Emily Talmi, U16 00 Gold, Commits to Cal Poly

 

College Bound_Emily Talmi_2015

“I am super excited to announce that I have committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to continue to play the sport I love and to attend an amazing school.  As soon as I stepped foot on the campus and walked around the town, I knew this was a special place. Working with Coach Crozier, Coach Smith, and Coach Silva made the decision an easy one.  Coach Silva always took my many phone calls and answered all my questions and made the decision to say ‘yes’ an easy one.

This would not have been possible without all the people that have played a role in my life. First, thanks to all my coaches for helping me get this far – my first coach at U6, Mr. Nimtz, my first comp coach, Ron Sanchez, my first Placer coach, Lee ‘Wembly’ Callow, and Coach Scammacca.  A special thanks to Coach Ron Benjamin for not only pushing me beyond my limits, but also for being there by my side throughout the college recruiting process.  Of course, the biggest thanks goes to my family –  My sisters for always being there; my mom, for driving me everywhere and loving me no matter what and for always being positive in her feedback; and my dad for being my advisor, my secretary, and my friend. He has played a major part in my decision making process, spent countless hours helping me create emails and highlight videos, and gave me the confidence for my first college coach call.  He has always offered the best advice and driven me to be the best player and person possible.

Being able to attend Cal Poly and play soccer at the division one level is a dream come true. I’m definitely going to enjoy the remaining three years of high school, but look forward to the next chapter in my life.” —Emily Talmi

Abena Aidoo, U16G 00 Gold, Gets Called Up to the U17 Ghanaian National Team Camp

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Abena Aidoo, midfielder, Placer United U16G 00 Gold

Abena Aidoo of Placer United’s U16 Girls 00 Gold team, was called up to the U17 Women’s Ghanaian National Team Camp as they prepare for the 2016 U17 World Cup qualifying matches in January. Placer United reached out to a Northern California Ghanaian representative so coaches could take a look at Abena and make a decision on bringing her to camp. The camp will take place in Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an estimated urban population of 2.27 million, from October 11-20.

“I am beyond blessed and grateful for this opportunity to represent my home country.” said Aidoo.

Aidoo is a 4.0 GPA sophomore student-athlete at James C. Enochs High School in Modesto. She drives three times a week to Rocklin for soccer training with Placer United.

Soccer Highlights

  • Named to the Top 18 All-Star Team this past January at the Region IV ODP Championships in Arizona.
  • Competed at the 2015 Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) camp in Linfield, Oregon, and was selected to play with Region IV this November at the Inter-Regional Competition in Boca Raton, Florida.
  • Selected as a First Team All-League Player as a freshman playing on the varsity squad for Enochs High School.
  • Member of the Placer United U16 Gold team which won the
    2014 National Premier League (NPL) Champions League championship. The team also represented Northern California at the NPL Finals this past July in Westfield, Indiana.

“We are very proud of Abena and her latest call up into the Ghanaian National Team camp,” said Ron Benjamin, U16 girls coach at Placer United  “She has the work rate, desire and capabilities to play at the next level. This will be a great experience for her and we wish her the best of luck.”

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Abena Aidoo prepares to take a shot on goal at the soccerloco Surf Cup tournament in San Diego in 2015

Placer Boys Shine in Davis

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U12B 04 Gold – 2015 Davis Premier Cup Champions

Congratulations to the U12B 04 Gold and U13B 03 Gold teams who both took home first place at the Davis Premier Cup tournament held at the DYSL complex this past weekend. The U12 boys scored a grand total of nineteen goals in four games on the way to securing their second Davis Championship series trophy of the year.

U13B 03 Gold - 2015 Davis Premier Cup Champions

U13B 03 Gold – 2015 Davis Premier Cup Champions

The U13 boys erased their early summer final disappointment at Davis by beating the Ethos Earthquakes in the Premier Cup final on PKs in a very lively and competitive game

Congratulations to both teams! Go Placer!

Kennedy Christie 98 Gold Commits to Azusa Pacific University

College Bound_Kennedy Christie_2015

“I am very excited to share that I will be playing for Azusa Pacific University on the women’s soccer team next fall in 2016! Many of my coaches and teammates through the years have impacted the way I play and the player I am on the field. Nick Perjanik always encouraged me to take on defenders and get “hungry for a goal”. Mark Broers and Coach Frank have coached me through my high school seasons at Granite Bay High School and made me love the game even more. Coach Todd, Coach Ron, and Coach Katie have been my coaches while playing for Placer and I cannot express how thankful I am for all three of them as they made me a well-rounded player. My soccer IQ, foot skills and much more have improved tremendously while playing for these coaches. My parents have been huge supporters through the years that I have played soccer. Even through early morning games and soccer tournament chaos, they have been 100% on my side and pushing me to be better. My brother, Konner, has encouraged me through the years to always be confident in my abilities. He has many qualities that I aspire to be more like every day and following in his footsteps of going to a Christian college is very exciting to me! There is ultimately one reason why I play the game and who I should thank for being where I am. God has opened numerous doors for me within the past couple of years and soccer is just one many. I am ecstatic for next fall and to get to know the APU family; growing in Christ with my teammates, coaches, and trainers was my number one priority when choosing where I will attend and I am very confident in that I have found the perfect place for this at APU.” — Kennedy Christie

Abbie Faingold, Granddaughter of a Holocaust Survivor, Reflects on Playing in European Maccabi Games in Berlin

by John Wykoff

Polish Jew Leon Faingold was a Holocaust survivor. The native of Poland was among the few to survive the infamous Auschwitz network of concentration camps where at least 1.1 million people were killed by the Nazis during World War II. 90 percent of them were Jewish.

