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News

Abbie Faingold Named to All-Big Sky Tournament Team

October 5, 2017 – Portland State Women’s Soccer
by Andy Jobanek

CHENEY, Wash. — Redshirt junior goalkeeper Abbie Faingold and senior midfielder Katie Forsee were each named to the All-Big Sky tournament team Sunday, after the conclusion of the Big Sky championship match between Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado.

No Viking had earned all-tournament honors since Abbey Bergquist was named to the 2014 all-tournament team in the Vikings’ last trip to the Big Sky tournament.

Faingold and Forsee helped lead the Vikings to the semifinals of the tournament, as the Vikings beat Northern Arizona 1-0 in the quarterfinals Wednesday. The Vikings then faced top-seeded and eventual tournament champions Eastern Washington in the semifinals, and gave the Eagles a game but fell 2-1.

Faingold finished the tournament with six saves between the Vikings’ two matches, the third-best single tournament total by a Viking in program history.

News

Gaels GK Maleah Milner Named WCC Player of the Week

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Saint Mary’s freshman goalkeeper Maleah Milner has been named the West Coast Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

Milner played 155 minutes in goal in matches against Loyola Marymount and No. 12 Pepperdine and registered 13 total saves with zero goals against. She entered the weekend having played just 45 minutes all season.

The freshman began the weekend with two saves against LMU after being inserted into the lineup at halftime, effectively stopping the potent Lions attack in the second half. She then recorded 11 saves in the 0-0 draw at No. 12 Pepperdine in her first career start.

Her 11 saves are the most in a single match for Saint Mary’s since the 2007 season, while the draw snapped a 9-match winning streak for the nationally-ranked Waves.

Also Nominated: Mikayla Colonna, BYU; Maddie Medved, Loyola Marymount; Hailey Harbison, Pepperdine; Kelsi Dantu, San Diego

2017 West Coast Conference Player of the Week
Week 1 (8/21) – Madeline Gotta, Soph., D, Gonaga
Week 2 (8/28) – Olivia Camera, Soph, GK, San Francisco
Week 3 (9/4) – Charlee Pruitt, Jr., GK, Loyola Marymount
Week 4 (9/11) – Brielle Preece, R-Jr., GK, Pepperdine
Week 5 (9/18) – India Jencks, Soph., F, Gonzaga
Week 6 (9/25) – Nadia Gomes, Sr., F, BYU
Week 7 (10/2) – Hannah Diaz, Sr., F, Saint Mary’s
Week 8 (10/9) – Summer Mason, Jr., F, San Diego
Week 9 (10/16) – Bri Visalli, Sr., M, Pepperdine
Week 10 (10/23) – Joelle Anderson, Fr., M, Pepperdine
Week 11 (10/30) – Maleah Milner, Fr., GK, Saint Mary’s

 

College Bound

Jordon Vice Commits to UC Davis

“I’m very excited to announce my commitment to play soccer at the University of California, Davis! I’m incredibly happy to be furthering my education and soccer career at such a great institution. First off, I’d like to thank my family and friends for the nonstop support they’ve given me throughout this journey. I’d also like to thank Kevin Unsworth, James Kavanagh, Paul O’Brien, Jason Gantt, Matt McDougall, Simon Shephard, Mr. Barbé, and anyone else who has helped shape me into the person and player I am today. I’d like to shout out to all of my teammates that I’ve played with throughout the years; nothing would be possible without them. I’ve been blessed with the chance to play at a club like Placer United, and I’m forever grateful for that. Once again, thank you to everyone who has helped along the way and I can’t wait to see what UC Davis holds for me! Go Aggies!” —Jordon Vice

News

Placer’s Pagador Selected for U.S. Soccer U15 National Team

Kellie Pagador

 

Big congratulations to Kellie Pagador for her selection to travel to Germany with the U.S. Soccer U15 Girls National Team. Pagador, a 2003 age group player with Placer United’s 01/02 U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy team is one of twenty players traveling to Germany for training camp and two matches against the Germany U-15 GNT. The U.S. Soccer U-15’s will face Germany on Wednesday, November 1, in Marburg, Germany, for a match that is closed to the public. The teams will meet again on Friday, November 3, at Stadion Wetzlar in Wetzlar, Germany (11 a.m. local time) in a match open to the public.  Read More

Congratulations to Kellie! Go Placer!

