Feb. 15, 2008

CHICAGO, Ill. – South Carolina freshman striker Blake Brettschneider has been selected to join 22 fellow collegiate players at a United States U-20 Men’s National Team domestic camp to be held in New Orleans, La., Feb. 19-24. Head coach of the team, Thomas Rongen, made the announcement this week.

Brettschneider scored four goals and contributed four assists in his rookie season with the Gamecocks in 2007. He also tallied three game-winners, including his first collegiate goal, Carolina’s winning tally in a 1-0 victory against intra-state rival Clemson in the season opener.

The team, made up entirely of collegiate players, will gather in New Orleans on Feb. 19 and play two games in a four-team event. On Saturday, Feb. 23 the U.S. will face the Honduras U-20 MNT, and on Sunday will face either the New Orleans Shell Shockers or Victoria, a youth team from Honduras. The two Saturday winners will match up on Sunday, while the losing teams will meet in a consolation match.

Four members of the 2007 U.S. Pan American Team will be in New Orleans as Daniel Cruz, Greg Eckhardt, Warren Gross, and Peri Marosevic all traveled to Rio de Janeiro last summer.