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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”

News

Cal North Boys ODP Selections

A big congratulations to Evan Panganiban and Garrett Bonzell who were both selected for Cal North ODP Boys Teams.

The boys tried out just before Christmas and received the news in time to add an extra special reason to ring in the new year. Garett, who plays for our U15 boys was selected for the ’97 age group, and Evan, who plays for our U13 boys, was selected for the ’00 age group.

The Placer United coaching staff wishes Evan and Garrett all the best when they travel to Las Vegas to represent Cal North.

College Bound

Brittney Neumann, ’95 White, Commits to Bethany University in Kansas

Brittney Neumann

Brittney Neumann

“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to Bethany University in Kansas. After talking to the coach and looking into the school’s academics, I am positive this is the school for me. I never saw myself moving away from Cali but the best things in life are unexpected.

I couldn’t have done it without the help of my club, coaches, teammates, my dad and my grandpa. I have been playing for Placer for four years now and I can honestly say I do not know what I would have done without this club. I never had much confidence in my skill and thought collegiate soccer was a long shot. But with the help of the amazing coaches at Placer, my life dream has become a reality.

I want to give a special thanks to my coach Crystal Chaidez. I could not have done this without her. I feel that everyone has that one person in their life who has such an immense impact and gives you the strength to fight for what you want and that’s exactly what Crystal has done for me. I had very little faith in my playing ability until Crystal taught me differently. Whenever I made a mistake she would point it out but tell me how to fix it in a positive manner. She has showed so much faith in me not only as a player but also as a person which in return made me play harder and improve everything I did. Crystal taught me to never give up and train harder than you trained the day before. I am so lucky to be finishing my final year as a youth soccer player with her as my coach. Thank you Crystal! I couldn’t have done this without you.

Also, I want to thank my dad and grandpa for driving me all over Cali and flying me out to all of my tournaments. You guys have put just as much effort into all of this as I have and you always believed in me. Thank you.

I can’t forget about my team! I love these girls to death. This is my first year playing with these girls, but I have known them since I started playing for Placer. I have been through the best and worst times of my life with them and they have always been there for me. I look at all of them as my sisters. I am going to miss you all so much but I know we will always have that special bond. I love you guys.

Lastly a special thanks to Jamie Baker! She is on my team this year and it was actually her who got me started talking to this coach. She has also committed to Bethany so we not only will be playing together, but we are also roommates! I’m looking forward to the next four years with you Jimmy!!

Thank you for all who have supported and believed in me. I can’t wait to make you proud these next four years! Go Swedes!”

—Brittney Neumann

News

ELEVEN Placer United Girls Selected to ODP

Eleven Placer United girls players were selected to the Cal-North Olympic Development Program (ODP) State Team Pools this week:

97’s – Erin Barr, Alexia De La Paz, Emily Bringgold, Janae Gonzales, Anna , Macy Moen, Jessica Raybe and Sydney Talmi

98’s – Maggie Bell

00’s – Kylie Granno and Emily Talmi

These will be the players who are eligible to be selected to travel with the State ODP team for any event for the 2013 season.

Congratulations Ladies!