College Bound

Aiden Marquez of 01/02 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Commits to Dominican University

“I am so excited to announce my commitment to Dominican University! I knew Dominican was the best fit for me the minute I stepped on campus. It has an outstanding academic program, as well as an amazing soccer program. I would like to thank my Placer coaches, Ron Benjamin and Todd DeCarlo, for pushing me and giving me the tools I need to succeed. Thank you to my teammates for challenging me mentally, physically, and technically, and for being like family. Thank you to my mom and Eric Crise for giving me a unique and special soccer experience growing up. You two allowed me to become a better player, but also to become a better person. To my big sisters and former teammates, thank you for being amazing role models for me on and off the field. Thank you to the friends and families that have been with me since the beginning, and for always encouraging me. Thank you to Coach Coffey and Coach Lingafeldt for giving me the opportunity to play at the collegiate level. A huge thanks to my parents for supporting me and guiding me. I’m the person I am today because of you two. To my sister, Cassidy, thank you for being, not only my sister, but my best friend. Thank you for encouraging me to be the best person and player I can be. I cant wait to play with you again in college! I am beyond thankful for my amazing family that have loved, guided, and helped me through everything I have done. I can’t wait to be a Penguin!” — Aiden Marquez​

News

Abbie Faingold Named Defensive Player of the Week for Portland State


OGDEN, Utah (Oct. 10, 2017) – Portland State swept Player of the Week honors after two dramatic wins on the week. Katie Forsee contributed to all three PSU goals with two goals and an assist to earn the offensive honor. Abbie Faingold made eight saves over the two game span to pick up the Defensive Player of the Week award.

Abbie Faingold denied eight shots on goal and only allowed a single goal in Portland State’s two wins on the weekend. Against Northern Arizona, Faingold didn’t allow a goal despite NAU putting pressure on the Portland State defense the entire second half. The Lumberjacks attempted eight shots with two being on goal and Faingold stopped both shots. The goalkeeper really shined versus Sacramento State on Sunday. The Hornets attempted 16 shots, seven on goal, during the match. After Sacramento State scored right before intermission, the redshirt-junior denied every shot attempt in the second half as Portland State came from behind to win a 2-1 thriller.

Katie Forsee produced two game-winning goals on the weekend with the first one coming over Northern Arizona off of a penalty kick for the only goal of the match. In Sunday’s thriller versus Sacramento State, Forsee earned an assist after a Morgan Matthews goal tied the match in the middle of the second half. Minutes later Forsee scored the go-ahead goal to clinch the win for Portland State.

Forsee’s two goals over the weekend upped her total to eight goals on the season which leads the Big Sky. Additionally, the senior leads the conference with 19 points and ranks top-50 in the nation in both categories.

With the two wins Portland State is sitting in second alone in the Big Sky standings with 12 points. The Vikings are set to collide with first-place Eastern Washington (13 points) in Cheney, Wash. on Friday night before finishing out the weekend at Idaho.

Other nominees:

Offense: Emma Vanderhyden (EWU), Myah Merino (UI), Alexa Coyle (UM), Adrian Nixt (NAU), Caitlin Prothe (SAC), MaKenzie Lawrence (SUU)
Defense: Emily Busselman (EWU), Makayla Presgrave (UI), Taryn Miller (UM), Taryn Benham (NAU), Kaylyn Evans (SAC), Kaitlyn Caldera (SUU)

College Bound

Benji Kikanovic Joins Sacramento State Men’s Soccer

“I am very excited to announce my commitment to play soccer at California State University, Sacramento. I would like to start off by thanking my family, most importantly, my parents, for always supporting and believing in me, both on and off the field, as well as taking me to all my practices and games. I would also like to thank Paul O’Brien, Jason Gantt, Matt Scammacca and Matt McDougall for always pushing me during training sessions and encouraging me to be the best version of myself. Thank you to my teammates and all the other coaches at Placer United who have played an important role in my development as a soccer player. I have always dreamed of playing at the collegiate level and I am incredibly excited to see what my future soccer career has in store for me at Sacramento State. Go Hornets!” — Benji Kikanovic

News

U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy Technical Advisor Visits Placer United

The Placer United U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy teams had a surprise visitor at training last night as newly hired U.S. Soccer Northwest Technical Advisor, Megan McCormick, was on hand to watch and evaluate the level of each training session, as well as scout for future potential National Youth team players.

“The DA Technical Advisor is here to assist the leadership of all the Academy clubs by monitoring and enhancing the players daily training environments to ensure better player development. They will not only attend training sessions, but also competitive games looking to identify those players with the potential and desire to be part of a U.S. Soccer National team,” explained Paul O’Brien, Director of Soccer Operations.

