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Kristen Grattan Commits to Sierra College

Kristen Grattan

Kristen Grattan

“I am proud to announce that I have verbally committed to Sierra College! Staying at home with just my Mom and Dad will be a nice change since I can finally be an “only child”. And being so close, they will be able to attend my home games.  Sierra College will be a nice transition before attending a University. At Sierra, I can get much of my general education classes out of the way while at the same time, focus on what I would like to pursue as a career path. Moreover, playing under Coach Jason Gannt will be a huge opportunity for me to improve my skills and level of play.

I would like to thank my coaches throughout my years at Placer United, my teammates and of course, my supportive family. I would like to give special thanks to my past coaches, John Chimienti, Katie Dempsey, Todd DeCarlo and my former coach now, Crystal Chaidez. I honestly don’t know where I would be today if it weren’t for them. They pushed me beyond my limits and told me “You can” when I said, “I can’t”.  To my teammates these past few years, thank you so much for your friendship and support. Pushing me in practice and motivating me before games, I couldn’t have asked for better friends. I will always remember the laughs, the tears during Crystal’s fitness, and the late night talks in hotel rooms. We will always share that special bond that few teams will understand.  Lastly, I would like to give specials thanks to my family. Thanks to my sister Marisa and bother Daniel for training with me and pushing me in those hot summer days we spent together. Thanks Mom and Dad for always being so supportive (emotionally and financially), being my number one fans and always believing in me.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me get to where I am today; I love you all! Go Wolverines! ”

—Kristen Grattan

College Bound

Marissa “Mo” Vaughan Picks Sierra College

Marissa "Mo" Vaughan

Marissa “Mo” Vaughan

“I would like to say that I am so very grateful and honored to become apart of the soccer program at Sierra College. I have been with Placer United for the past nine years and its unbelievable that I’m coming to the end of my senior year. My journey with Placer has been one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m thankful for all of the things that I have been so lucky enough to experience with this Club.

First I would like to thank my mom, dad, brothers, aunt, gramma and papa. You have all been so supportive of me throughout my life and I am so blessed to call you my family. I thank you for everything you have done for me during all of my years with Placer.

Second, I would like to thank all of my teammates. Each and every one of them has a completely different type of personality and they continue to surprise me at every practice. Ashley O’Conner, thank you for being my very best friend. I’ve been very lucky to have shared the past nine years of Placer United with you. I love you all!

I would also like to thank all of my coaches for encouraging me to be a better player each and every day. I would especially like to thank Cory Clonce, Todd DeCarlo and of course, Ron Benjamin, for being the best, most inspiring coaches that I have ever known and I thank you for all that you’ve done for me.

I am so excited to play soccer at Sierra! Good luck to all my teammates in the future!”

— Mo

News

Placer United U12G Red Team Travels to Mustang

Placer United U12G Red and Mustang Fury U12

Placer United U12G Red and Mustang Fury U12

The U12G Red team travelled down to Danville this past weekend to play the U12 Mustang Fury, one of the top teams in the state.  This game was played as the final tuneup for the State Cup second round which is January 26-27 in Woodland.The match was of very high quality and it went from end to end with both teams having very good possession and many attacking moments.  Mustang scored towards the end of the first half on a shot from 18 yards out.  In the second half, both teams had exciting scoring chances and defended very well.  The game ended 1-0.

After the game, the girls practiced a round of penalty kicks just in case it is needed next weekend to break any deadlocks.  Additionally, both teams showed their sportsmanship and posed for a group photo together.

Placer United and Mustang Soccer Clubs have a very solid relationship and we look forward to more friendly matches in the future!

College Bound

Jessica Hinsken Commits to Dominican University

Jessica Hinsken

Jessica Hinsken

“I am excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Dominican University of California! I am beyond grateful for the amazing opportunity to play D2 soccer while receiving a great education. I would not be where I am today with out the amazing support from my family, friends, coaches, and teammates.

I would like to thank my coaches Crystal Chaidez, Todd Decarlo, and Ron Benjamin. Thank you all for pushing me to do my best and never giving up on me! Thank you to my older sister Tasha, for always being my number one fan, and my older brother Alex, for making sure I always put in the work I needed to. I would also like to thank my second family Ali, Kurt and Steph for always being so supportive in everything I do! Lastly, I would like to thank my mom for being my best friend, always believing in me and making my dream come true.

To my team… thank you for an amazing final season of youth soccer and I will never ever forget all the crazy, outrageous, memories that we have had together. I hope all of you do amazing in the next part of your lives!”

—Jessica Hinsken

College Bound, News

Placer United Alumni, Ryan Hollingshead, Drafted by FC Dallas

UCLA Bruin Ryan Hollingshead

UCLA Bruin Ryan Hollingshead

Ryan Hollingshead was drafted by MLS Club, FC Dallas, in today’s MLS Superdraft held in Indianapolis.

“Ryan scored numerous goals and had countless assists while playing for the Placer United ’91 Boys,” said Placer United Coach Jason Gantt. “We all knew we were looking at a really good player back then and it’s no surprise he’s going into the MLS”.

