BLACKSBURG — The Virginia Tech men's soccer team has three players – Daniel Pereira, Kristo Strickler, and Mathijs Swaneveld – eligible for the MLS SuperDraft 2021 on Thursday. And, so far, two have been selected in the draft, with Pereira going No. 1 to Austin FC and Strickler going No. 30 to Houston.
Pereira becomes the first-ever Tech men's soccer player to go first overall and joins Tech football's Michael Vick and Bruce Smith to go No. 1 in a professional draft.
Pereira, a midfielder from Roanoke, Va., recorded six goals and six assists in two years with the Hokies. The sophomore signed a Generation adidas deal last week, joining Patrick Nyarko as the only other Tech player to receive the elusive honor.
Strickler, a senior from Hilliard, Oh., scored 27 goals and provided nine assists in four seasons with the Hokies. In 2018, Strickler was named second team All-ACC and to the VaSID First Team.
Swaneveld, a senior from Schoonhoven, Neth., has started in all 45 appearances he's made for the Hokies. In 2018, the keeper was named third team All-ACC.
In the last 15 years, Tech has placed seven players into the MLS via the draft, including two first round picks – Patrick Nyarko (2008) and Ben Lundgaard (2018).
The first round of the draft will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com, the MLS App, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pluto TV.