February 16, 2021
SJEarthquakes.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. –  The San Jose Earthquakes have signed forward Benji Kikanovic to a one-year contract with club options through the 2024 season.

“Benji has been on our radar for several years and we’re happy he’ll be joining the first team,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “He is a player that we thought very highly of in college and we were impressed by his transition to the professional game last year. We’ll create an individualized program for him and believe in his future in MLS.”

Kikanovic, 21, spent the 2020 season with the Quakes’ former USL Championship affiliate Reno 1868 FC, scoring two goals in 13 appearances.

Prior to joining Reno, Kikanovic competed for Sacramento State University for two seasons. He appeared in 34 of the team’s 35 matches from 2018 to 2019, making 33 starts and tallying nine goals and five assists. As a freshman in 2018, Kikanovic led the team in goals (5), game-winning goals (2) and assists (4), earning Big West Co-Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Big West Conference accolades. He was the only freshman in the Big West Conference to earn First or Second Team recognition that season. The following year, he tallied four goals and an assist to earn his second consecutive Second Team All-Big West Conference honor.

Kikanovic, a former youth player at Placer United Soccer Club, also spent time with NPSL side Sacramento Gold FC in 2019.

Alumni Spotlight – Kirsten Robinson ’19 (Women’s Soccer)
February 16, 2021

CHICAGO–Kirsten Robinson ’19 was a four-year member (2015-18) of the Illinois Institute of Technology women’s soccer program as a midfielder/forward. The civil/environmental engineering major from Newcastle, California registered nine goals and 15 assists for 33 points over 77 career games. Her 164 career shot attempts ranks fifth in the Scarlet Hawks’ modern-day record book, while her 15 career assists stands at No. 9. Robinson’s senior season ended with a spot on the 2018 All-NACC Second Team. She also landed a spot on the 2017 All-Association of Division III Independents First Team, after she secured 2016 All-AD3I Third Team honors.

What is your favorite memory about your time as a Scarlet Hawk, on or off the playing surface?: My favorite memory is my senior night game, not just for the additional attention, but because we played a rather challenging opponent; by winning in overtime, we solidified our spot in the league’s championship. We were not only making program history, we were battling together as a team with so much love and support from the stands. A night to remember.

What are you most proud of from your time as a Scarlet Hawk?: As a growing program, I am proud to have been a part of many firsts for the women’s soccer program. This includes transitioning to NCAA Division III and reaching the league championships.

What advice would you give to your college self or current Scarlet Hawks?: Really work hard and cherish every bruise and every day you get to play the sport you love. You’re not only going to miss it, but you’re really going to kick yourself if you don’t take full advantage of the relationships, growth and memories you’ll gain from the experience.

Where do you currently live and what do you do for a career?: I currently live in the heart of San Francisco, California working for an engineering design firm. As a building energy analysis and modeling consultant, I aid building design through a variety of sustainable practices like LEED certification and renewable energy design.

How did your collegiate career prepare you for life after college?: Collegiate sports are as much about mental aptitude as they are about physical prowess. I learned about confidence, compromise, communication and a multitude of other life skills through interacting with peers, officials and coaches.

What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of since you graduated from Illinois Tech?: Since graduating, I’ve traveled, I’ve moved back across the country, and I’ve adopted a dog, all have been big adventures. Professionally, I became LEED AP accredited and am proud to be halfway through my second year with a great company.

How are you still involved with your sport?: It’s been a real joy playing in small leagues and pick-up games now that I’ve “retired.” I hope to coach youth again someday, or even practice with a semipro team again, but I am enjoying being able to play freely with friends and colleagues. As always, it’s a great way to meet and bond with people!

What attribute from your time as a student-athlete has helped you in your professional career the most?: Sociability is a huge thing in life and it’s a big benefit in the professional world. That plus an understanding of balancing teamwork and individual responsibility have had a great impact in my career thus far.

From Placer to Portugal: How a Two Hour Drive Turned Into a Pro-Contract

by Lily Dubuc

It’s been a tough year for everyone, including women’s soccer around the world. I feel fortunate to live in Portugal, playing professionally with Racing Power F.C.

Six years ago, my week looked like this:

• Wake up at 6:00 a.m.
• Go to school
• Take a nap in my car
• Drive two hours down to soccer training with Placer United
• Drive two hours home
• Shower
• Fall into bed just before midnight
• Repeat 3-5 times a week as needed

It was one of the happiest times of my life.

