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2003G Gold Bring Home Placer’s 7th NPL Champions League Crown

Placer United 2003 Girls Gold – 2017 U14 NPL Champions League Champions

A BIG congratulations to the Placer United 2003 Girls Gold team who finished out their League season in style winning the U14 Girls Champions League title Sunday at the NPL Spring College Showcase held at Davis Legacy over the weekend.

Every year during the Spring, NorCal NPL League, now widely regarded as one of biggest and best run college recruiting programs in the Nation, crowns a Champion in each age group of their Champions League Divisions at the Spring College Showcase. The Champions League Divisions contain the crème de la crème of teams made up of the current top eight teams in the State. Qualifying is tough and to win the league is even tougher.

Since the 2014 introduction of the NPL Champions League, Placer United has won six Champions League titles. Going into this past weekend we were hoping for title number seven as we had five teams qualify to play in 2017 Champions League soccer.

Over 140 men’s and women’s college coaches converged on the Davis soccer fields from all corners of the USA. Our 2003 Placer Girls Gold team stepped up huge and sealed the deal, as well as achieved an automatic qualification to the NPL National Finals by finishing top of a league that contained two ECNL teams and one future USSF Girls Academy team to take home Placer United’s seventh Champions League title.

Congratulations to all the girls and Coach Ron Benjamin for a brilliant achievement! Great job! Go Placer!

News

Placer Coach Awarded New Coaching License


In 2016, US Soccer set new standards in an aggressive coaching education program and advanced licensing structure. The new USSF A Youth License course, which launched in August 2016, had 250 applicants and the US Soccer educational department hand-picked thirty coaches to participate in the very first class of this kind. Among those selected to participate was Placer United Director of Soccer Operations Paul O Brien.

“I am very proud to have been one of the first coaches who were selected to attend the revised USSF A Course,” said O Brien. “The curriculum was just over nine months long and was designed and adapted based on a set of tasks each coach had to complete and implement within their own home environment,” explained O’Brien. “The tasks were defined as coaching matches, coaching training sessions, leading the team, leading the player, managing a performance environment, and leadership. We were given plenty of information through lectures, seminars and workshops, and then assessed based on the progression of these tasks relative to our own club and team situations.”

“The course was intense, educational and extremely demanding, consisting of a series of four meetings with USSF staff, three of which were week-long educational and coaching sessions based in Houston,” said O’Brien. “We had three development periods in between each meeting, with a final meeting, including an assessment, carried out in our own club environment. I remember the first day of the first meeting in Houston when the outline of the course curriculum was passed out to the participating coaches. There was a combination of feeling overwhelmed, anxious and challenged. Yet, I was also very excited knowing that this was going to be a completely rewarding experience and an opportunity to do something different than I had ever been exposed to in other coaching courses. I received my final results the week leading into Easter, so needless to say I had a good Easter weekend.”

Congrats to Coach Paul on a job well done. Go Placer!

College Bound

Britney Flint Headed to San Francisco Academy of Art University

“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to play D2 soccer at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where I plan to study graphic design, photography, and digital media while playing the sport that I love.

I want to thank all my coaches for shaping me into the player I am today: Lee Callow, Matt Scammacca, Chris Alcala, John Bustos, Todd DeCarlo and especially Ron Benjamin. Ron, thank you for always believing in me and continuously pushing me to improve every day.

Enormous thanks, of course, goes to my family for being my biggest supporters through the long drives, freezing cold and burning hot games, and cheering me on through the wins and losses. Particularly, thank you to my dad for being my biggest shoulder to lean on during this process. He was my first soccer coach and played the biggest role in developing my love for the game. Thank you, dad, for the countless hours you spent writing college emails with me and offering me the best advice. I would not be where I am today without you.

Finally, to all my teammates with whom I shared so many “Ronjamin” fitness sessions, Placer Idol skits, wins, losses, trophies, group texts, and fun nights on the road at soccer hotels. You’ve been some of my best friends and you will be forever.

