Placer Girls Win Us Club Soccer Regionals

The Placer United Prestige 93 Gold, coached by Ron Benjamin, won the US Club Soccer National Cup, Northern California Region on Monday with a convincing 4 to 0 win over the California Cougars. At halftime, the score was still 0-0. Placer really opened the game up in the second half with a three goal hat trick by Candace Edwards. Lindsey McCall slammed the door shut with the fourth goal.

To reach the finals, Placer had to fight their way through some tough competition. The first game was played at 8:00 am against the Bay Oaks Blasters. Although Placer out shot Bay Oaks, it was one of those games where the goal just seemed to be a little too small. The game ended with a 1-1 tie after a Natasha Hartford goal. That was the last time that Placer United would be denied.

The next game was against the Burlingame Flame. Burlingame knocked Placer out of State Cup three years ago and it was time for some revenge. Placer beat Burlingame 2 to 0 with goals from Morgan Edwards and Lindsey McCall.

Two years ago the Placer G93 girls knocked the Sonoma County Alliance out of State Cup. SCA had their chance for revenge. Well, they better keep practicing because Placer beat SCA 6 to 1 with 2 goals each from Candace Edwards and Christie Cooper. Emma Freeman and Morgan Edwards added one goal apiece.

In the semi finals, Placer United faced the De Anza Force. De Anza is a State Cup semifinalist and one of the best teams in the Country. They played fast and possessed the ball well. Despite constant pressure, Placer aggressively attacked and slipped two goals in by half. De Anza was awarded a PK in the second half bringing them within 1. They went on the attack but on a quick transition, Candace Edwards slipped behind De Anza’s defense and beat their keeper to put in a third goal. Placer United won, 3 to 1. Candace Edwards scored 2 goals and Natasha Hartford scored the third.

Perhaps even more impressive than the 16 Placer goals was the Placer defense who held the high powered opponents to only 3 goals against, one of which was a PK. The defensive line was nearly impenetrable and keepers Melanie Bertrand and Katie Sipiora made some really spectacular saves.

Placer United will represent Northern California in the US Club Soccer Nationals, Super Group, on July 26 through July 29 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. GO PLACER !