D.C. United announced today that the club has signed forward Blake Brettschneider. The 21-year-old joined United after being selected 21st overall in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft from the University of South Carolina.

“We are pleased that Blake is officially part of our club,” said General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is an athletic striker who has a nose for goal, and we are excited about his future.”

During the 2010 season for the Gamecocks, Brettschneider led South Carolina in goals (7) and assists (10), netting three game-winning strikes over the course of the campaign. Brettschneider concluded his four-season college career with 19 goals and 17 assists.

The forward has impressed thus far for the Black-and-Red in preseason training, scoring twice against the Ventura County Fusion on February 19 in a 3-1 friendly victory for United in California. Three days later, Brettschneider scored the winning goal at the University of California Santa Barbara in a 1-0 triumph.

Aside from taking home the 2010 Conference USA Co-MVP Award, Brettschneider also claimed 2010 Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Georgia native tallied at least one point in each Conference USA match that he played, and over the most recent campaign he was the only player in the Conference to register double-figure assists (10).

As a junior in 2009, Brettschneider started all 18 South Carolina matches, registering two goals and one assist. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Conference USA First Team. In 2008 the sophomore forward earned his first All-Conference selection by scoring six goals to accompany two assists. In his freshman season, Brettschneider started all 19 matches for the Gamecocks en route to Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors.