Four Placer United girls teams travelled down to the Bay Area this past weekend to compete in the Juventus Spring College Showcase.  There were a number of college coaches on hand to scout the older age groups.  After all was said and done, Placer United had two champions, one finalist and one thrid place finish! The teams had a combined record of 10 wins, 1 loss and 5 draws.

The U16G ’97 White team won the overall points championship in the Premier Group with three wins and a draw.  They defeated Orchard Valley 1-0, drew with Peninsula Blast 0-0, defeated the Internationals from Nevada 3-1 and won the title with a 2-1 win over Real So Cal Blue.

The U18G ’95 White team also won the overall points championship in the Gold Group with three wins and a draw.  They defeated Santa Barbara SC Red 4-1 and Mustang Velocity 3-0. They then had a 0-0 draw with Humboldt. In the final game, the girls won the title with a 3-0 win over Albany FC.

The U14G ’99 Red team made it to the championship game of the Premier Group. In the opener, the girls defeated Santa Rosa Athletico 6-0.  They then had a 0-0 draw versus MVLA Typhoon Black. In the semi-finals, the girls played to a 1-1 draw with FC Elk Grove Navy before ultimately defeating them in penalty kicks.  In the final, the girls came up short in a hard fought battle, 1-0, to Ajax East Bay.

The U15G ’98 White team took home third place in the Gold Group. They opened up the tournament with a pair of 1-1 draws versus Spanish Springs and the Juventus Thunder. In the third game, the girls defeated Sunnyvale 2-0 and then had a rematch versus Juventus and defeated them 3-1 in the finale.

Congrats to the players, teams, families and the soccer club on an amazing weekend!

Coach Matt Bernard, Cody Sunquist, Coach Paul O’Brien

The first video journal from the 2013 id² National Selection International Tour is now available. Video Journal #1 from includes the team gathering in Miami to train, an introduction to the squad, highlights from the team’s 4-0 victory over AT Chopera Alcobendas 04’s older-age Cadete A (1997s/1998s) and touring Madrid.

Click Here to View.

Coach Gene DuChateau, circa 1976

Coach Gene DuChateau, present day

Garden City, N.Y. – The Adelphi University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will induct six outstanding honorees and recognize a championship team at its 43rd annual Hall of Fame Ceremony on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Ruth S. Harley University Center in the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom.

The dinner, which honors those individuals who have made significant contributions to the athletics program includes Chris Bernard ’99 (Men’s Basketball), Eugene DuChateau ‘76 (Men’s Soccer), Diana Lopez ’07 (Women’s Lacrosse/Soccer), Lauren Lopez ’07 (Women’s Lacrosse/Soccer), Charlie O’Donnell ’79 (Men’s Soccer), and Lisa Tunstall-Laurencin ’76 (Women’s Basketball)

The Panther Legendary Team award will be presented to the 1975-76 Cross-Country/Track and Field Team. That Panther became the first team in program history to compete in the NCAA Division II Championships in all three seasons, sending a full squad to the cross-country, indoor and outdoor track championships. In addition the harriers were the first to capture all three Collegiate Track Conference crowns in the same academic year.

Bernard is among the best rebounders in school history and also eclipsed the 1,000 point mark in just three years in an Adelphi uniform. An ECAC All-Star and East Coast Conference All-Tournament selection, Bernard was named the All-Met Division II Player of the Year in 1999 after leading Adelphi to an ECC Tournament title and an NCAA berth.

DuChateau, an National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American, helped the Panther to an NCAA Division II National Championship in 1974. In addition he is a two-time all-region honoree and holds career records for most wins and shutouts with totals of 58 and 31.

Diana Lopez was a two-sport athlete at Adelphi playing both lacrosse and soccer. She was a three-time IWLCA All-American on the lacrosse field and helped the Panthers to NCAA Division II National crowns in 2004 and 2006. Lopez was also a member of the women’s soccer team that appeared in the 2004 NCAA Championship contest.

Lauren Lopez was a four-time IWLCA All-American as a member of the women’s lacrosse team and a member of the 2004 NCAA All-Final Four team on the soccer pitch. In addition she helped the Panthers to NCAA Division II National Championships in lacrosse in 2004 and 2006 and was a two-time all-conference honoree as a soccer player.

O’Donnell is one of the best goal scorers to wear the Brown and Gold and is third all-time in points (124), goals (49) and assists with 26. In addition, O’Donnell was selected as a NSCAA All-American in 1975 and helped Adelphi to an NCAA Division II National Championship in 1974.

Laurencin-Tunstall was a pioneer in women’s athletics as she was one of the first women in the country to receive an athletic scholarship in 1974. A three-time women’s basketball MVP she was also named to the AIAW New York All-Tournament team and helped the Panthers to a fifth place finish that same year.

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, special recognition awards will be presented. Wendy Hilliard, founder of the Wendy Hilliard Foundation and USA Gymnastics Hall of Famer will be honored with the Woodruff Award, presented for excellence in coaching, teaching and educating young adults. The Frank Cassell Memorial Award, which recognizes extraordinary contributions made to Adelphi Athletics, will be presented to Assistant Dean of The Robert B. Willumstad School of Business Brian Rothschild.