Placer United is synonymous with family for me. I was lucky enough to train with multiple coaches on both the girls’ and boys’ sides of the club. It was where I grew as a player and person and made friendships that have lasted a lifetime. It’s also where I learned the value of grit, playing for the good of the team, and the tactical side of the beautiful game. It’s where I gained the experience to play every position on the pitch and live up to my coaches’ and teammates’ high standards. Every day I still try to make Placer United proud of me as a person and player.

Playing for Placer led to playing for Dominican University in California. After four seasons, some better than others, I left for the final semester of my undergrad degree at the University of Oxford. I received multiple player of the week accolades, conference awards, and a new left ankle.

After arriving in Oxford, I joined the University team and instantly felt at home. Thanks to Placer United’s soccer foundation, I transitioned from being a winger to a defensive center midfielder. I found myself surrounded by the love of the game in England with brilliant teammates. It felt like a great end to a successful collegiate career.

Fast forward to the real world, where I gave my best at being a proper adult by moving to Boston and getting a full-time job while also joining four amateur teams in the area. Then COVID-19 hit, and I knew that I needed soccer to be the center of my world again.

Lily Dubc – back row third from right

While I waited for the vaccine for COVID-19 to come, I moved back to Oxford, where I was lucky enough to play for Oxford City F.C. and coach at the University of Oxford. A second national lockdown and an expiring visa sent me back home to the Tahoe area.

Once the January transfer window opened up, I was lucky to have Racing Power F.C. watch my highlight video and reach out via my agent at R.A.C. One week later and I was packing my bags to move to Portugal for my first professional contract.

From driving two hours each way for Placer to flying to Portugal, I am fortunate to be able to continue to play the game I love, even in a pandemic. I’d like to thank my parents, sister, uncle, and the Rohlf family for driving with me all those years for training. Playing with the Dominican Athletic team, Blues, and Catz football at the University of Oxford reminds me how much I love this game. I sincerely appreciate Oxford City F.C., R.A.C. agency, Racing Power F.C., and Placer United. Without the support of all the Placer United coaches, staff, and teammates throughout the years, I never would have had this opportunity. I’ll always be proud to have played for Placer United.

By Judy Farah

While the Covid pandemic has unfortunately sidelined youth soccer teams in the Sacramento region and all of California, two former players from Placer United are currently enjoying an exciting soccer career in Europe. Izzie Lueken, a graduate of the University of San Francisco, is playing for Mislata C.F. in Valencia, Spain and 17-year-old David Harrison is in Germany on the Borussia Emsdetten team. Both had challenges getting to Europe during the Covid shutdown but are now immersing themselves in exploring a new country and learning different styles of play than in the United States.

Izzie Lueken, forward with University of San Francisco women’s soccer

Lueken began playing soccer when she was 4 years old and has “been in love with the sport ever since.” She came to Placer United in 2011 and played at the club until she graduated Folsom High School in 2016. Lueken went on to play four years in college where she had the chance to compete against some of the best teams in the country. When her college career ended, she knew she wanted to continue to play. Her college coach arranged for her to play in a tournament in Valencia, Spain in April 2020 and be seen by professional coaches from teams outside the U.S. but unfortunately it was cancelled when Covid hit.

“I was devastated, but still wanted to do everything I could to try and be seen and get the opportunity to play internationally,” she said.

With her coach’s help, Lueken was able to join some Zoom sessions watched by international coaches. Izzie focused hard, attending the Zoom sessions several times a week from April until June 2020. Eventually, one of the coaches from Mislata C.F. expressed interest and invited her to Valencia. She arrived in October and is currently training with her new team, trying to learn the language and enjoying the view from a different part of the world.

“The thing that kept me going is knowing how much I love soccer,” Lueken said. “It is always hard work and I try to keep pushing myself through the setbacks and challenges. But I love the game. I love the rush I get when I am on the field. I have started a new chapter in my life completely out of my comfort zone.”

Harrison was a junior at Del Oro High School in Loomis, California. He also started playing soccer at age 4, but also played basketball and volleyball. He played four years of recreational soccer before joining Placer United.

David Harrison

Harrison took a different route to play abroad. He went through a program called The Talent Projekt. He was selected after he applied by sending in a highlight reel. Harrison and 13 others from across the United States moved to Germany in September and joined team Borussia Emsdetten in Germany.

What was it like to send your then 16-year-old son to Europe during a pandemic? “It was incredibly difficult,” father Lance Harrison admits. “He wanted to become a professional soccer player in Europe. It would be a better opportunity for him to develop.”

