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Bender signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiately for the University of Maryland, College Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on sporting events, Bender did not make his Maryland debut until February 19, 2021, starting in a 2–3 loss to Penn State. On March 27, 2021, Bender scored his first collegiate goal against Northwestern University. Bender would finish the 2020 season appearing in all 11 matches for the Terrapins, scoring twice.

Professional

Following his freshman season with Maryland, he signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer, an expected top five draft pick,[2][3] Bender was selected first overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Charlotte FC.[4] Bender became the third ever player from the University of Maryland to be selected first overall in the MLS SuperDraft, and the first since Maurice Edu was selected first overall in 2007.[5]

Career statistics
As of match played on September 24, 2023[6]
Club statistics
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlotte FC 2022 MLS 28330——313
2023 17310—5[lower-alpha 1]1234
Total 456400051547
Career total 456400051547
  1. Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup

Honors

Individual

References
  1. Graham, Glenn (January 11, 2022). "'It's pretty special': Former MIAA rivals, Maryland soccer stars Ben Bender and Brett St. Martin selected in 2022 MLS SuperDraft". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  2. Garlacep, Ives (January 10, 2022). "SBI 2022 MLS Mock Draft (Final Version)". SBI Soccer. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. Clark, Travis (January 11, 2022). "Final 2022 MLS Mock Draft". TopDrawer Soccer. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. Carlisle, Jeff (January 11, 2022). "Charlotte FC picks Maryland's Ben Bender as top MLS draft selection". ESPN. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. Goff, Steven (January 11, 2022). "Maryland's Ben Bender selected No. 1 by expansion Charlotte FC in MLS draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  6. "Benjamin Bender » Club matches". World Football Net. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
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