Virginia Tech's Dani Pereira Selected No. 1 by Austin Fc in the MLS SUPERDRAFT

David Cunningham

January 21, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. - For many young athletes growing up, the chance to play professionally in their respective sport is their lifelong dream.

For Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira, that dream came true on Tuesday afternoon.

The 20-year-old Roanoke, Va. native was selected by Austin FC with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.

"It's an honor," Pereira said. "It's always been my dream but I never thought I'd really reach it, to be honest. Now that I'm here, I can't stop now. I just have to keep putting more work in and be dedicated to the game."

With the selection, Pereira is the highest Hokie ever selected in the MLS Draft, surpassing Patrick Nyarko, who was taken with the seventh pick in the 2008 draft by the Chicago Fire.

Pereira celebrated the moment with his parents, Katiuska Gil Amador and Hector Pereira Flores. At the age of 15 in 2015, Pereira and his family moved from Venezuela to the United States to play soccer. He found a home at Northside High School, and his career in the U.S. flourished from there.

"My parents are always there for me, regardless of what the situation is," Pereira said. "It was a really emotional moment, and my dad was already crying before the show even started. It's a moment I will never forget."

He was named the 2019 VHSL Class 3 Boys Soccer Player of the Year as a senior after he scored 44 goals, breaking the school's career points record, and he helped lead Northside to the Class 3 State Championship Game. He decided to take his talents to Virginia Tech and the ACC, where he excelled in his two seasons.

As a freshman in 2019, Pereira started all 19 games in the central midfield for the Hokies and tallied five goals, good for second on the team behind Kristo Strickler’s 11, and five assists, a team-high.

He was clutch late in the season for Tech, scoring goals in three consecutive games against Duke, Louisville and Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament. He also recorded an assist in each of Virginia Tech’s NCAA Tournament games against No. 23 New Hampshire and at No. 7 Stanford.

In a shortened 2020 fall season due to COVID-19, the sophomore helped the Hokies finish 3-2-2 and played an important role in Tech’s five-game undefeated stretch. Pereira was a force in the midfield for Mike Brizendine’s squad and started all seven games, tallying one goal and one assist.

The goal was a special one, though. Just 14 minutes into Virginia Tech’s contest against Virginia on Nov. 6, Pereira received a pass from Strickler on the outside of the box. He took a few dribbles and ripped a shot from outside the 18 that sailed past the keeper to give the Hokies their first win over UVa since 2005.

In two years in Blacksburg, Pereira had an immense impact. From day one, he anchored Tech’s midfield and provided a calming presence in the center of the pitch that was integral to the Hokies’ success.

He was also an expert on set pieces and made the most of those opportunities in his Tech career, including his sweet goal against Louisville in 2019.

Pereira signed a Generation Adidas contract in December, which is a joint program between the MLS and Adidas that signs star college underclassmen each winter and makes them eligible for the SuperDraft in January.

With the Generation Adidas deal, Pereira's contract is with the MLS instead of Austin FC. The MLS club does not have to pay his salary until he graduates from the deal.

Austin FC is the MLS's newest club who will begin its first season in the league this year.

“We’re very excited for Dani to take this next step in his soccer playing career,” Hokies head coach Mike Brizendine said. “He’s an outstanding young man and a very talented player. … We’re excited for him and look forward to watching him grow and succeed at the next level.”

Hokies Forward Kristo Strickler Drafted

Virginia Tech striker Kristo Strickler became the second Hokie selected in the MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday afternoon after the Houston Dynamo drafted the Hilliard, Ohio native with the 30th overall pick (Round 2, Pick 3).

At picks one and 30, Strickler and Pereira are the highest duo Virginia Tech has ever had selected in the MLS Draft. Strickler is the fourth-highest Hokie ever drafted behind Pereira (1), Nyarko (7) and his former teammate Ben Lundgaard (21).

In four years in Blacksburg, Strickler lit up the back of the net for the Hokies, tallying 27 goals and nine assists. In his sophomore season in 2018, Strickler scored 10 goals and earned Second Team All-ACC Honors.

Strickler was Tech’s most dangerous weapon over the past few seasons and scored 27 of the Hokies’ 109 goals (25%) since he stepped on campus as a freshman.