Placer United, which typically has about 600 kids in their club, has a strong reputation of developing talent. Some of their players have gone on to be drafted by MLS, play in the USL, the NWSL and youth national teams.

“Our main goal is to get players to play at the next level, to create the best training environment possible with the best coaching staff possible to have these kids have their dreams come true to play at the next level, whether that is with college, professional or national teams,” said Ron Benjamin, Director of Coaching-Girls, Placer United.

Lueken and Harrison aren’t the first Placer United players to compete in Europe. Other members have played in Norway, Sweden, Italy and Israel. But Leuken and Harrison are the first to play abroad during a pandemic.

Harrison had to wear a mask on the 9-hour flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt. When he arrived in Germany, the country had shut its borders to all travel from the U.S. but he got through on a student visa.

“We were through the worst of it but since we’ve been here we have not been able to properly eat at restaurants as everything is take out, and we have not been able to go see any of the remarkable things that Germany is known for because much of it is closed,” Harrison said.

“There was a lot of doubt and uncertainty throughout this entire process,” Leuken said. “I was unsettled by all the unknowns and questioned whether leaving the country to play soccer was worth it,” Lueken said.

It took a while for David to get cleared to play in games, but as of this writing he has played in three and has three assists and one goal. Harrison and his American teammates are adjusting to different ways of playing soccer. They have multiple coaches for biometrics and speed, for yoga, aerobics and nutrition. Instead of going to the match in uniform, everyone goes to training in street clothes and changes into uniforms provided by staff. After practice, everyone showers and changes back to street clothes. As for the difference in play?

“It is far more aggressive play over here with the referees letting much of the physicality play on and not calling a foul,” Harrison said. “The speed at which the game is played is also much faster. The ball is played quickly after it is received and every player on the field knows where they’re going with the ball before they even get it. The build up from the goalie through the back line is almost always allowed but as soon as the back line attempts to play a ball to the midfield, that’s when teams press hard. Finally, individually every player is very technical with the ball, no matter what position. You will never find a player playing in our division who is slow, can only use one foot or one who has slow decision making. Everyone can pass, dribble, shoot and hit long balls with both feet.”

Like many youth soccer clubs during Covid, Placer United hasn’t had any matches in California. They’ve held Zoom training sessions and are now doing non-contact training outdoors using social distancing, masks and use sanitizing stations upon arrival.

“We’re trying to be creative with our training sessions to keep the kids excited and motivated,” Benjamin said.

Lueken is grateful that Placer United helped prepare her for her pro soccer career.

“I loved my time at Placer. The competitiveness, the coaches, my teammates, the joyful environment.”

Coach Benjamin said it’s been a tough time for youth soccer with kids unable to play, but added: “We always tell the kids that the challenges in life make you stronger.”

by Republic FC Communications

Sacramento, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC announced today that Midfielder Tucker Bone will join Republic FC on its 2021 roster, pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“Tucker’s team-first mentality and tenacity add another dangerous player to our attacking group,” said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant. “He’s a dynamic and versatile player that is one of Sacramento’s own, and we are excited to welcome him home.”

The 24-year-old joins Republic FC following a season with Reno 1868 FC, where he started 24 regular season matches, two playoff matches and scored four goals and contributed one assist. In the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Bone was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for his performances in Week 9 and 11. In the second half of the 2019 season, he signed his first pro contract with Colorado Springs Switchbacks where he made 16 appearances (8 starts) and recorded his first pro goal and assist.

Tucker was selected 20th by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, after a decorated four-year collegiate career at the Air Force Academy. He was a two-time MAC Hermann Trophy semi-finalist, and earned Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year accolades in his senior season.

He is a back-to-back First Team All-America recipient, awarded to the best eleven collegiate players annually. In the past decade, only 15 players out of 110 have been selected to receive the honor twice. Bone recorded 25 goals and 22 assists in his career with the Falcons. Prior to attending Air Force Academy, Tucker was a two-sport letterman at Jesuit High School in Carmichael and played for area youth clubs, Placer United and Sacramento United.

Tucker Bone
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 162 pounds
Number: 7
Born: January 23, 1996
Age: 24
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington
Country: United States
Previous Club: Reno 1868 FC

A big congratulations to all of the Placer United players who have represented the Club on National, Regional, State and Sacramento teams. Check out the impressive list of accomplishments below:

PLAYER PROFESSIONAL / INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE