“I am pleased to announce that I have committed to Case Western Reserve University, a NCAA Division III school in Cleveland, Ohio.  I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level under Coach Tiffany Crooks and further develop as a player. I never imagined I would be capable of playing in college while pursuing a nursing degree so this is a dream come true!

It has been an honor to have played for Placer United the last five years.  I remember how ecstatic I was when Todd DeCarlo called me for his team. During my experience at Placer, my skill and knowledge of the game has increased exponentially.  I persevered every year continuing to learn and refine my technique on the ball. As well, I have developed not only as a player but also as a leader. While serving as captain for the past four consecutive years I have reveled in the spirit of teambuilding and bonding with my teammates. Through soccer I have learned the importance of teamwork, organization, dedication, and leadership. Soccer has been a great teacher to me and I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to play the game I love at this level. I especially would like to acknowledge and thank my coaches Todd DeCarlo and Crystal Chaidez for guiding and teaching me through soccer, pushing me to my limits and encouraging me to never give up. I would also like to personally thank my family for being my #1 fans and supporting me in all my endeavors.  A huge thanks to my teammates for making my years at Placer so memorable and absolutely amazing! I love you all so much and I know our friendships will last a lifetime! I have had the time of my life at Placer and feel it has more than prepared me for the next level which I look forward with Coach Tiff and my future teammates at Case!

I cannot wait to start this next chapter in my life. All of my dreams are coming true and I could not have done it without the help of my coaches, family, friends and teammates.  Go Spartans!”

—Mallory Erl

Tara Armstrong

“I am beyond excited that I verbally committed to Texas Lutheran University to play for them this upcoming fall. I have been looking forward to this day for a really long time. As most of the girls in this club, I have now played soccer for over fourteen years. It has been my goal to play for a college soccer team and that dream is now coming true. I couldn’t imagine my life without soccer. It has developed me as a person and allowed me to make long-lasting friendships.

Up until I was nine years old, I played at a recreational soccer level. On a whim, I decided to try out for Placer United. My hopes were high, but my expectations were low. Somehow, however, I made the team. Coming in, I thought I would play as forward and just run with the ball as fast as I could. Cory Clonce had a different plan for me. He switched me to sweeper, thus starting my career as a defender. Ever since, I have absolutely loved playing defense. Now, I am so happy Coach Schaffer recognized me as a solid defensive player and has given me the opportunity to play for his team. I give special thanks to the Placer United Soccer Club for developing me and pushing me as a player. Along my journey in club soccer, I thank my coaches: Cory Clonce, Todd DeCarlo, and Crystal Howard for their time and efforts they have sacrificed to allow their athletes to grow. They have believed in my ability and taught me so much. To my mom, my dad, and my sister: it will be very hard looking at the sidelines and not seeing you there. You are my biggest fans, and I am forever grateful of your commitment to my soccer career.

I am ready to embark on my journey, and begin my next four years. I look forward to calling Texas my future “home” and being able to call myself a Bulldog.

—Tara Armstrong

Molly McConnell

“I’m very excited and honored to announce my commitment to play soccer for Sierra College next year.  Jason Gantt has developed one of the most successful women’s soccer programs in this area. I followed their success last year and I’m thrilled to be a part of the team.  I’ve been a goal keeper with Placer United for the past 6 years and it is hard to believe my youth soccer career is coming to an end.

I would like to thank my Mom who has supported my sports activities all these years. She has been a constant cheerleader, chauffeur and advocate for me.

Next I would like to thank the entire Placer United coaching staff, but mostly Todd DeCarlo and Crystal Chaidez. Todd pushed me to the next level of goal keeping and is still a mentor to me today. Crystal taught me the importance of leadership and being a voice on the field. I’d also like to thank the goal keeping staff, Gene DuChateau and Matt Scammacca, who helped me to learn the technical side of my position.

