Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com
Thursday, February 21, 2013
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos have agreed to terms with striker Blake Brettschneider for the 2013 USL PRO season pending USL and USSF approval. Brettschneider, a 6-foot, 23-year-old who will turn 24 before the start of the season, appeared in 32 matches and made 19 starts over the past two seasons with D.C. United and the New England Revolution. He has the second most career appearances in Major League Soccer on the Rhinos' current roster. Rhinos captain Troy Roberts played 61 times with the Los Angeles Galaxy from 2005 to 2008.
“Blake is a player with a huge amount of MLS experience who has played at the highest level in this country.” Rhinos head coach Jesse Myers said. “He’s an athletic forward who has a nose for the goal. I’ve had the chance to talk to our MLS affiliate, the New England Revolution, about him as well as some other teams in Major League Soccer. The unanimous opinion is that he’s going to be a star player in our league.”
Brettschneider played with the Rhinos' Major League Soccer affiliate, the New England Revolution, last season after signing with the club as a free agent on March 6th, 2012. He made 17 appearances and logged 893 minutes with two goals and one assist.
Brettschneider was drafted with the third pick in the second round of the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft by D.C. United. He was signed to a contract by United after he scored three goals in only 25 minutes on the pitch during the 2011 preseason. Brettschneider scored his first professional goal on June 11th against the San Jose Earthquakes. He finished the year with one goal and one assist in 15 appearances.
“Last season we had a pair of strikers from MLS rediscover their form in USL PRO," Myers said. "Corey Hertzog was loaned to Wilmington by the Red Bulls, and he scored 10 goals. Bright Dike was loaned to the LA Blues by Portland, and he scored six goals in seven matches. Dike returned to Portland last season and scored five MLS goals in 12 matches, while Hertzog signed with Vancouver for the 2013 season. Blake is in Rochester looking to find a similar path back to MLS, and I have every expectation that he will.”
Brettschneider was a standout collegiate player with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. He scored four goals and added four assists as a freshmen, and he was invited into the United States Men’s National Team U-20 camp during the spring semester of his freshmen year. As a sophomore he was named First Team All-Conference USA with six goals and two assists.
Brettschneider concluded his collegiate career with his best all-around season in 2010. He scored seven goals and added 10 assists on his way to being named the Conference USA co-Offensive Player of the Year, and Conference USA co-Most Valuable Player. He finished his collegiate career with 19 goals and 17 assists.
Brettschneider joins Matt Luzunaris as the second high-profile striker to sign with the Rhinos during the off-season. Luzunaris scored nine goals in under 900 minutes with Orlando City last season.
“Last year we struggled to score goals. In fact we were probably mid-table in goals scored in the USL PRO.” Myers said. “We just lacked the players to consistently get in behind the other team and stretch our opponents out. These two new signings along with the return of Kendell McFayden should solve that problem in 2013. We’re going to be scoring goals in Sahlen’s Stadium this summer.”