The Adelphi University Athletic Hall of Fame was founded in 1961 to honor those athletes, coaches and friends who have distinguished themselves during their time at the university and thereafter. For more information, please contact Adam Siepiola, Assistant Athletic Director, at (516) 877-4293 or siepiola@adelphi.edu. The cost of the dinner is $100 per person and reservations are required. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Placer United is pleased to announce Matt Bernard as Placer United Director of Goalkeepers. “Matt brings a great goalkeeping resume to our Club,” says Boys Coaching Director, Paul O Brien. “He is currently the U14 U.S. Boys National Team Goalkeeper Coach, the Goalkeeper Coach for US Club’s ID2 Identification Program and the Goalkeeper Coach for NorCal PDP program, which says it all.”

“Matt brings a ton of technical goalkeeper information to our Club and will be a valuable member of our staff,” said Ron Benjamin, Girls Director of Coaching. “He will help bring out the best in all our goalkeepers.”

Before taking the position at Placer United, Matt was the  executive DOC at North Bay Elite FC for two years, and was also the Director of Goalkeepers for Sereno Soccer Club, one of Arizona’s biggest and best known clubs.

A word from Matt…

“I am extremely proud and excited of being appointed the Director of Goalkeepers for Placer United. 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 who 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”

Matt Bernard, Director of Goalkeepers

Many of the Placer United Girls teams were in action this past weekend.

National Premier League

The U14G Red brought home the National Premier League Winter Championship by defeating FC Elk Grove Navy 1-0. The girls went undefeated in the league, going 6-0 with 15 goals for and only 2 goals against.

Norcal State Cup

The U11G Red won the Premier 2 State Cup Championship on Sunday defeating Livermore 2-1 on Sunday. In the semi-final on Saturday, the girls defeated the Santa Rosa Waves, 4-1 to reach the final.

The U12G Red played in the State Cup 1-8 quarter-finals on Saturday versus San Juan Holmes. The girls leveled the score at 1-1 with a few minutes remaining and took the game to golden goal overtime. A few minutes into extra time, the girls conceded a goal in a hard fought battle. On Sunday the girls defeated Diablo FC 1-0 and move on to the 5th/6th place game next Sunday versus Mustang Fury.

The U12G White had a pair of shutout victories in the Silver 1 Cup. In the quarters they defeated Los Gatos 4-0 and in the semi-final upended the CV magic White 1-0.  They now face the Dublin Strikers next weekend in the Final.

The U13G Red played in the State Cup 1-8 quarter-finals and were upended by San Juan Blue. In the semi-final on Sunday the girls lost a hard fought battle, 1-0 to Mustang Pride. The girls now move on to the 7th/8th place game next Sunday versus the DeAnza Force.

The U13G White played in the Silver 1 Quarter-final on Saturday versus Burlingame and were defeated 1-0.  The game went back and forth with scoring chances for both teams.

Tournament

The U14G White took the 3rd place trophy at the JJ Minor tournament in Stockton this past weekend. They opened up the event with a 1-0 victory over Union City and then had a pair of draws versus Tracy and Roseville.  In the consolation game, the girls met up with Tracy once again and won convincingly 4-0.

Congrats to all teams on a fabulous weekend!

Placer United U15B Red, U16B Red and U17B Red teams enjoyed a great weekend in NorCal State Cup. All three teams won their brackets and qualified for the next round as top seeds in their age groups.

The U15B Red team had a 2-0 win against Sac United to top their bracket with goals coming from Hunter Loomis and Andres Preito. The U16B Red team had a 5-1 win against Sac United with some great goals coming from Brayden Sullivan, Brandon Powers, two from Diego Buenrostro, and a 30 yd. pile driver from Isaul Bautista. The U17’s had a 2-0 win over Davis to clinch top place with a Brandon Powers goal and a really top drawer effort from Mark Caliguire.

Great Job Guys!

Placer United 2012 alumni, Christy Cooper, has received Rookie of the Year honors at the Air Force Academy.

The life of a cadet can be very challenging.  Trying to balance studies, cadet training and soccer trainings/games is a tall task.  Christy played good minutes and left back during the season and earned a starting position in the final game of the season versus Wyoming.  Christy also earned a place on the Athletic Directors All Academic list earning her Falcon Lightning Bolt pin and earning a set of Varsity AF letters for her A-Jacket.

Additionally, Christy made it through the 6-week basic training course where she was also awarded and honored as the Best Cadet (Boy or Girl) in the Academy assault course.

“Christy was an unbelievable player and person for the soccer club,” said Ron Benjamin, Director of Girls Coaching. “I am not surprised that she received all of the awards and accolades this year. She is a very intense player and always demands the best of herself and her teammates.  Her work rate, dedication and leadership are second to none. We are so proud of her and her accomplishments in her freshman year and look forward to more great things!”