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Portland State University Goalkeeper, Abbie Faingold

So, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Abbie Faingold‘s recent trip to Berlin to participate in the 2015 European Maccabi Games, had a special meaning. The Maccabi Games bring together Jewish athletes from Europe, the U.S. and Mexico for a wide range of sporting contests, from soccer to horseback riding to chess.

As you’ve probably guessed, Leon Faingold was Abbie Faingold‘s paternal grandfather, who immigrated to the United States after the war.

The 2015 European Maccabi Games soccer matches were held in the 110,000-seat Olympic Stadium, the largest stadium in the world when built by Adolph Hitler to showcase the new Nazi Germany during the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin.

And the Nazis didn’t allow German Jews to participate on their Olympic team even though several were among top world contenders.

“We played in the Olympic Stadium built by Hitler. Having 2,000 Jewish athletes in the stadium Hitler built shows how we’ve grown in 80 years, how tough we are, that we’re not going away,” said Faingold.

She found the experience somber at first, thinking about the discrimination, she said. “However, being there with 2,000 Jewish athletes was very eye opening and made me excited for the games to begin. It gave me chills thinking that here we all are, walking into a stadium which we would’ve been forbidden to be in 80 years ago,” she said.

“Not only did I want to compete for myself and country, but I also wanted to dedicate my wins to my grandfather who had to endure Auschwitz through the duration of the war and was denied his childhood,” Faingold added.

There also were tours of Berlin, which included buildings damaged during the war but still standing…”and there’s still a big difference between East and West Berlin” with West Berlin appearing much more prosperous, she said.

For all that, Faingold’s biggest takeaway from this experience was the friendships she developed. Most of the American women soccer players selected for these Maccabi Games play on Division I or Division II soccer teams. In fact, she’s played against a couple of them in pre-season matches this year.

“We got to know each other and have become close friends. We’ve stayed in touch since we got back and our goal is to play in the Israel Maccabi games in two years (there are European, Pan American and Israeli Maccabi Games). We’ll see. The selection is a little stricter for that one, but that’s our goal,” said Faingold.

In terms of soccer, she said the matches weren’t terribly competitive because it was the American team, with a much larger pool from which to choose, against national teams from Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.

Still, she thought it helped her soccer.

“We had different coaches so we got comments on our playing from different points of view. I had to learn to be more comfortable in a new environment and be more vocal, more of a leader, in telling girls what I needed from them. You learn to adjust quickly and seeing how other countries play is useful.”

Overall, said Faingold, “I think everyone felt proud to be walking into the Olympic Park and thinking, ‘we are still here’. We all wanted to do our best and bring home a gold for America (which they did with a 2-0 win over Sweden).

And, regardless of whether or not Faingold gets into more Maccabi Games, she’s confident she won’t soon forget these games. “It was an experience that will be with me the rest of my life.”

Five Placer United Players Selected for 2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Thanksgiving Inter-Regionals

After the summer ODP Sub-Regional event and Regional Camp at Linfield College in Oregon, five Placer United players were selected for the 2015 US Youth Soccer ODP Thanksgiving Inter-Regionals. The top players from around the country will gather in Boca Raton, Florida on the 21st of November. There will be scouts in attendance from US Soccer and a number of college coaches. The following players will represent Region IV from Placer United:

  • 98 – Maggie Bell
  • 99 – Nicolette Lewis
  • 00 – Abena Aidoo
  • 00 – Emily Talmi
  • 00 – Sydney Schultz (alt)

Congrats girls! Well deserved!

Cameron Douglas Commits to UCLA

College Bound_Cameron Douglas_2015

“I am so excited to share that I have committed to UCLA, the #1 ranked team in the country. The minute I stepped on the campus and met with the players, the coaching staff and Coach Salcedo, I felt at home and knew it was the right place for me. I wanted to play for a school that competes every year for a national championship, that has awesome academics and can help me become a professional keeper. At UCLA, the competitive environment everyday at practice with top notch players from all over the world and everyone fighting for a starting position will help me achieve that goal. They have an incredible track record of producing MLS players and I know I can help them win another championship. I can’t thank my coaches at Placer United enough for all that they have done for me, especially Paul O’Brien. He knew my goals and would push me everyday to be the best I could be. Even playing for the San Jose Earthquakes and now for the Sacramento Republic FC Academy, Paul has been instrumental in my development and continues to take an interest in my growth, and I appreciate that so much! I also want to thank Gene DeChateau and Matt Bernard for helping develop my goalkeeping skills and for helping take my game to the next level! I can’t wait to play for UCLA! Go Bruins!” — Cameron Douglas

Placer United Hosts Juniors Cup While Securing First Place in Six Brackets

by Steven Wilson, Press Tribune Sports Editor

August, 2015—The host teams were celebrating left and right at Placer United’s Juniors Cup hosted at Del Oro High School Aug. 8-9 as nearly all of their teams brought home hardware.