I’m definitely looking forward to my senior year, but I also cannot wait to attend Art U and further both my soccer career, and my future in the art world.”—Britney Flint

News

00B Gold Advance to Dallas Cup Elite Eight

18,000 miles and three states away from the Placer United Indoor Training Center, our Placer United 00 Boys Gold are flying the yellow and black colors as they proudly march into the quarter finals of the world famous Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup youth soccer tournament.

The boys followed up their impressive win Monday against highly rated USSF Development Academy Solar Chelsea team on Tuesday by tying their second game of the tournament 0-0 against a top ranked team from Oklahoma called West Side Alliance. The draw meant a win was a must on day three or they could pack their bags and be home in time for the Easter Bunny.

During the warm up, the boys looked a little nervous as they all knew what was at stake. At the opposite end of the field, the Mana Mana club team from Mexico were feeling loose and happy as they knew they had nothing to lose as they were already knocked out of the tournament. The Mexican team started off the better of the two teams but it didn’t take long before the Placer boys got into their groove with some slick quick passes that led to the first real opportunity of the team which helped settled everybody down.

#25 Zac Wong gave the boys the go ahead goal as he powered himself onto a free kick delivered into the box by Dylan Finley.

Top scorer Benji Kikanovic converted easily from the spot to make it 2-0 and then Manny Cabrera made it 3-0 for the boys in yellow as his shot bounced of a Mana Mana defender to wrong foot their goal keeper and move the boys into the knock out rounds of one off the biggest and best youth soccer events in the country.

Great job boys and good luck in the next round! Go Placer!

News

2000 Boys Victorious In Dallas Cup Match

A big congratulations to the 2000 Boys Gold team on their first game victory at the 2017 Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup, a by-invitation only tournament which is regarded as one of the top youth soccer tournaments in the world. 

Top academy teams from England, Germany, Spain, and Mexico play at this prestigious event and a few well known stars who have gone on to play in the world’s biggest stage such as David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Michael Owen, Clint Dempsey, Wayne Rooney, Chicharito, Raul and Michael Bradley, have graced the pitches in Dallas.

With around thirty college coaches on the sidelines, our 00 Boys opened their first game against top ranked USSF Academy side Solar Chelsea . The boys went down 1-0 early in the half, but some clever adjustments from Coach Matt Scammacca saw the boys tie the game with a stunning goal from in form striker Benji Kikanovic which kick started the boys come back as they went on to score two more goals from Gabe Royer and Michel Eljaiek Galofre to win out  3-1.

Congrats boys and great job! Go Placer!

News

U14G Gold Win Las Vegas College Showcase While U17s and U18s Take Second Place

The 03G Gold beat off tough competition to take first place in this year’s Girls Las Vegas Players Showcase for the U14 age group. The girls played a total of 5 games in the top division this past weekend scoring 11 goals and conceding 0. Results included a 2-0 win over LA Galaxy South Bay, 1-0 over Pleasanton Rage, 5-0 over Sereno ECNL and a 3-0 win over the Scottsdale Blackhawks in the semi-final.

The final was against a very strong Las Vegas Premier SC ended with a penalty shoot out after 0-0 in regulation time. Goalkeeper Emma Hoffman pulled off two fantastic penalty saves to crown the girls tournament champions! A special thank you to Coach Sarah for standing in to coach the girls for the weekend.

The club also had a number of additional teams at the College Showcase.  There were over 500 colleges represented as they scouted the action.

The U17G Gold had a great run through the event in the Mandalay Bay division.  They beat the Eugene Timbers 4-1 and the Pateadores 2-0.  They then had a tie versus West Coast EGSL 1-1 and a 4-1 loss to Arsenal Colorado. The girls ended up as finalists in the group. Well done!

The U18G Gold ended the weekend with three wins and one loss in the Mirage Division. They beat the Oceanside Breakers 3-2, the Minnesota Thunder ECNL 6-1, and Las Vegas Neon 3-2.  Playing for the championship on the final day, the girls lost one 0-1 decision to the Slammers.  They ended up as finalists as well.

Congrats to all of the teams that played in the event. It was a great showing for the soccer club and all of the players received a lot of collegiate exposure. Great job to all!

