The U13 Boys 02 Gold had a rocky start to the event in September with a flurry of injuries but bounced back as they advanced through the tournament.  In the first round the boys had a win versus Cap FC but two defeats to RCU and Sagebrush.  In the second round, Placer had a 0-0 draw versus Blues and then had a convincing 3-0 win over Santa Rosa AC Milan.  In the final game, the team came up on the short end of a thriller, 1-2 to Atletico Santa Rosa.  Placer then moved on to the Red 2 Diamond 1 Championship bracket.  In the quarter-finals, the team had a solid 3-1 victory of DeAnza Force Silver.  In the semi-finals, the boys upended DeAnza Force Black, 5-3.  That placed Placer in the championship game yesterday versus a very solid PAC San Jose squad.  The game was back and forth and neither team could find the back of the net.  With eight minutes remaining, Placer United converted a scoring chance and sealed the 1-0 victory!

The 2014 State Cup Champion, U12 Boys 03 Gold, made quite a run through the Red Group. In the first round, Placer scored 25 goals and conceded zero to take first place in the group. They had an 11-0 win over Cal Blues, 8-0 win over Inter Rage and a 6-0 win over Davis Legacy. In the second round, the goal was to reach the Top 8 in the State. The boys defeated Ethos 3-0 and then followed that up with a 1-0 win over Central California Soccer Alliance Black. The boys needed a win in game three to advance to the Final 8. In a game that saw the boys miss a number of scoring chances against Cal Odyssey, the boys conceded their first goal of the tournament and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Unfortunately, Placer was tied in points after the three games and the boys lost out on overall goal differential. The team moved into the Red 1 State 2 Playoff. In the quarter-finals, Placer beat Evergreen United 1-0. In the semi-finals, the boys tied with San Juan Blue after a barrage of shots and chances but could not break the 1-1 deadlock. The game went to penalty kicks and the boys came up on the short end. In their final game for 11th place in the State, the boys bounced back with a 1-0 victory over DeAnza Force Silver.  Placer ended up with 33 goals for and only 2 against in the State Cup. Outstanding!

The U13 Girls 02 Gold also had a tremendous run through the Red Group of State Cup.  In the opening round, Placer rattled off three straight victories, 1-0 over Delta, 4-1 over Bay Oaks Bombers and a 3-0 win over Livermore Fusion. The girls landed in a very difficult Round 2 group. In Game #1, despite having multiple chances to blow the game open, they fell 1-2 to Mustang Blast. In Game #2, the girls bounced back, needing a win, with a 2-0 win over Union City Premier. Needing a win to advance to the Final 8, Placer faced one of the top teams in the State, Juventus Ragazze. It was a back and forth match but the girls ended up on the short end, losing 2-1. The girls moved into the Red 1 Premier 1 Cup Championships. Placer opened up the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Sacramento United Red. In the semi-finals, the girls won a nail biter, beating a very athletic San Francisco Vikings team 1-0.  The championship game was versus the San Mateo Stars. Both teams had a few chances to win the game but the defenses stood strong and the game was scoreless after regulation. The teams battled through two 5-minute overtime periods and the game remained scoreless. The game was then decided by penalty kicks and the girls came up on the short end.  Congratulations on finishing up #18 in the State!

Placer United U12 Girls 03 Black qualified for the Red Group of State Cup and ground their way through the tournament. In the first round, the Placer had a narrow 0-1 defeat to 49er United. In Game 2, the girls were up ended by Boca 1-4. The team bounced back with a 1-1 draw with Rocklin. In the second round, the girls opened with a great result versus Sac United Red, 0-0. In Game 2, they met up with Manteca and lost a thrilling game 2-3. In Game 3, the team fought back from a 3-1 deficit and drew 3-3 with Cal Odyssey South Earthquakes. The team then moved into the Red 2 Diamond 2 knock out round.  In the quarter-finals, the girls had another great game, defeating Atletico Santa Rosa, 3-2. In the semi-finals, the team had a dominating 3-1 win over Tahuichi Academy. The win placed the girls in the championship game versus Walnut Creek Earthquakes. It was a very good game and both teams had opportunities to find the back of the net. Down 2-0, Placer fought til the end but came up a bit short.

