Hokies’ Ben Lundgaard signs with Atlanta United

In March Virginia Tech alum Ben Lundgaard signed a pro contract with Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS). The one-year deal with an option for two additional seasons comes after a successful 2020 with Atlanta’s USL side. After joining MLS in 2017, Atlanta quickly became a force on and off the pitch picking up the MLS Cup in 2018, the US Open Cup in 2019, and regularly brought in crowds around 50,000 to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Lundgaard made 70 appearances for the Hokies during his four seasons in Blacksburg earning the captain’s armband and becoming an All-ACC First Team selection during his senior year. He was taken by the Columbus Crew in the first round of the 2018 MLS Draft spending the next two seasons out on loan in the USL (second tier of US soccer) with Indy Eleven and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

In 2020, Atlanta United 2 signed him to their USL side where he made 13 starts and earning a new contract this off-season. Back in early 2018, I interviewed Ben ahead of the MLS Draft to discuss his path to Virginia Tech, playing for the Hokies, and the MLS Combine.

Atlanta began their season this past Tuesday night as they traveled to Costa Rican side Alajuelense for the first leg in the Round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions League (the tournament to determine the best team in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean). Depsite going a man down, Atlanta managed a 1-0 win to take back for the second leg this coming week at home (3/14, 6 pm ET, FS1 & TUDN).

The club will begin their 2021 MLS season on April 17th with a road trip against their rivals Orlando City. You can catch that match at 3 pm ET on 4/17 on UniMas or Twitter streaming.