Lions sign Bender, 18
Homegrown midfielder worked his way up through team’s system
Orlando City has signed 18-year-old midfielder Jordan Bender to a homegrown contract, adding him to the ranks of fellow homegrown products Benji Michel and David Loera.
Bender rose through the ranks of the Orlando City youth-development system from the ground up, starting in the team’s academy and then playing for Orlando City B. He trained with the senior team throughout the 2019 season and played with the Lions during the preseason.
“Jordan’s journey is the blueprint of exactly how we envision the pathway and future of the Orlando City SC development pyramid,” Orlando City executive vice president of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi said in a news release. “As a player who started in our Academy, made his way to OCB and has now signed with our MLS team, Orlando City is in his blood. He has also trained and played in preseason games with the First Team, so he understands what it takes to succeed in MLS. We are extremely excited about the potential and upside that Jordan possesses and we look forward to him continuing to grow within our organization.”
Bender is a native of Lake Mary and first joined Orlando City through the club’s pre-academy program at age 12. He moved up through the academy before signing with Orlando City B team at age 18 for the 2019 USL League One season. The midfielder made 16 appearances throughout the season, along with playing for the senior team in the Orlando City Invitational.
He has also received a call-up to the United States U-16 team.
The Major League Soccer SuperDraft is getting a makeover.
The 2020 SuperDraft — slated for Jan. 9 at noon ET — will feature a shorter selection process and will be streamed live on Twitter in collaboration with ESPN, which will also broadcast the event on the ESPN App, YouTube, and Facebook. MLS announced the changes Friday.
The SuperDraft will span four rounds, each containing 26 selections. The first two rounds will broadcast via the live stream. Rounds 3 and 4 will take place Jan. 13 without cameras.
Clubs will have three minutes to make their picks, which is down from the four-minute limit in place during previous years.
Inter Miami CF owns the first- and third-overall selections in the 2020 SuperDraft while fellow expansion side Nashville SC has the second-overall pick.
In a prepared statement, MLS called the new Superdraft process “streamlined” and said it would provide “innovative opportunities for fans to engage with media partners ESPN and Twitter.”
The livestream will feature cameras embedded with players and club decision-makers for real-time draftee reactions, live lookins on club draft rooms and instant engagement from fans on Twitter.
The list of players eligible for the 2020 MLS SuperDraft will be announced Monday, Dec. 30.
Julie Ertz, midfield anchor for the World Cupwinning United States women’s national team, was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
Ertz, 27, started 22 games for the USWNT in 2019, including all six during the Americans’ World Cup run in France. Her 1,755 minutes this year were third-most on the team. She was named to the FIFA Women’s World XI in September and won female player of the year despite scoring only one goal over the past 12 months.
In club duty this year, Ertz started 16 games for the Chicago Red Stars, providing one assist while winning 57% of her individual duels and 63% of her attempted tackles. Chicago finished second in the National Women’s Soccer League’s regular-season table and reached its first NWSL championship game before falling to the North Carolina Courage.
Ertz bested Ballon d’Or winner and Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Megan Rapinoe for the honor.
Chelsea midfielder and winger Christian Pulisic has been voted U.S. Soccer’s Male Player of the Year, narrowly beating out Seattle Sounders winger Jordan Morris.
Pulisic hit a milestone for the U.S. men’s national team earlier this year against Chile in March when he became the youngest USMNT player to record 10 goals. He was named the USMNT’s “man of the match” four times this year, more than any other player, and helped lead the USMNT to runnerup in the Concacaf Gold Cup.
On the club side, Pulisic got off to a slow start after a move to Chelsea in August and struggled for playing time. But he eventually broke through and has tallied five goals and four assists in 19 matches.