Dec. 9, 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior forward/midfielder Blake Brettschneider and senior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer have been invited to participate in the 2011 adidas MLS Player Combine. Major League Soccer announced on Thursday its initial list of 54 college seniors from 36 Division I schools invited to the event, which will be held at Central Broward Regional Park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 7-11.
Brettschneider earns an invitation to the event after a banner year for the Gamecocks in 2010. Brettschneider led South Carolina in goals (7), assists (10) and points (24) during his senior season, while he scored three game-winning goals on the year, including one over archrival Clemson. The Conference USA Co-MVP and Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Brettschneider tallied at least one point in each C-USA regular-season match he played, while his 10 assists were also a C-USA best, as he was the only player in the league to collect double-figure assists. He concluded his South Carolina career with 19 goals, including eight game winners, and 17 assists.
“It’s quite an honor to be selected for the MLS Combine,” Brettschneider said. “Only a limited number of players have the opportunity each year and to be a part of this year’s combine means a great deal to me. I think it is important that I take the time to thank all those people who have helped me along the way. My coaches and teammates mean the world to me and without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s a team effort every time we step on the field, and they have given me the best chance to succeed. I would also like to thank my family and friends for all of their support and time. Without a strong support group I know many of my accomplishments would not have been possible. I look forward to the opportunity to attend the Combine and the chance to show the coaches what I can do. The thought of getting to play with many of the best players in the country and hopefully taking the next step in my soccer career is really incredible.”
Maurer earns an invitation to the Combine after a highly successful four-year career at South Carolina. The 2007 Conference USA Freshman of the Year and four-time all-conference honoree, Maurer led Conference USA with nine shutouts in 2010, playing a career-high 2,028 minutes in net. His nine shutouts matched a career high, while he concluded his career in the Garnet and Black with 28 shutouts, second all-time in South Carolina history. Maurer owns a 1.05 career goals against average, having collected 318 saves in 7,284 minutes played at Carolina.
“This is a big accomplishment to be invited to the Combine,” Maurer said. “It is the opportunity I have been working for throughout my college career. I would like to first thank my family for all of the support they have given me over the years, as well as my college teammates and coaches. This is a big step in furthering my career as a professional, and I look forward to showing the MLS coaches what I have to offer. It’s time to get to work to make my family and the University proud.”
The initial player list was determined by a panel of Division I college coaches, representing all conferences, who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. These players will be joined by Generation adidas players, additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools, and Division I alternates. The final player list, Combine coaches, and team assignments will be announced in the coming weeks. The Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day on Jan. 8, 10 and 11.
2011 ADIDAS MLS PLAYER COMBINE LIST BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (5): Bryan Meredith (Monmouth); Jeff Attinella (University of South Florida); Jimmy Maurer (South Carolina); Joe Willis (University of Denver);Josh Ford (UConn)
DEFENDERS (17): A.J. Soares (California); Bilal Duckett (Notre Dame); Bobby Warshaw (Stanford); Christopher Korb (Akron); Colin Givens (Michigan State); Curtis Ushedo (UAB); Demitrius Omphroy (California); Eddie Ababio (UNC); Greg Klazura (Notre Dame); Greg King (UConn); Indy Smith (UNC Wilmington); Jalil Anibaba (UNC); JT Murray (Louisville); Juan Cruz (SMU); Michael Boxall (UCSB); Rich Balchan (Indiana); Tyler Lassiter (North Carolina State)
Midfielders (21): Anthony Ampaipitakwong (Akron); Blake Brettschneider (South Carolina); Cole Grossman (Duke); Daniel Keat (Dartmouth); Dustin McCarty(UNC); Ernesto Carranza (Sacramento State); Guillermo Cortes (Maryland); Hector Jimenez (California); Jimmy Banks (Green Bay); John (Jeb) Brovsky (Notre Dame); Jon Okafor (Brown); Josue Soto(SMU); Karl Reddick (Boston College); Konrad Warzycha (Ohio State); Lebogang Pila (St. Peter’s College); Matheus Braga (Penn State); Matt Gold (Ohio State); Michael Farfan (UNC); Servando Carrasco (California); Stephen McCarthy (UNC); Tommy Drake (Clemson)
Forwards (11): Amani Walker (UCI); Ashley McInnes (Tulsa); Brayan Martinez (Seton Hall University); C.J. Sapong (James madison); Davis Paul (California); Efrain Burgoes (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Jason Herrick (Maryland); Justin Meram (Michigan); Levi Houapev (UMBC); Philip Bannister (Loyola University Maryland); Steven Perry (Notre Dame)