Next weekend, the U11 Boys 04 Gold and the U11 Girls 04 Gold will also be playing in their final cup matches of the year. The U11 girls made it to the top group of State Cup and will be playing in the 7th/8th place game!  They will square off versus the winner of San Juan and Mustang. The U11 boys defeated Tahuichi, 4-3 in the semi-finals on Saturday to reach the Red 1 State 2 Final. They will play the winner of Turlock and Sac United Reds. Both games will be held in Modesto this Sunday.

Congratulations to all of our teams on a great run through the State Cup!

 

 

Placer United U12G 03 Gold is the Top Team in Northern California

Placer United U12 Girls won the Norcal State Cup Championship yesterday in thrilling fashion in Modesto, CA.  The girls made their second consecutive trip to the State Championship game.  In the 2014 final, Placer came up short but avenged last year’s defeat with a nail biting victory.

The road to the State Cup Championship was very impressive.  The girls were seeded number two after last years appearance in the final.  In the first round, Placer swept the competition, scoring 17 goals and conceding 0.  They had a 7-0 win over Sagebrush Patriots, and back to back 5-0 wins over Sac United Extreme Red and San Juan Blue.  In the second round, Placer opened up with a 6-0 victory over North Bay Elite Dynamo and a 4-1 win over Sonoma County Alliance North.  The girls then drew 0-0 with Bay Oaks to reach the final eight of the tournament.  In the quarter-finals, Placer defeated Inter Rage Academy Storm 3-0.  In the semi-finals, the girls played against DeAnza Force Blue.  Both teams played quality, possession soccer and our girls won 2-0.

After an unbelievable run through the State Cup, the Placer United squared off against West Coast Soccer Club in the State Championship game.

In the first half, Placer controlled the tempo with sharp passing to feet and keeping the ball away from a very dangerous West Coast team.  The girls had created a number of scoring opportunities and finally put one away midway through the first half.  Emma Schafer collected a ball from about 15-yards out and hit a diagonal bullet into the side netting, splitting the West Coast defense.  After the goal, there were a few more chances to widen the lead but Placer came up short.

In the second half, West Coast began to press and were very direct in their play.  The Placer backline and GK were tested in the air as a number of balls were served forward.  The wind had picked up and the direct balls were carrrying toward the Placer goal.  The girls remained calm and continued to play the game in possession and create scoring chances.  Midway through the second half, West Coast got on the board after high pressing the Placer’s backline and hit a quick shot.  Moments later, West Coast took another shot from outside that skipped into the side netting.

Down, 2-1, Placer did not panic and continued to play composed.  As the game was coming to a close, the girls won the ball in midfield and played a ball in behind the West Coast defense.  Forward, Hannah Wirth, received the pass, took a touch towards the goal and scored the equalizer with only a few minutes left to play.  The game then went back and forth and both teams buckled down on defense as the whistle blew for the end of regulation.

The game went to overtime with two five minute periods and golden goal.  The first team that scored would be crowned State Champions.  If no goals were scored, the game would be decided by penalty kicks.  The sidelines were tense as the referee blew the whistle to begin overtime.  Directly from the kickoff, Placer strung a number of passes together.  Kellie Pagador overlapped the center forward and received a ball into space giving her a one versus one with the West Coast central defender.  Kellie dribbled inside with her right foot towards goal, then quickly cut the ball back onto her left foot creating a shooting window from 18-yards out.  The crowd was silent as the ball was struck and it was perfectly tucked into the back post which sealed the victory.

The Placer United players quickly rushed onto the field to celebrate the victory! What a run!  The team had eight wins and one draw. Placer United U12 scored 35 goals and only conceded three.  Congratulations to all of the players, families and Coach Don on a fantastic game and a remarkable season!

Isabella Perez and Emily Talmi of Placer United U15G 00 Gold have been selected to play against the Japanese Football Association Academy on Sunday, February 15th, at Fallon Park in Dublin. The 00-01 Girls State Pool roster was trimmed down to 18 players to play in this match.

