“I am honored to call myself a Dawg!  I have verbally committed to the University of Washington. UDub’s combined academic excellence and powerful approach to the game of soccer are everything I have ever hoped for as a student athlete.  It really fits me like a glove.  The campus is spectacular and since I don’t like heat, the famous rainy weather is just fine by me.

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ron for getting me where I am in this recruiting process.  His work was instrumental to my having the opportunity to attend this remarkable university. Thank you also to Bart and Gene for their coaching and for always believing in me.  I want to give a special shout-out to Ahmet who really taught me how to play soccer, view a bigger picture of the game and become a more well-rounded player. Thank you to my parents who have supported me through thick and thin around the game of soccer and I am grateful to my brothers and sister who have always been my cheerleaders. 

Words cannot capture how excited I am to go to UDub and I can’t wait until I get there.  Let the training begin!” — Isa Castro

“I am honored to say that I have committed to UC Davis. I am very excited to play soccer at the great Division 1 program that Davis has to offer. Not only does UCD offer a top soccer program, but many great academic opportunities that I cannot wait to explore. I have many people to thank throughout my life, first and foremost my parents and sister, without their continued support I would not be the player or person I am today. My parents took me to countless games and practices and gave me love and support whether win or lose. I would like to thank my coaches Jason Gantt and Paul O’Brien, who have helped make this possible for me, as well as offering the best coaching I could ask for. They pushed me to the next level and really helped me step up my game in the past 6 months. I thank my teammates who are like a second family to me. I love every single one of them. Playing against them for so many years and now finally joining them on the same side is truly amazing. I’m very grateful to play my last year of competitive soccer with these guys, and continue on to Davis!”

Go Aggies!

“I am so excited to announce that I am playing at Weber State University this fall. After visiting the campus and meeting the players and coaches, I knew it was a perfect fit for me. I am so grateful for everyone that has been influential on my soccer experience. I would first like to thank my parents for being at every single game, believing in me from the start, and supporting me in every decision I have made. I also want to thank my goalkeeper coaches, Simon Sheppard and Matt Bernard. To Simon, thank you for believing in me from the beginning and helping me fall in love with soccer all over again. To Matt, thank you for helping me improve so much technically this last year and enjoy getting better. I would also like to thank my coach Sarah Alderson for picking me up the very last day of tryouts and seeing my potential, as well as Ron Benjamin for being a crucial person in the recruiting process and for helping me out so much in my college search. Thank you to all my past coaches and all of my teammates over the years that have pushed me and become some of my best friends. I am so excited to take the next step and play collegiate soccer this upcoming fall and have my dream come true.

Go Wildcats!”

Sydney Pagador

“I am excited to announce that I have verbally committed to the University of New Mexico. It’s such a blessing that I get to play soccer at the school where my dad played football. After visiting the campus, I completely fell in love with everything the school has to offer, from the academics to the soccer program. The coaches, Kit Vela, Jorge Vela, and Krista Foo are wonderful people who I cannot wait to play for. I couldn’t have done it without the love and support from everyone throughout my years of playing for Placer United.  Thank you to my first coach, Lee Callow, who taught me the basics and fundamentals of the game; to Nathan Williams who built me as a player tactically and mentally; and lastly, to Ron Benjamin for the constructive criticism and pushing me to strive to do my best and made me the player I am today. I am blessed and thankful to have been so fortunate to play for Placer United since U10.  I am looking forward to finishing my last year with an amazing team and coach. I would like to thank my teammates, who aren’t just teammates, but are my best friends and life-long sisters. There are no other people I’d rather be spending practically every day with. They make me laugh and push me to work harder and become a better player. Lastly and most importantly, my thanks and gratitude to my parents who have done so much for me— taking me to countless games and practices and supporting me every step of the way. I am extremely excited to go to UNM and am looking forward to being a part of a great soccer program. I am committed to work hard and to strive for greatness each and every day! Go Lobos!” —Sydney Pagador

