SAN JUAN, PR – University of Hartford men's soccer standout Jorge Rodriguez has been invited by the Puerto Rico Soccer Federation to the Puerto Rico Men's National Team's official try-outs, an 11-day event that kicks off on August 12 and is held at the Olympic training facilities in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

The training camp will serve as the preparatory camp for the Digicel Caribbean Cup, an international soccer team championship for national teams in the Caribbean region of CONCACAF. In addition, the tournament will double as qualification for the Caribbean Qualifiers for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football's (CONCACAF) Gold Cup held next summer. The Puerto Rico Men's National Team commences play in the Digicel Caribbean Cup on August 18 with a match against Anguilla.  

Earlier this year, Rodriguez was named to the Puerto Rico U-21 National Team pool following a week-long tryout and evaluation period at the Olympic training facilities in Salinas, Puerto Rico in January. Last month, Rodriguez excelled in the 2010 Central American Caribbean Games held in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The tournament, which is considered to be the most important U-21 competition in the region, featured national teams from Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Cuba, among others.

Rodriguez, a junior from East Hartford, Conn., started 16 times for the Hawks in 2009 and appeared in 17 games overall. The defender tallied an assist and his first career point against New Hampshire on October 14, 2009 while helping the Hartford defense post five shutouts. In his first stint with the Hawks, Rodriguez started and played in all 18 games and earned America East All-Rookie Team honors after anchoring the back line that shutout eight opponents.

Rodriguez and the Hawks return to the pitch on Wednesday, September 1 when they kick off the 2010 campaign at Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Boston College. The 2010 squad, which includes 12 returners and 11 new faces, is in search of its first America East Championship since the 1999 season.

Last season, the men's soccer squad posted an overall record of 8-7-3 and appeared in the America East Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Hawks tallied 13 points in conference play – the most since the 2003 season – with a 4-2-1 mark in the America East and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2003.