Finally I want to acknowledge all of my teammates over the years. The great times we’ve had travelling, training, winning and losing have helped me become the person and player I am today. I can’t wait to take my soccer to the collegiate level!”

—Molly McConnell

Kristen Grattan

“I am proud to announce that I have verbally committed to Sierra College! Staying at home with just my Mom and Dad will be a nice change since I can finally be an “only child”. And being so close, they will be able to attend my home games.  Sierra College will be a nice transition before attending a University. At Sierra, I can get much of my general education classes out of the way while at the same time, focus on what I would like to pursue as a career path. Moreover, playing under Coach Jason Gannt will be a huge opportunity for me to improve my skills and level of play.

I would like to thank my coaches throughout my years at Placer United, my teammates and of course, my supportive family. I would like to give special thanks to my past coaches, John Chimienti, Katie Dempsey, Todd DeCarlo and my former coach now, Crystal Chaidez. I honestly don’t know where I would be today if it weren’t for them. They pushed me beyond my limits and told me “You can” when I said, “I can’t”.  To my teammates these past few years, thank you so much for your friendship and support. Pushing me in practice and motivating me before games, I couldn’t have asked for better friends. I will always remember the laughs, the tears during Crystal’s fitness, and the late night talks in hotel rooms. We will always share that special bond that few teams will understand.  Lastly, I would like to give specials thanks to my family. Thanks to my sister Marisa and bother Daniel for training with me and pushing me in those hot summer days we spent together. Thanks Mom and Dad for always being so supportive (emotionally and financially), being my number one fans and always believing in me.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me get to where I am today; I love you all! Go Wolverines! ”

—Kristen Grattan

Marissa “Mo” Vaughan

“I would like to say that I am so very grateful and honored to become apart of the soccer program at Sierra College. I have been with Placer United for the past nine years and its unbelievable that I’m coming to the end of my senior year. My journey with Placer has been one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m thankful for all of the things that I have been so lucky enough to experience with this Club.

First I would like to thank my mom, dad, brothers, aunt, gramma and papa. You have all been so supportive of me throughout my life and I am so blessed to call you my family. I thank you for everything you have done for me during all of my years with Placer.

Second, I would like to thank all of my teammates. Each and every one of them has a completely different type of personality and they continue to surprise me at every practice. Ashley O’Conner, thank you for being my very best friend. I’ve been very lucky to have shared the past nine years of Placer United with you. I love you all!

I would also like to thank all of my coaches for encouraging me to be a better player each and every day. I would especially like to thank Cory Clonce, Todd DeCarlo and of course, Ron Benjamin, for being the best, most inspiring coaches that I have ever known and I thank you for all that you’ve done for me.

I am so excited to play soccer at Sierra! Good luck to all my teammates in the future!”

— Mo

Jessica Hinsken

“I am excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Dominican University of California! I am beyond grateful for the amazing opportunity to play D2 soccer while receiving a great education. I would not be where I am today with out the amazing support from my family, friends, coaches, and teammates.

I would like to thank my coaches Crystal Chaidez, Todd Decarlo, and Ron Benjamin. Thank you all for pushing me to do my best and never giving up on me! Thank you to my older sister Tasha, for always being my number one fan, and my older brother Alex, for making sure I always put in the work I needed to. I would also like to thank my second family Ali, Kurt and Steph for always being so supportive in everything I do! Lastly, I would like to thank my mom for being my best friend, always believing in me and making my dream come true.

To my team… thank you for an amazing final season of youth soccer and I will never ever forget all the crazy, outrageous, memories that we have had together. I hope all of you do amazing in the next part of your lives!”

—Jessica Hinsken

Brittney Neumann

“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to Bethany University in Kansas. After talking to the coach and looking into the school’s academics, I am positive this is the school for me. I never saw myself moving away from Cali but the best things in life are unexpected.

