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Well, can testify to what it really means to be ready. Lundt’s task was a simple and straightforward as it was daunting.

He stepped in for City SC captain, star player, 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and the only true No. 1 goalkeeper in the franchise’s brief history, Roman Burki, four weeks into the season with less than a day’s worth of notice.

“You can’t crumble under the pressure, and it’s a lot of pressure,� Lundt said after Thursday’s training session. “You have Roman here who has been fantastic here the last three years. The pressure is high. The bar is set really high.

“But I like this kind of pressure and try to do as best as possible.�

On March 15, Lundt’s time came, unexpectedly. Burki suffered a broken bone in his hand the day before City SC’s match against the Seattle Sounders in Energizer Park.

When the rubber met the road, the 6-foot-6 Lundt recorded a clean sheet with one save in a 1-0 win against Seattle.

“Ideally you want to know already Monday that you’re playing on the weekend, but that particular situation was a little bit different — you know on Saturday and you have to play Saturday evening,� Lundt said.

“But, other than that, I’m a professional goalkeeper. For the last two years, I’ve been just working for that. We’ve had now three different coaches in the last twelve months. You have to earn respect from every single coach to be the guy that if something happens, you step in.�

A native of Berlin and a product of the Hertha BSC academy in Germany, Lundt played collegiately at the University of Akron where he was a three-year starter. CF Cincinnati selected him with the 37th overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.

He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with Louisville City FC of the USL on loan. He earned USL Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2020. In May 2021, he joined Phoenix Rising FC of the USL and spent the next two seasons playing there.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ City SC acquired him from Phoenix on January 5, 2023, and he signed a two-year contract with an option for 2025.

In the previous two seasons with ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ City SC, Lundt appeared in four matches (three starts) and logged 328 minutes.

Lundt described the dynamic within the club’s goalkeeper unit as helping, supporting and critical of each other. Lundt said he thinks that has benefited Burki, and it certainly helped him.

Even with that, the Seattle match was a different animal.

“You just want to survive,� Lundt said. “You don’t want to make a mistake. You want to survive. You want to win the game. You want to get a point on the road maybe and just really look at yourself and say, ‘Hey, don’t make a mistake. Don’t take too many risks.’�

Now that he has started regularly for the first time since the USL, he’s benefited from being on the field for plays that you can’t simulate in practice. He has gotten to see some things work, tried different things and taken more chances.

That comfort level of being the top goalie found him again.

“I learned definitely that I know that I can do it,� Lundt said. “I can play in this league. It’s hard to know that if you don’t get opportunity. I was three years in Cincinnati and never got the opportunity, so you always maybe doubt yourself a little bit.�

So far this season, Lundt has started seven matches, played 630 minutes, registered 24 saves and recorded two clean sheets.

City SC has gone 1-4-2 in those matches, though they’ve scored just four goals during that span.

“I know it kind of almost has an expiration date, but in professional sports you earn your next contract,� Lundt said. “I’m a free agent. Every new contract is earned, not given. I’m working for that. I’m playing for my family, for myself. I’m playing for this club. I really like this club. I really appreciate the club, and I’m proud to wear the badge.�

Lundt’s performance in City SC’s most recent match, a 2-2 draw with Los Angeles FC, also provided a proud moment for City SC director of goalkeeping/set-piece coach Alex Langer.

Lundt stopped a penalty kick by highly-regarded star striker in the 75th minute with the score tied on Sunday.

As with any backup player, there’s been a specific development plan for Lundt the past two years. One area of his areas of focus has been one-on-one situations.

“Absolutely, obviously really proud for Ben,� Langer said of that penalty kick stop. “A critical moment in the game overall. I think the game could have turned sidewise in the moment of the penalty. So super happy that it worked out for Ben.�

Langer had confidence in Lundt based on the work he’d witnessed over nearly two and a half years, including the way he challenged Burki in training and how Lundt performed this preseason. Langer wasn’t hanging his assessment on performances in matches once every six or eight months.

However, Langer wouldn’t deny Lundt’s self-confidence has blossomed with each passing match, and it has shown in his play whether defending the goal, defending space, or distributing the ball. Langer credits him for using his feet and “opening up the game for us in the build out and build up moments.�

Lundt faces Seattle again on Saturday night, this time on the road. Burki may just be a week or so away from returning.

The expiration date Lundt referenced is nearing, but this has undoubtedly been a crucial moment in Lundt’s career.

“I think he proved to the club and he proved to the league that he is a really good goalkeeper in that league,� Langer said. “It’s incredible to have two goalkeepers that have the quality that Roman and Ben have, to have them on the squad.

“And I think just for Ben by himself, I think he proved it to himself that he can play in that league and he can perform at that level.