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July 23, 2008

Townsend promoted to national U-20 team

He's taking off for Ireland today to play in tourney

BY JAMES COOK

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The call Casey Townsend was hoping for finally came.

Townsend is headed to Ireland.

The former Traverse City West soccer star and incoming freshman at powerhouse Maryland was named to the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team this week.

"I've been waiting for this call for a bit," Townsend said Wednesday from the Maryland campus, where he's been helping run camps. "I knew through the grapevine that I was probably going to go; then I got the call."

Townsend is scheduled to take a flight to Ireland this morning.

"It's one of the biggest tournaments of the year," he said. "A lot of scouts come out to watch. It's a good way to get noticed internationally.

"A lot of the team is already pro, so it's an honor to play with these guys."

Five of the 18 players on the team currently play in the MLS -- including three from FC Dallas -- and two others play professionally overseas. Townsend is one of four forwards on the team.

The Americans start off the 2008 Milk Cup with Northern Ireland on Monday, and Wales, Belgium, Chile and Israel are also in the field. The finals are slated for Aug. 1.

The U.S. shut out Mexico 3-0 in Texas on July 12.

Next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup is in Egypt.

Townsend's promotion comes not long after Maryland learned three of its alumni -- Maurice Edu, Robbie Rogers and Chris Seitz -- will be on the U.S. Olympic team.

Milky way

What: 2008 Milk Cup

Where: Various sites in Northern Ireland

When: July 28-Aug. 1

Who: U-20 national teams from United States, Northern Ireland, Wales, Israel, Chile and Belgium.

Championship: Aug. 1 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland

Online: www.ussoccer.com/teams/youth/u-20mnt; www.nimilkcup.org

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