Out of the eight age groups, ranging from U8-U11 for both boys and girls, Placer United won every bracket except the two U8 competitions. The U9 girls final even included both the Placer United Gold and Black teams — a matchup that the Gold squad won 3-2 in a back-and-forth final.

Among the star teams for Roseville’s closest competitive soccer teams were the U10 Boys Gold, who erupted for five goals in the second half after going into halftime of the final deadlocked in a 1-1 tie with Santa Rosa United Boca. Placer United’s team scored three times in the opening ten minutes of the second stanza and coasted to a 6-1 victory to claim the championship.

The team’s coach, Chris Hall, was complimentary of the progress his team made over the course of a weekend. Hall also noted that tournaments like the Juniors Cup can be the earliest exposures to competitive soccer for his team.

“Tournaments help with player development because (you play) a lot of games close together, so all of the players get a lot of playing time,” said Hall, who walked around and congratulated all of his players individually during the celebration.

In the time leading up to the tournament, which was sponsored by Adidas, Placer United worked to ensure a high quality of play by searching for opposing teams that push their players to improve and adapt.

“This tournament in particular is very competitive,” Hall proclaimed. “With just the top teams in the area, the level of competition is extremely high. “The players love it. All they want is to compete with the best teams.”

Placer United, as a club, must have been very pleased with how the weekend went, as their youth tournament drew teams from some of the best clubs in Sacramento, including Sac United, FC Elk Grove, and San Juan among others.

The stacked level of competitive provided for entertaining results.

“The players bond more when they have to work harder or play more games in a stressful tournament,” Hall explained. “In the long term you see the development of the team as a whole and of the individuals on the side of skills and tactics.”

These are exactly the results that Placer United was looking for before hosting a tournament strictly for their younger age groups, focusing on player development, but of course six first place trophies were a nice reward too.

Fun & Sun at the Placer Juniors Cup

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Placer United U9 Boys Silver Division Champs Celebrate their victory!

On a recent weekend at Del Oro High School, cries and sighs could be heard throughout the town of Loomis from parents and grandparents of U8-U11 boys and girls soccer players during the 2nd Annual Placer Juniors Cup. The spectators enjoyed watching their favorite players as they kicked, headed, tackled and blocked every ball, as well saved and scored every shot.

The tournament attracted almost 60 teams from Chico, Livermore, Modesto, Sacramento, and Santa Rosa and was kicked off in cool temperatures. But the intensity and heat increased with every game as teams battled to make semi finals and finals.

By championship time on Sunday, the thermometer read 99 degrees, but nobody cared as all eyes were on the new generation of Messi’s and Lloyd’s who were way too busy battling in their own U8-U11 world cup finals.

When the final whistle blew at the end of each championship game, the joy, ecstasy and relief on lots of faces, young and old, was priceless. During the trophy presentation, one coach brought even more smiles to his players’ faces when he announced he was taking his team straight to the ice cream parlor and putting “extra big sprinkles on each ice cream cone”.

A big thank you to all the teams that attended the Placer United tournament. We hope to see you all next year. Huge congratulations to all the teams that made it through to the finals and bigger congratulations to the teams that took home the silverware.

Great job everyone Go Placer!

Photo Gallery of champs and finalists.

Macey Moen of U18G 98 Gold Headed to CSU San Marcos

College Bound_Macey Moen_2015

“I am very excited to announce that I have verbally committed to CSU San Marcos! I cannot wait to continue to play the sport I love. I want to thank my parents for their unconditional love and support; without them I would not be where I am today. I’d also like to thank my brother, Austin, for all his guidance in soccer and life. You’re amazing. To my Placer family, a big thank you to all of my teammates who have become my lifelong sisters. Thank you all for pushing me to play to the best of my ability and for always being there on and off he field. To Bart Morefield, thank you for helping me to improve my tactical game and building my confidence. To Todd DeCarlo, a huge thank for introducing the college process to me and helping immensely in my communication with the college coaches; I couldn’t have done it without you Todd! To Ron Benjamin, under you, my game improved tremendously. I cannot thank you enough for your confidence in me and pushing me to be the best player I can be. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to play for you as I prepare for the college game. To Katie Burton, I am thankful to have you as my last coach at Placer United. I am confident you will help me and my Placer teammates prepare for the next level as we end one journey and prepare to begin another. Lastly, I am really looking forward to playing for coach Bobby Renneisen at CSU San Marcos. Coach Renneisen has already instilled confidence me and I can not wait to join my cougar teammates in their drive to be successful and have an immediate impact in joining the very challenging California Collegiate Athletic Association Conference.

Go Cougars!”

Macey Moen