GREENSBORO, N.C. – Former Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira, current midfielder Kristo Strickler and forward Jacob Labovitz were named to the 2020 Men's Soccer All-ACC team on Wednesday.
Pereira, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, was named ACC Midfielder of the Year, along with being named first team All-ACC. Before becoming the first Virginia Tech men's soccer player to be drafted first overall in the MLS Draft in January, Pereira recorded a goal and an assist in seven games during the fall slate. That lone goal carried immense weight, as it was the game-winning strike that gave the Hokies their first win over Virginia since 2005. The current Austin FC midfielder was named to the Freshman All-ACC Team in 2019.
Strickler, the No. 30 overall pick in 2021 MLS SuperDraft, also claimed first team All-ACC honors. The four-year starter for the Hokies has recorded four goals and one assist in 11 appearances for Tech throughout the 2020-21 campaign. After missing the first three games of the spring to injury, Strickler's return has been reflected in the squad's overall performances. Strickler recorded the game-winning goal in the 52nd-minute against then-No. 15 North Carolina on April 2, for which he was given ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors. In 2018 and 2019, Strickler was named second team All-ACC.
Labovitz, who has recorded a team-high seven goals this season, earned third-team All-ACC honors. The forward was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a brace in an overtime win against Louisville on October 30. Labovitz is tied for fourth-most goals in the conference this season. This is the goal scorer's first all-conference honor with Virginia Tech, though he was named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year in 2017 at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
This is the second time the Hokies have had two players named first-team All-ACC in the same year (2017) and the second time Tech has had three players receive All-ACC honors in one year (2007).
