Processed with Rookie Cam

Placer United’s 99/00 Academy team player, Mackenzie George, got the surprise of her life when she received a call from U.S. Soccer asking her to be part of the U.S. Soccer U19 Women’s National team.

U19 U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team Head Coach, Keri Sarver, called up twenty four players for the May camp in San Diego. Twenty two are in college and two are playing in the U.S. Soccer’s  Girls Academy with NTH Tophat and Placer United.

“What a great opportunity for MacKenzie,” said Placer Director Paul OBrien, “It really shows why the Girls Academy program is so important for players like MacKenzie. She was not on any national team’s radar before this season and after some outstanding displays against teams like the San Jose Earthquakes, Portland Thorns, and Seattle Reign, as well as at the first Girls DA showcase event, she received an invitation to be part of the top twenty four players in the country.”

“Everyone at the club is elated with Kellie’s Pagador’s recent achievements and now this latest news about MacKenzie is awesome,” continued O’Brien. “All of our girls have done us proud in this first year of the US Girls Academy. We hope we have one or two more players receiving invites to National teams in the future as there are many talented players in this area who just need to be seen more regularly by U.S. Soccer staff like what happened with MacKenzie. She and the other twenty three players are age-eligible for the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in France in August should they prove themselves worthy. Now wouldn’t that make a great local sports story!”

A HUGE congratulations to MacKenzie! Go Placer!

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Placer United strongly believes that in order to help raise standards, further develop our club, and strive to create better soccer players, it’s vital to have highly educated and knowledgeable coaches as part of our staff.  We are proud to announce the addition of Stephen Nichols to our club. He holds a USSF A license.

“I have absolutely no doubt that Stephen will be a huge asset to our club,” stated Placer Director, Paul O’Brien. “He’s a strong believer in the importance of development over winning and will help players become better both technically and tactically so they can deal with any situation that arises within a game.” O’Brien said he talked with Nichols numerous times about soccer who shares the same beliefs about how the game should be played at the youth level. He also understands the importance of gaining knowledge through education. Nichols has collegiate-level playing experience and coaching experience, State Cup winning experience, ECNL coaching experience and is highly licensed by U.S. Soccer.

Please join us in welcoming Stephen to Placer United. Go Placer!

Click here to see Stephen’s soccer skills.

A big congratulations to U15 Placer United Girls Academy player Kellie Pagador, who not only represented the U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team in Italy, but helped them defeat Japan in the final of the U17 Women’s Torneo delle Nazioni in Italy.  The U.S. U16 National Team traveled to Italy to participate in a U17 tournament which was staged at fourteen small venues in the northeast part of Italy, and just across the border in western Slovenia. Ten games

were played in Italy and four in Slovenia.

The 2018 competition was for players born in 2002 or later. The U.S. team was made up of ten players born in 2002, which is the age group for this year’s U16 Girls National Team, and five players born in 2003, one of whom includes Placer United’s Kellie Pagador. The 2003’s are all part of the U15 GNT age group. In addition, there are five players on the roster born in 2001.

Kellie started in three of the four games the U.S. team played with one being the final against Japan.

Congratulations Kelli! Go Placer!

Kellie Pagador

Congratulations to Placer U15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy player, Kellie Pagador, who got a major surprise last week when it was announced she was one of five 2003 age group players called into the 2002 U.S. Soccer Women’s National team for an international tournament in Italy. Kellie is a prominent member of the 2003 U.S. Soccer National squad for well over a year and received the call-up after some strong displays at the recent 2002/2003 National Team Camp.

“It’s really a great achievement and well deserved,” said Placer Director, Paul O Brien. “It’s also a great endorsement for the Girls U.S. Soccer DA program as the U.S. Soccer DA staff have been able to monitor Kellie throughout the course of the year play up with our 01 U.S. Soccer Academy team. She has really thrived against some strong opposition. It’s also speaks volumes for our own girls Academy staff who have helped create the necessary environment for Kellie and others to take their game to the next level.

Congratulations to Kellie for a great job! Go Placer!

Read More:

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2018/04/16/19/14/20180416-news-u16gnt-heads-to-2018-u17-womens-torneo-delle-nazioni-in-italy-and-slovenia