Former Saint Louis University Billiken soccer star Tim Ream earned rave reviews for his performance with the United States National Team on Tuesday, March 29, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the 2011 Gold Cup. Ream played all 90 minutes in front of a record 29,000 fans at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.

This marks the first occasion that Ream, who plays for the MLS’ New York Red Bulls, started for the national team.

“When you can get out there and play with what amounts to the “A-Team ,” guys that played in the 2010 World Cup, it gives you a good opportunity to see where you’re at [with your game] and what you have to work on,” Ream said. “The way I play out of the back is one of my strengths, so to be able to alleviate the pressure on the defense, that’s something coaches are looking for now.”

Soccer America, ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated all praised Ream’s play. ESPN said, “Belying his mere 23 years and inexperience once more, Ream was his usual cool and composed self, no matter how much pressure he was put under … Ream showed that he is good enough to be a starter for the U.S. as of now.”

Ream said that he thought his play put forward a strong case for his selection to the 2011 Gold Cup national team; though he admitted he still has aspects of his game to work on. He also remarked about what it meant to wear the Stars and Stripes.

“Every kid’s dream is to represent their country in whatever sport they play,” he said. “To be able to put on a jersey and listen to the anthem in front of a crowd like that, it gives you goose bumps, gets you excited, pumps you up; it’s a feeling hard to come by anywhere else.”