“I am so happy to announce that I have officially verbally committed to University of San Francisco! Ever since I was a young girl I have dreamed of being able to go to college and play soccer, and now I finally get my chance to do so! I am so thankful for everyone in my life who has helped me become the soccer player I am today. I first want to thank my parents. They have been my biggest supporters from the beginning and have sacrificed so much for me to be able to play the sport I love. I also want to thank my teammates who push me every day at practice to become a better player and are all truly my best friends. To Bart, who brought me on to the team when I first came to Placer and gave me a whole new prospective on the game and improved my tactical skills tremendously. I want to thank Ron for being so involved in the recruiting process. I am so excited to spend my last two years at Placer with him as my coach, making me the best player I can be. And finally I want to thank Todd DeCarlo who has been my coach for the past two years and without a doubt made me the player I am today. He is truly one of the best coaches I have ever had. He has improved my technical ability so much and the way he coaches and his love for the game helps me strive to become better every day. I am so excited to spend four amazing years living in San Francisco, playing soccer, and getting an amazing education! This commitment is just another step in my soccer career and has pushed me even harder to become better every day to lead me to the day that I become a Don!” — Izzie Leuken

“I am super excited to say that I have verbally committed to Cal State University, East Bay. After visiting the campus and meeting the coaches, Amy Gerace and assistant Zlatan Sahmanovic, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. I would like to thank all my coaches in the past for getting me were I am today, but a special thank you to Ron Benjamin for pushing me in practice and games and also helping me gain the ability I need for the next level. I am looking forward to playing collegiate soccer as a Pioneer and furthering my education. Lastly, I would like to thank my Mom and Dad for making my soccer career possible and always being my number one support system.

Go Pioneers!” — Savannah Schultz

Corban Anderson

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to play soccer at the University of Washington. It is very humbling to have accomplished this goal of playing at a top ranked, Division 1 soccer program. Apart from the soccer, UW offers a top International Business program, a great location in the heart of Seattle, and a contagious, PAC-12 campus culture. I owe a big thanks to my coaches at Placer United: my Dad, Kelcey Chaidez, Paul O’Brien and Jason Gantt. I would not be near the player I am without my years at Placer United and the exposure our Club gave to me at events, specifically Surf Cup, where I was first noticed by my future coaches at UW, Jaime Clark and Jeff Rowland. Also, thanks to my teammates. You guys are brothers to me and I couldn’t imagine playing and growing up with anyone else. Most of all, I want to thank my family for supporting me and inspiring me to not only be the best player I can be, but also for encouraging me to continue to develop as a person. I’m very excited to pursue greater things in my last years in black and gold at Placer United and my future years in purple and gold at the University of Washington. Go Placer United! And go Huskies!” — Corban Anderson

Maggie Bell

“I am super excited to announce that I officially verbally committed to UC Berkeley. I have grown up going to Cal football games my entire life so this really is a dream come true. For me, Berkeley has the whole package; allowing me to receive an amazing education as well as play soccer in the Pac-12 conference. I am beyond excited to get the opportunity to play under Coach Neil McGuire and the rest of his staff at Cal and work to take my game to the next level. I would like to thank my family for continually supporting me through my entire youth soccer career and especially my parents for driving me to countless games and tournaments over the years. Thank you to my teammates for brightening my day every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and constantly making practice the best part of my day.  I would also like to thank all my coaches at Placer beginning at U-9s with James Boyle for starting off my crazy Placer experience, Lee Callow for showing me the fun of the game. To John Chimienti for helping me develop my skills and get me on track to become the player I am today. To Bart Morefield for really improving my tactical awareness on the field. To Ron Benjamin for helping me throughout my entire experience here at Placer. And lastly my coach of the last 2 years, Todd Decarlo for striving to help me become the best player I can be and helping me with my college decision. Placer really has been an amazing club that I am honored to have played for and represent out on the field. I can’t wait to finish out my last two years with my team wearing Black and Gold. Go bears!” — Maggie Bell