The JFA Academy girls filter players into the final pool of the Japan National Team. They come from all over Japan to stay in Sakai, a city in Osaka Prefecture. They live in a dormitory together, as well as attend school and train at a central facility which is owned by Japan Football Association. There is only one other facility like that in Japan for girls and it’s in Fukushima which was impacted by the great earthquake and tsunami a couple of years ago.

Congratulations girls and good luck!

The U11-U13 Girls Norcal State Cup second round was played January 10-11 at various venues across Northern California. Two of our Placer United girls teams reached the Final 8 in the state!

The U12G Gold had a December win, 6-0 over North Bay Elite in second round Game #1. In Game #2 on Saturday, the girls defeated Sonoma County Alliance 4-1. In Game #3, the girls drew 0-0 with Bay Oaks to advance to the Top 8. The quarter-finals will be held on January 24th.

The U11G Gold also had a December win, 3-0 over Folsom in the second round Game #1. The girls started off with a convincing 5-0 win over MVLA in Game #2. In Game #3, the girls battled to a 1-0 win over UC Premier to also advance to the Top 8. The quarter-final game was played on Sunday versus Pleasanton Rage. Despite a great possession game and a number of scoring chances, the girls fell 3-1. The team now plays February 7th as they try to finish as the #5 team in the state.

The U13G Gold team was upset by Mustang, on the road, in December in Game #1. The girls knew that they had to come out and win two-in-a-row in order to advance to the Top 8. In Game #2, the girls beat UC Premier Warriors 2-0. This set the stage for the winner of Game #3 to advance to the quarter-finals. The next opponent was Juventus, considered one of the top teams in Northern California. It was a back and forth affair with both teams having scoring chances. Unfortunately, the girls lost 2-1 in this battle but are still alive in the Cup with a quarter-final match on January 24th.

The U12G Black team had a 0-0 draw in December with Sac United Red. In Game #2 on Saturday, the girls lost a heart breaker, 3-2 to MFC Flash. In Game #3, the team took on the bracket leader, Cal Odyssey South. They were down 2-0 and fought back to tie the game at 3-3. The girls showed great resiliency and made the game very difficult for the opponent. The team’s quarter-final game is scheduled for January 24th.

Congratulations to all of the teams and good luck in the next round!

The 2015 US Youth Soccer Region IV  Olympic Development Program Championships took place Jan. 8-11 at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix. Participating teams are comprised of elite players in the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 age groups from Region IV.  Five Placer United girls from the U15 ’00 Gold team played integral roles in their team’s success. Abena Aidoo, Clare Murphy, Isabella Perez and Emily Talmi represented the 2000’s while Nicolette Lewis represented the 1999’s. Both the 1999’s and 2000’s Cal-North State teams reached the final before losing out to Cal-South.

Congratulations on a great weekend girls!

January 2015

On behalf of your entire Placer United Soccer Club family, including our Directors, Paul O’Brien and Ron Benjamin, our coaching staff, our Club Administrator, Jodi Tarr, and your Board of Directors, we wanted to send our warmest holiday greetings. The Club break is a great time to recharge our soccer batteries and be ready to hit the ground in full stride, and we hope you are enjoying some relaxing time with family, friends and loved ones.

The turn of the calendars is a great time to take stock of the year just completed, and take a look at the year ahead. Placer United is a soccer club dedicated to always moving forward, and in our 33rd year now, you can expect even more of the same in the year ahead.

But looking back to 2014 first, it was a remarkable year for our Club and for the soccer community.

No doubt, the biggest news in the local soccer scene was the explosion of the Sacramento Republic FC. From startup, to stadium fillers with record attendance, to USL PRO Champions in their inaugural season, to the leading candidate for the next round of MLS expansion, the rise of the Republic is a testament to the fact that Sacramento is a soccer town. And Placer United was there shoulder-to-shoulder with the Republic every step of the way, from ownership to management to players to fans, Placer United has deep ties to our region’s leading professional soccer team, which is why we were honored to be the first youth soccer stop of the Republic’s Championship Trophy Tour. Sacramento and Placer County are #BuiltforMLS.