At UCLA, Ryan played in 81 matches, scoring 16 goals and recording 21 assists (53 points). He earned All-Pac-12 honors three times in his career (2010-12) and was named the 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year. In addition, Hollingshead earned NSCAA All-America honors in 2012 and was named to the 2011 NCAA All-Tournament Team after leading the Bruins to the College Cup semifinals. This past season, he started all 19 of UCLA’s matches, led the team with 22 points (7 goals, 8 assists) and finished the season tied  for the lead in goals. Hollingshead also captained the Bruins to a 13-3-3 record and finished second in the Pac-12 with 8 assists in the year.

“Ryan was a great player for Placer United and had an outstanding college career with UCLA,” said Paul O’Brien, Boys Director of Coaching. “We celebrate with him today and hopefully this is just the first of many more Placer United alumni to go on and play in the MLS.”

Watch Ryan Score for the UCLA Bruins! Click Here.

 

 

News

Placer United Annouces New U8-U11 Technical Director

 

Kevin Unsworth

Kevin Unsworth

Placer United is proud to announce Kevin Unsworth as the new U8 to U11 boys and girls technical director. Kevin has been a member of the Placer United coaching staff for over five years. He has demonstrated the desire, determination, hard work and coaching ability that are all vital ingredients in today’s fast paced youth soccer world. Kevin holds a USSF B License, USSF National Youth License, as well as, a degree in geography. He is well respected in the local soccer community. “Kevin is a very likeable person with a great personality, two things that are essential in dealing with younger players and their parents. We didn’t let the fact that he supports Everton stand in our way of promoting him,” said Boys DOC Paul O Brien. “Kevin has a great work ethic and had been a huge supporter of our Club throughout the last few years. We are very lucky to have him at Placer United,” added Ron Benjamin, DOC Girls.

Kevin who hails from Liverpool, England, is a season ticket holder at Goodson Park and regularly visits the Everton Youth Academy, the place that developed Wayne Rooney, to check out the latest coaching ideas in youth soccer.

Please join us all in wishing Kevin all the best in his new role as technical director of our U8 to U11 boys and girls soccer program.

 

News

The Chaidez Family Says Goodbye

Kelcey, Kace and Crystal Chaidez

Kelcey, Kace and Crystal Chaidez

Dearest Placer United Families:

It is with mixed emotions and heavy hearts that Crystal and I announce the current season with Placer United will be our last. Both of us have been presented with great job opportunities in Sonoma County where we are both from originally. The decision to raise our family closer to longtime friends and our immediate families is an exciting new chapter in our lives. We are very sad, however, to be moving away from a soccer club we have thoroughly enjoyed working for and truly love.

We hope the impact we have made on our players lives off the field is as significant as the successes we have made on the field. This is more important to us than any win! Crystal, Kace and I are a Placer United family through and through. There has been lot of hearsay surrounding the club lately and I think it is important to note that none of this has played any role in our decision to move home. Placer United has provided us with much support over the last five years. The club has encouraged and financed our coaching licenses and has given us the opportunity to work with some of the best players in the Sacramento region. The bonds of friendships and the experiences we have shared with fellow coaches, players and families have been some of the most memorable times of our lives and ones we take forward with us past the lines of the soccer pitch.

We will be finishing out the season with our older teams and then completing our move. Until that time, we will continue to be very active within the club, with both with our teams and behind the scenes and with any club-based events.

In closing we are proud to have been part of Placer United. It’s a great club with dedicated coaches and outstanding families.  In our opinion, no other club comes close to the number of players Placer United has placed onto US Youth National Teams and into colleges over the last five years. There is no doubt in our mind that Placer United is the best youth soccer club in Sacramento and the best soccer environment for your children to excel.

We hope to see you on the pitch in the near future.

News

Matt Bernard Joins the Placer United Coaching Staff

Coach Matt Bernard

Coach Matt Bernard

Former executive director of coaching for the North Bay Elite Football Club, Matt Bernard, has joined the Placer United coaching staff.  Matt brings a wealth of youth soccer experience to our club.  He is currently a member of  U14 U.S. Boys National Team coaching staff. He is also currently a scout for the USSF Academy program and U.S. Club’s  ID2  Identification Program. In addition, Matt is the head goalkeeper coach for the Norcal PDP Program.Before returning to California to take the executive DOC role at NBEFC, Matt was a Technical Director for Sereno Soccer Club, one of Arizona’s biggest and best known clubs.

 

From Coach Matt:

“I cannot express how excited I am to join Placer United Soccer Club. When I was approached by Ron and Paul about joining the club, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of a club I once played for as a child. I first played for Placer United in 1989 when my family moved to Roseville from Sacramento. The club was in its infancy at that point and they have come so far in almost a quarter century. I laugh when I think back to the Placer United Board of Directors meeting in my parent’s living room many years ago, and now the club has over 40 teams, top notch facilities and an overall quality program that has state, regional and national respect.

I have been lucky to be involved in some very good clubs over the past twelve years and I know Placer United, under the direction of Ron and Paul, will be a great place for me to call home. One of the main attractions for me to join the club is the desire to compete at the highest level of youth soccer in the United States. I am looking forward to helping in any way I can to help Placer United continue to develop and grow. 

I have personal relationships with many of the coaches at the club and look forward to working with them all on a regular basis. The camaraderie of the coaching staff is second to none and I look forward to being a part of the team that has been working hard to develop the top players that are coming out of Placer County.

I look forward to my new role within the club and getting started with the players on the field”

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