“Megan was really great,” said 04 Girls Academy Coach, Don Finley. “She spoke with all the girls about her current role within the U.S. Soccer and her previous experiences as a professional player and head college coach,” he said. “Megan asked all the players a few questions including if they have noticed any differences already within the Academy system, to which one of my girls replied, ‘Yes we have a U.S. Soccer national staff member at our training session.'”

The 03 Girls Academy Coach, Ron Benjamin added, “It’s things like this that will quickly help all the players realize they are in a high profile environment, as not only did Megan attend last night’s training session, but she will be at all the Placer United U.S. Soccer DA home games this weekend.”

About the U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy
Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007. The Academy Program’s philosophy is based on standards of increased training, less total games, and more meaningful games using international rules of competition. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy recently expanded programming to include the Girls’ Development Academy which began in September 2017.

 

College Bound

Humbolt State Welcomes Bridget Pelzman 01/02 Development Academy

“I’m very proud to announce that I will be continuing my education and soccer career as a member of the entering class of 2019 at Humboldt State University.  I want to thank my fellow teammates who have become like family members to me.  I feel so honored to have had the opportunity to play with such a talented group. I also want to thank the coaches that I have had during my Placer United  career, beginning with Crystal Howard-Chadez, Andy Walsh, and Jimmy Frazelle. Thank you for helping me improve my skills as a young aspiring soccer player. Thank you, Todd DeCarlo, for always pushing me to do my best while guiding me and improving me as the soccer player I am today. Last but not least thank you, Ron Benjamin, for mentoring  me while driving me to always be the best I can be on the soccer field. Thank you to each and everyone of you for your never-failing belief in me as a center defender. Most importantly I would like to thank my Mom, Dad, brother, and grandparents, I would not be where I am today without your support for me while allowing me to catch my dream!  Thank you, Paul Karver, for giving me this amazing opportunity and believing in me as a player for Humboldt State University! Go Jacks!” —Bridget Pelzman

 

 

News

Concussion Awareness Week During Development Academy Opening Weekends

CHICAGO (Aug. 30, 2017) – Recognize to Recover, presented by Thorne, and ThinkTaylor are partnering during the opening weekends of the U.S. Soccer Girls’ and Boys’ Development Academy to educate more than 17,000 players about handling concussions in the sport.

As part of U.S. Soccer’s continued effort to promote safe play and reduce injuries in soccer players of all ages, the Concussion Awareness Week will take place from Sept. 2-10 and all 197 member clubs will take part in the campaign.

Players will be encouraged to take the #TTPledge, which is an oath from athletes to be educated on concussion symptoms, to be honest in their self-evaluation and to be supportive of anyone with a concussion.

“We’re looking forward to this partnership between Recognize to Recover and ThinkTaylor as we continue to connect with youth players across the United States about their health and safety,” said U.S. Soccer Chief Medical Officer George Chiampas. “An important part of managing concussions is making sure that players are educated on how to identify when a possible head injury occurs, and are empowered to inform their parents and coaches. We want to change the culture within the game around reporting concussions and that needs to start at an early age.”

Recognize to Recover, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive program dedicated to safe play and reducing injuries, was launched by U.S Soccer in 2015. The program was developed with the help of medical experts to provide coaches, players, parents, referees with information, guidance and educational materials to improve the prevention and management of injuries.

Concussion and head injury awareness and prevention are a core part of the program, and in 2016 U.S. Soccer released a new video designed to raise awareness of this important issue and highlight it throughout its coach and referee education programs.

WATCH: Recognize to Recover Concussion Awareness Video

ThinkTaylor was founded in 2011 by former Men’s National Team player Taylor Twellman after he was forced to retire from professional soccer due to post-concussion syndrome (PCS). ThinkTaylor is dedicated to changing the culture of traumatic brain injuries and aims to dispel the notion of concussions as something to “shake off” or play through, and establish protocol of handling brain injuries with the utmost seriousness.

“There were times in my career I wasn’t honest with my coaches, my parents, my teammates, and it only made things worse,” said Twellman. “When you recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion and you do something about it, you are already on the road to recovery. That’s why it’s so important to me that athletes are educated and honest about concussions. We only have one brain and it needs to last a lifetime.”

As the 2017-2018 Development Academy season is set to kick off, Concussion Awareness Week is part of the Academy and U.S. Soccer’s continued commitment to the long-term health and safety of its players.