For Placer United, there are simply too many team accomplishments to list in an email. Of course you know about the successes of our U18 Boys Gold team with 6 major trophies including the National Premier League National Championship, but it runs much deeper than that. We’ve built this cool page on our website that highlights the top accomplishments of each of our teams, and we hope you will take a minute to review it.

In 2014, we continued to develop all of the elements of our Club that make us the best Club in Placer County and one of the top Clubs in Northern California:

Coaching

We welcomed several new coaches to our staff that is already the most accomplished and credentialed in the region, and upgraded the licenses and training of many of our staff. We named Jason Gantt as Coach of the Year for his longevity with the Club and the incredible success he enjoyed with the U18B team this year. Hopefully, you have seen a lot more of our Directors, Paul O’Brien and Ron Benjamin, and our U8-U11 Technical Director, Kevin Unsworth, at your players’ training sessions and matches, as they show their commitment to helping all our coaches perform at the top of their game.

Programs

Our indoor leagues at Tinker, both youth and adult, saw record numbers, as did our camps and clinics. If you haven’t participated in these, have a look. While the core of our program for 33 years continues to be our youth competitive program, we also launched our first Recreational Soccer Programs in 2014, and these offerings will expand in 2015 with the designation of our own Emre Gencer as our Recreational Technical Director. Under Paul’s direction, Emre will continue to coach a competitive team, as well as build our Recreational Program so that players of all abilities and from across the whole soccer community can have a home at Placer United.

Facilities

Programs, coaches, players, families and facilities are what make a soccer program great. In 2014, we worked hard to improve the pitch at Cirby, and we’re starting to see the results of that investment. Of course, we continue to enjoy a great relationship and partnership with Del Oro High School to host many training sessions and games there, and we’re proud to own and operate the premier indoor soccer facility in the Sacramento region with our Placer United Soccer Indoor Training Center on Tinker Road.

Events

2014 was a great year for all our events, from a record-breaking number of teams at our Placer United Girls Tournament, the launch of our Juniors Cup, a great time for families at our Summer Family BBQ, and an evening of fun and fundraising at our “Kickin’ Back to Soccer” dinner/dance/auction. We also inaugurated our first member into the Placer United Hall of Fame – the legendary Gene DuChateau, and maintained our commitment to connections with our alumni by following their accomplishments in college soccer and beyond, and hosting several of them back for the Alumni Game in December. Too many of our alumni players had big years in 2014 to list them all here, but some highlights include Ryan Hollingshead making the squad at the MLS level for FC Dallas and Luis Martinez making a pro team for Costa Rica. Seth Casiple and Connor Hallisey participated in the MLS Combine and Seth was drafted by the Portland Timbers and Connor was the #10 pick in the first round of the MLS Super Draft headed to Kansas City Sporting. Meanwhile, on the girls side, Erika Garcia continued to train with the full Mexican Women’s National Team in preparation for the Women’s World Cup in 2015 and current U18 player, Sydney Pagador, remains in the player pool for the Phillipines Senior Women’s National Team.

College Signings

Probably one of our favorite events every year is college signing night for our graduating players. Placer United puts more young women and men into top college programs that any Club around. You can keep track of all the signings on our website, and please attend our College Signing Ceremony on Wednesday, February 4, 2015.

High School Success

Placer United boys players were consistently the leaders and top players on their high school teams this past fall, as evidenced by the huge number of our players making all-conference teams and dominating the Sac Bee’s top players list for the region. Our girls players will no doubt see the same level of excellence this Spring as they saw in 2014. The girls’ high school season kicks off in Spring 2015.

With 2014 in the books, it’s time for a quick look ahead at 2015, which will no doubt be our best year ever…until 2016!

In 2015, we will see:

Acceleration of Planning for our Placer United Soccer Complex in Lincoln

While we have talked about this for some time, most of the work has been behind the scenes. This will be much more public in 2015, and has already started to make news. The complex is in environmental and planning review now with our partners at Richland Planned Communities and the City of Lincoln, and is ahead of schedule. With twelve tournament-quality fields, a stadium complex, additional indoor and outdoor training facilities, weight-training and locker facilities, community recreation and meeting facilities, and concessions, groundbreaking in 2016 will be a game-changing event for our Club and the soccer community. You will be hearing soon from us on how you can help us fulfill our share of making the complex a reality.

