Dec. 22, 2009

(San Francisco) - Former USF standout and current San Jose Earthquake defender Brandon McDonald was one of 30 players selected by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley to the training camp roster that will begin training Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center in Carson, Calif. The group will prepare for the USA's first match of 2010, a friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup finalists Honduras on Jan. 23 at The Home Depot Center.

McDonald completed his second season in the MLS and started all 18 matches he appeared in for the Earthquakes and registered a goal and an assist for San Jose in 2009. In two seasons the Arizona native has appeared in 34 MLS matches with 28 starting assignments and has tallied two goals on 20 shots with a pair of assists. A fourth round pick by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2008 MLS Super Draft, McDonald spent his first season there, playing alongside international superstar David Beckham.

"We are very excited for Brandon and his selection to the national team training camp," USF head coach Erik Visser said. "It has been very rewarding to watch his development as a professional soccer player the last two years and this selection speaks to his work ethic and dedication to improving all facets of his game. Brandon is an outstanding representative of USF soccer."

During his standout career on the Hilltop, McDonald appeared in 71 matches with 70 starts, scoring 11 goals off 102 shots with seven assists for 29 points. In his penultimate match in the Green and Gold, he scored his 11th career goal in USF's 4-0 shutout of Loyola Marymount. McDonald teamed with current MLS player and 2006 West Coast Conference Player of the Year Rob Valentino, to lift USF to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2004-06) and back-to-back WCC Championships (2004-05).

USF soccer's last player to make the full US National Team squad was defender Troy Dayak, who competed in the 1992 Olympics in Atlanta.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), Troy Perkins (Valerenga), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
DEFENDERS (9): Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Brandon McDonald (San Jose Earthquakes), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (12): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jeff Larentowicz (New England Revolution), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
FORWARDS (5): Justin Braun (Chivas USA), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Marcus Tracy (Aalborg)

COMPLETE US NATIONAL TEAM RELEASE: US National Team Training Camp Announcement