“It is a privilege to sign for the Academy of Art University and to become a part of the soccer team next year. It’s location in the middle of San Francisco makes me so excited, as it is one of the most diverse, interesting cities in the world. I hope to pursue a degree in advertising, a subject that the school specializes in. I am thrilled to not only be a student at this terrific university, but an athlete as well. I have something to thank all my coaches for throughout my life, whether it be technical or mental, they have been extremely influential. However, I owe the majority of my success to my mum, for the time she has put in to keeping me in check and allowing me to be successful. Go Knights!” —Alex Walsh

Kayleen Cendana

“I am honored to be committing to Sonoma State University and their soccer program. Last year, I attended a Seawolves camp and knew it was a school I wanted to attend. With encouragement from my family and after visiting many other colleges in and out of state, it has become clear that I belong playing for Sonoma State. I am excited to play for Head Coach Emiria Salzmann Dunn and assistant coaches Crystal Howard Chaidez, Mark Dunn and Katie Turtle when I officially join the team in 2016. I will be studying Kinesiology in hopes of pursuing a career in athletic training or sports psychology after graduate school.

Thank you to my Placer United coaches: John Chimienti for first selecting me to play U11 at Placer, Bart Morefield for helping me realize my true potential,  Todd DeCarlo for dedicating so many hours to making me a better player and assisting with my recruiting process . Thanks as well to Director of Coaching and my Varsity Coach at Del Oro High School, Ron Benjamin. Ron truly goes above and beyond for Placer and his players and for that I am grateful. I look forward to two more amazing years with my teammates and best friends. They always push me to be my best and I am grateful to call them family. Finally, I cannot say “Thank you” enough to my parents and sister for supporting my love of the game and always being there. God is good!”

"I am very proud and honored to announce that I have verbally committed to the University of Nevada, Reno. I am looking forward to studying courses in preparation towards a Pharmaceutical degree, and playing soccer at the Division 1 collegiate level. After visiting the campus and spending time with the coaches and players, I realized that UNR is the perfect place for me to continue my studies. I would like to thank coaches Melissa Price, Kirk Nelson and Casey Tate for seeing something in me and  giving me the opportunity to be part of the Wolfpack and play for a great program. 

Although this is my first and last year at Placer United, I feel like I am a part of more than just a club, it’s a family unit that I will treasure forever. Thank you to my teammates for welcoming me to the Placer family and being the most dedicated, kind-hearted, and hard-working group of girls. I am so thankful to have such a great team and coach. I would like to also thank my new coach Ron Benjamin for always believing in me and working so hard for not only myself but for my teammates. He is always pushing us past the barriers and I’m very honored to be on his team.

Thank you to my past coaches Mike Smith for teaching me to be a tough and disciplined player, George & Traya Vallas for teaching me to be a smart and technical player, Mark Bowman & Matt Felt for making my high school soccer experience rewarding and memorable!  Lastly, I would like to thank Dominick DeRosa and my former Striker teammates for always seeing more in me and pushing me to become a player that I never thought I could become.

I also want to thank God foremost for without him I would not have been able to achieve what I set out to do. I would also like to thank my parents for always supporting my siblings and I. I’m so grateful for all their hard work and sacrifice to get me where I am today. Thank you to my siblings Royce, Natasha and Zaessja. They have been by my side through thick and thin, they are my role models and I’m so lucky to call them my best friends.

I can’t wait to start a new chapter in my life at the University of Nevada, Reno. I know my future is bright because I have God by my side. I wish all my teammates, past and present, bright futures and pomaika’i!  A Hui Hou!"

—Mei-Li Madamba

Matt Tarr

“I am very excited to announce I have committed to California State University, Chico, to play soccer and plan to enroll in their Mechatronic Engineering program. I am looking forward to working with Coach Felipe and taking my game to the next level.  I have had an amazing ride at Placer United, having played here since I was 8 years old. I’ve had ups and downs through all those years but having the opportunity to play in college has made it all worth it. I would like to thank three very important people in my life that have known me since I was a young child and have seen me grow into the young adult I am today. They have all helped me become a better soccer player and always pushed me to do better. Thank you to Paul O’Brien, Jason Gantt, and Kelcey Chaidez. You are all great coaches and I wouldn’t have made it where I am without your help.  I would also like to thank Matt McDougall.  Even though he only became my coach this year, he has played a large role in helping me through the college process.

Last, the biggest thanks go to my wonderful parents. Thank you mom and dad for your selfless love and the thousands of hours and dollars you have invested in me. I know that all you wanted was for me to be happy and play the game I love; getting to play college soccer is just the cherry on top.

Thank you to everybody who has helped me along this journey and if I forgot you I’m sorry, but you know who you are 🙂

Go Placer United and Go Wildcats!” — Matt Tarr

Dali Alarian

“I am extremely excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute! It is my dream school and has everything I want in a college and more. What really sold me on the school is that they are ranked as the fourth best engineering school in the world, and I am extremely passionate about becoming a biomedical engineer! When I found out that I would also be able to pursue my love for soccer there, I knew Rensselaer was where I wanted to go. I would like to thank my family for always being supportive of me and also my past coaches for helping me become the player I am today. I would especially like to thank Coach Ron Benjamin because without him, I would have never imagined even playing soccer in college. Also, a big thanks to Coach Paul O’Brien for helping me step up my game by practicing with his boys’ team. And last but not least, thank you to all my teammates, past and present, for pushing me to become a better player.” —Dali Alarian