I couldn’t have done it without the help of my club, coaches, teammates, my dad and my grandpa. I have been playing for Placer for four years now and I can honestly say I do not know what I would have done without this club. I never had much confidence in my skill and thought collegiate soccer was a long shot. But with the help of the amazing coaches at Placer, my life dream has become a reality.

I want to give a special thanks to my coach Crystal Chaidez. I could not have done this without her. I feel that everyone has that one person in their life who has such an immense impact and gives you the strength to fight for what you want and that’s exactly what Crystal has done for me. I had very little faith in my playing ability until Crystal taught me differently. Whenever I made a mistake she would point it out but tell me how to fix it in a positive manner. She has showed so much faith in me not only as a player but also as a person which in return made me play harder and improve everything I did. Crystal taught me to never give up and train harder than you trained the day before. I am so lucky to be finishing my final year as a youth soccer player with her as my coach. Thank you Crystal! I couldn’t have done this without you.

Also, I want to thank my dad and grandpa for driving me all over Cali and flying me out to all of my tournaments. You guys have put just as much effort into all of this as I have and you always believed in me. Thank you.

I can’t forget about my team! I love these girls to death. This is my first year playing with these girls, but I have known them since I started playing for Placer. I have been through the best and worst times of my life with them and they have always been there for me. I look at all of them as my sisters. I am going to miss you all so much but I know we will always have that special bond. I love you guys.

Lastly a special thanks to Jamie Baker! She is on my team this year and it was actually her who got me started talking to this coach. She has also committed to Bethany so we not only will be playing together, but we are also roommates! I’m looking forward to the next four years with you Jimmy!!

Thank you for all who have supported and believed in me. I can’t wait to make you proud these next four years! Go Swedes!”

—Brittney Neumann

Maddi Dunn

“I’m excited to announce that I have just recently verbally committed to Colorado College. The idea of playing college soccer at a D1 level is surreal and I’m thankful for everyone in my life who has helped make this possible.

First, I would like to thank my big brother, Austin, for introducing me to the game of soccer and helping me become the player I am today. My brother stood as a role model for me and watching him succeed in his soccer career only further deepened my ambitions of one day playing soccer at the collegiate level.

I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates. Todd Decarlo, my first full season coach at Placer United, provided me with two awesome years of soccer in which I developed tremendously, all the while having a good time on the field. My current coach, Ron Benjamin, demanded so much hard work and effort out of me as well as the rest of the team. He truly pushed us to great limits, and I know he will continue to push us to work hard and excel. Ron’s work on the soccer field is as much appreciated as his work off the soccer field. Thank you for dedicating so much time to helping us with our college process. My goals would not have been achieved without you.

To my team..… I thank you for being the crazy awesome people that you are, and for giving me a season I know I won’t forget. I love you all and wish you well in your future endeavors.

The biggest thanks of all goes to my parents for the countless hours they’ve devoted to all my years of soccer and to years still to come. The amount of time and energy they’ve invested is more than I could ever ask out of them. Thank you guys for always being there and providing encouragement.”

— Maddi Dunn

Nick Schnable

I am excited to announce that I have verbally committed to C.S.U. Dominguez Hills. Dominguez is a soccer priority Division II school in a very strong conference with multiple soccer fields on campus including the Home Depot Center as home of the L.A. Galaxy. After taking a visit to Dominguez and training with their goal keeper coach, Mike Littman, I knew that the school was the right fit for me and that Coach Littman will challenge me to reach my full potential. I look forward to moving onto the next level of soccer, as it has been a dream that I had been working toward for many years. Over the last few years I have been striving to improve every day to be able to play college soccer at a high level, but I could not have reached my goal without the support of my family and coaches. I would like to thank the entire club of Placer United for giving me this opportunity, especially Jason Gantt, Danny Cruz, Kelcey Chaidez, Matt Scammacca, and Paul O’Brien. They have challenged me and taught me everything I need to know to move on to the next level. I would also like to thank my parents for supporting me through the whole process and making many sacrifices for my benefit.

Thank you,
Nick Schnable