Continued Expansion and Development of our Coaching Staff

Our Coaching Directors will start to announce the 2015-2016 coaching slate soon, starting with the U8-U11 coaching staff. Look for that announcement soon. In the meantime, we remain committed to retaining the best soccer coaching staff in the region. We already have the highest credentialed coaching staff in the region, with more USSF “A”, “B” and “C” licensed coaches in our Club. Our returning and new coaches remain committed to their professional development under the watch of our Directors, and the Club will assist all our coaches achieve their next level of licenses.

More Trophies and Titles and Championships While Playing Good Soccer

Winning matches, tournaments, league titles, and cups at all levels is so much fun. Doing it while playing quality soccer based on a USSF curriculum and playing style of attacking, possession-based soccer and sound defense is priceless. At Placer United, we win while playing quality soccer. Expect more of the same in 2015.

Expansion of our Soccer Offerings

We aspire to be the truly united soccer club for all of Placer County and surrounding communities, with soccer offerings for all ages and all abilities. With the full launch of our U6-U10 Recreational Program in 2015, we are taking the next step in that development. We look forward to the day when Placer United is recognized as the soccer club for the whole community.

Continued Improvement in our Communications and Customer Service

Our members are our customers and our lifeblood. Without you, we would not exist. We made a special presentation to Tiffany Burns and awarded her Volunteer of the Year for her exceptional dedication. Expect even greater commitment to customer service, satisfaction, and communication in 2015. Let us know what we are doing well, and how we can improve. You have our personal commitment that if we make a mistake, we will fix it. If we do well, we want to reward it.

As you can see, we had a great 2014, and are planning for an even better 2015. With so much going on, we appreciate you taking the time to read this yearend report and look ahead. Enjoy the rest of your break, and we look forward to seeing you out on the fields soon!

Happy New Year!

Jeff Flint, President and Chairman
Placer United Soccer Club

On behalf of your entire team at the Club:

Board of Directors

•          Yvonne Sieber, Vice Chair
•          Jeanne Mabry, Secretary
•          Jonna Ward, Treasurer
•          Dave Faingold
•          François Barbé

Coaching Directors

•          Paul O’Brien, Director of Soccer Operations
•          Ron Benjamin, Director of Coaching
•          Kevin Unsworth, U8-U11 Technical Director
•          Matt Bernard, Director of Goalkeeping
•          Emre Gencer, Recreation Program Director

Staff and Volunteers

•          Jodi Tarr, Club Administrator
•          Our entire coaching staff
•          Our incredible group of Team Managers

Girls – U9-U11

U9G Gold – Finalist-Copa del Rey, Finalist-Placer Juniors Cup, Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-Red 2: Premier 2

U10G Gold – Champions-Placer Juniors Cup, Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-Red 2: Diamond 1

U10G Black – Finalist-Copa del Rey, Champions-Ghosts and Goals, Finalist-Placer Jrs Cup, Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-Red 2: Premier 3

U11G Gold – Champions-Region 6 Norcal Spring League, Finalist-Norcal Spring Cross-Regionals, 2nd Place-Region 6 Fall League, Semi-finals-Placer Girls Cup, Top 32 of Norcal State Cup Red Group (in progress)

U11G Black – Champion-Placer Girls Cup, Semi-finals-Norcal Cup-Platinum 2

Boys – U9-U11

U9B Gold – Finalist-Placer Juniors Cup, Semi-finals-Davis Super Classico Summer, Semi-finals-Davis Super Classico Cinco de Mayo, Semi-finals-Boo Fest, Semi-finals-Copa del Rey, Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-Red 2: Premier 3

U9B Black – Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-White 1: Platinum 1

U10B Gold – Semi-finals-Placer Juniors Cup (U11), Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-Red 2: Diamond 1

U10B Black – Semi-finalists-Norcal State Cup-Final Four-Red 1: State 1, Champion-Copa del Rey, Finalist-Placer Juniors Cup, Semi-finalist -Davis Classico.