College Bound

Wyatt Walsh Commits to Dominican

“I am honored to announce my commitment to play D2 soccer at Dominican University of California. It has always been my goal to play soccer at the next level, especially at a school like Dominican. I am excited to start the next chapter of my life. Coming to Placer two years ago was a huge decision and I am so thankful to all of those who have been an influence on my soccer career. In addition, when my good friend, Trevor Wildberger, passed away, I made it my mission to make it to the next level so that he can now play through me. I dedicate this to him as I would not be here without his help and guidance. I can’t wait to put my mark on Dominican over these next four years. Lastly, thank you to my family, without them none of this could have happened.” —Wyatt Walsh

News

Grettel Sainz 03 Girls Gold Selected for id2 Training Camp

Grettel Sainz

Grettel Sainz has been selected to the id2 Training Camp, March 23-26, at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana!  The current id2 program cycle targets girls born in 2003 from across the United States. Players will compete in a series of training sessions and games run by the id2 National staff. Grettel is the latest Placer ’03 girl to be identified by id2.

Congratulations Grettel!

News

Placer United Adds A List Coach to 2017 Staff

Casey Tate

Placer United is pleased to announce the addition of USSF A licensed coach, Casey Tate, to the 2017 coaching staff. Casey, the former Director of Barcelona North and San Juan SC Nevada, arrives at Placer United from the University of Nevada where he spent seven years as both the head coach and assistant coach.

Before taking a position at UNR, Casey enjoyed great success at Seton Catholic Preparatory High School in Arizona where he was the girls’ soccer coach and physical education teacher. During his tenure at Seton Catholic he won two Arizona high school state titles in 2006 and 2007, was named Arizona State Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2008, along with Region Coach of the Year 2007, 2008, and 2010. Casey was twice named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007.  Also while in Arizona, Casey was an assistant coach on the Chandler-Gilbert Community College staff for eight years with numerous national academic and soccer awards, along with a fourth place finish at the NJCAA Junior College National Tournament. He was an Arizona Olympic Development Staff coach for four years and helped run their YOP program. Casey coached youth soccer with the Gilbert Arsenal Soccer Club as well as coached for the WPSL Northern Arizona Cheetahs.

When Casey got to Nevada in 2010, he established an affiliation between Total Futbol Academy and an existing local club and formed Barcelona NorCal Soccer Club. As the Director of Coaching, Casey made trips to Barcelona’s famed academy in 2012 and 2013 to gain more knowledge of how they train and develop players for the highest levels. At Barcelona, Casey studied under the guidance of former Barca B and FC Barcelona Youth Academy Coach Jordi Vinyals. In 2014 Casey traveled to England and spent time studying at Manchester City’s academy to see how they worked at developing top youth soccer players. In 2014 Total Futbol Academy and Nevada Elite Football merged to become San Juan SC Nevada and Casey was hired as Director of Coaching.

“Casey brings a great wealth of coaching experience both on and off the field and will be a great addition to our club,” said Paul O Brien, Placer United Director of Soccer Operations. “He not only has a good insight into the outdoor game but also has a futsal background and knows first hand how that game fits into a club structure like Barcelona. That will be invaluable as Placer is always looking to continuously move our club forward. Keep an eye on the Placer website for news of the upcoming Placer United Futsal Program,” added O’Brien.

Casey played at the collegiate level at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Indiana Institute of Technology, and Arizona State University. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University in History. Casey brings over 15 years of coaching experience at the youth club, high school, ODP, national coaching schools, community college, semi-professional, and Division 1 college levels.

Career Highlights

  • USSF National A License
  • University of Nevada Women’s Head Coach (2010-2016)
  • Director San Juan Nevada (2014-2017)
  • Director of Barcelona Nor Cal (2010-2014)
  • Nationally Certified US Soccer Licensing Instructor
  • Arizona State ODP and YDP Staff
  • International Coaching Education, Barcelona, Spain (2012-2013) and Manchester, England (2014)
  • Program Director and Creator “Winter Futsal Program” Total Futbol Academy, Reno/Nevada and Barcelona NorCal Soccer Club (2011-2016)
  • Glazier Clinics Seminar Speaker, Topic “Why Futsal?” (2016)
  • NSCAA Futsal Diploma
  • NSCAA Special Topics “Futsal Mentor and Youth Coaching”

FULL RESUME

 

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