U10B White – Champions-Norcal Region 6 Fall League-Silver 2, Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-White 1: Platinum 3, Semi-finals-Placer Juniors Cup

U11B Gold – 2nd Place-Region 6 Norcal Spring League, Champion-Norcal Spring Cross-Regionals, Champions-Davis Super Classico Cinco de Mayo, Champions-Davis Super Classico-Summer, Champions-Juventus, Champions-Norcal Region 6 Fall League, Semi-finals-Nomads Thanksgiving, Top 32 of Norcal State Cup Red 1/ State 2 Group (in progress)

U11B Black – Finalist-Placer Juniors Cup, Norcal State Cup Red Group

Girls – U12-U18

U12G Gold – Champions-Norcal Region 6 Spring League, Champion-Norcal Spring Cross-Regionals, Champion-Norcal Region 6 Fall League, Surf Cup, Champions-Pleasanton Showcase, Champions-Davis Showcase, Norcal State Cup Champions

U12G Black – Semi-finals-Pleasanton Showcase, Semi-finals-Placer Girls Cup, Norcal State Cup Red 2/Diamond 2 Finalists

U13G Gold – Top 32 of Norcal State Cup Red Group (in progress), Played in Surf Thanksgiving, Norcal State Cup Red 1/Premier 1 Finalists – #18 in the State

U13G Black – Champion-Placer Girls Cup, Quarter-finals-Norcal Cup-Platinum 1

U14G Gold – Champions-Norcal Region 6 Spring League, Champion-Norcal Spring Cross-Regionals, Played in Surf Thanksgiving, NPL Champions League

U14G Black – Semi-finals-California Cup

U15G Gold – Champions-NPL Fall Champions League, Played in Surf Cup and Surf Thanksgiving, Semi-finals-Davis Showcase, Finalist-Pleasanton Showcase, Semi-finals-Placer Girls Cup

U15G Black – Finalist-Juventus Showcase

U16G Gold – Champions-NPL Fall Champions League, Semi-Finals-Surf College Cup, Semi-finals-Davis Showcase, Semi-finals-Utah Avalanche Showcase

U16G Black – Finalist-Sacramento United Suntan Classic

U18G Gold ’97 – Champion-Davis Showcase, Finalist-Pleasanton Showcase, Played in Surf Cup and Surf College Cup

U18G Gold ’98 – Champion-NPL Fall State Premier 1, Semi-finals-Davis Showcase, Semi-finals-Utah Avalanche Showcase

Boys – U12-U18

U12B Gold – Champions-Norcal Region 6 Spring League, Semi-finals-Norcal Spring Cross-Regionals, Champions-Norcal Region 6 Fall League, Quarter-finals-Surf Cup, Semi-finals-Mustang Stampede, Semi-finals-Davis Showcase, Finalist-Davis Super Classico, Top 32 of Norcal State Cup Red 1/State 2 – finished #11 in the State

U12B Black – Semi-finals-Mustang Stampede, Semi-finals-Sacramento United Suntan Classic, Norcal State Cup Red Group

U13B Gold – Semi-finals-Las Vegas Mayors Cup, Semi-finals-Sacramento United Suntan Classic, Norcal State Cup Red 2 Diamond 1 State Cup Champions

U13B Black – 2nd Place-Norcal Region 6 Spring League, 2nd Place-Norcal Region 6 Fall League, Champion-Santa Rosa Nike Harvest Cup, Finalist-Casa Boca Champions Cup, Norcal State Cup Red Group

U14B Academy – Played up in U15 age bracket at Davis College Showcase and made the Semi-finals. (Team is a member of the United States Soccer Federation Academy. U.S. scouts attend training sessions and games. Players are invited to USSF Camps)

U14B Gold – Semi-finalists-Vacaville Shootout

U15B Gold – Champions-Davis Showcase, Champions-Sacramento United Suntan Classic, Semi-finals-Santa Clara Sporting Invitational

U16B Gold – Champions-Juvnetus TOC, Semi-finals-Juventus Showcase

U18B Gold – National Champions-NPL National Finals, Champions-Surf Cup, Champions-Davis Showcase

U18B Black – Champion-Juventus Showcase, Semi-finals-Ballistic Summer Classic, Quarter-finals-Nomads Showcase Thanksgiving