Category Archives: College Bound

College Bound

Melissa Stoakley, Placer United White ’95, Commits to Dominican University

Melissa Stoakley

Melissa Stoakley

“I am very excited to announce that I have verbally committed to Dominican University of California! After careful consideration I am confident with my decision and know that it is the right fit for me academically and athletically. It is funny to reflect back to fourteen years ago when I was that player who sat in the middle of the field and cried after scoring her first goal, and now here I am taking my first steps toward being a collegiate women’s soccer player for a Division 2 school. Without the support from coaches, teammates, and family I would not be the player I am today.

I would like to thank Jimmy Frazelle who brought me into the competitive soccer world at 10 years old and showed me what it meant to be passionate about the game of soccer. Ron Benjamin has also supplied me with the materials I needed to get connected with college coaches and has been a huge supporter over the last four years. Additionally, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to my current coach, Crystal Chaidez, who I am truly grateful to play for and have built a personal relationship with over the last two years. As a coach and a former college soccer player, Crystal saw the potential I had to play in college that I never saw in myself and developed the confidence I needed to bring me to the next level. She has helped me grow as a player, a leader, and a person and that is something I will be forever grateful.

I have been fortunate enough to have 16 sisters (give or take a few) that have always been there to support me through the good and the bad times- my teammates. No matter where life takes us on our own individual journeys, I will forever cherish the memories I have made with these girls here at Placer United.

The biggest thank you I have is to the people who have and always will be my biggest fans, my family. Without their sacrifices none of this would have happened.  They have turned my dream into a reality, and I can’t wait to make them proud over the next four years!

Thank you all and Go Penguins!”

—Melissa Stoakley

College Bound

Anna Gregg, U16G Red, Commits to Colorado College

Anna Gregg

Anna Gregg

“I am excited to announce that I have recently committed to Colorado College. I never thought I would have the chance to play at such a high level and at such an outstanding academic institution. The feeling is amazing and I owe it all to my parents, teammates and my coach for cheering for me at games, competing with me at practices, and shaping me into the player I am today. I could not have done it without all of them.

My family has given me so much support over the years and I don’t know where I would be without them. Through the countless games in the rain, the dreaded heat, and even on Thanksgiving, they supported me and I cannot thank them enough. I would like to thank my teammates for challenging me and pushing me to the next level. Even though I have only been on the team for about two years, they are like my family and I will never forget them and how they have helped me get to where I am today. Lastly, I’d like to thank Ron Benjamin for giving me this opportunity to play at this level. Ron has been one of the most critical and dedicated coaches I have ever had. He has pushed me to the limit and it has finally paid off. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to live my soccer dream at Colorado College.”

— Anna

College Bound, News

Placer ’93 Alumni, Erika Garcia, Named to All-NSCAA Regional Team

Erika Garcia, of the Harvard women’s soccer team, continues to receive postseason awards after she was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Mid-Atlantic Region third team recently.

Garcia has played in every game since she has joined the Crimson and has recorded two goals and five points. The Carson City, Nevada native started all 17 games on defense this fall and helped the Crimson post seven shutouts and hold its opponents to 1.35 goals per game.

Erika was also honored with All-Ivy League recognition this November. She helped the Crimson to a 9-5-3 overall record and a 3-3-1 Ivy League mark in the 2012 season.

Congrats!

College Bound, News

Sierra College Reaches Final Four & Two Alumni Named All-Conference

The Sierra College Women’s Soccer team reached the California CCC Final Four Championship. Their semi-final match will be held this coming Friday at Mt. Sac in Los Angeles. Placer United’s Jason Gantt is head coach and Crystal Chaidez is the assistant coach.

In addition to reaching the Final Four, two Placer United alumni have been named to the All-Conference team. Receiving the CCC Big 8 First Team All Conference awards were Marissa Griffin and Mackenzie Edwards. Griffin played on the Placer United ’94 Gold team and Edwards played on the Placer ’93 Gold team. Both played fantastic seasons for Sierra. Edwards received the added honor of being named the CCC Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year.

Congratulations to the Placer United alumni and the Sierra College Women’s team!

College Bound, News

Placer Alumni Gollnick and Mitnick Named PacWest Players of the Week

Lauren Gollnick     

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Dominican University of California men’s and women’s soccer players collected weekly Pacific West Conference honors. Freshman LaurenGollnick has been named the women’s Player of the Week while sophomore Kolby Mitnick has been named the men’s Player of the Week.

Gollnick, who earns the honor for the second time this season, led the Lady Penguins to a 1-0-1 week in Hawaii by totaling seven points on three goals and an assist. The Meadow Vista, California native and former Placer United player, scored her third game-winning goal and added an assist in a three-point effort in 3-0 win at Chaminade University on October 26. She also scored both goals and finished with four points in a 2-2 double-overtime tie at Hawaii Pacific University on October 28. In PacWest play, Gollnick is fourth in points and tied for third in assists.

Kolby Mitnick

Mitnick earned the honor on the men’s side after he totaled seven points during a 1-0-1 week for the Penguins. The former Placer United  and Newcastle native scored two goals and added an assist in a 5-2 win at Chaminade University on October 26, finishing the game with five points. He was credited with the game-winner, his team-leading fourth of the season, and helped rally the Penguins from an early 2-0 deficit by scoring goals in the 33rd and 60th minutes.

Mitnick also led the Penguins to a comeback tie at Hawaii Pacific University on October 28 by scoring the game-tying goal in the 61st minute to forge a 2-2 double-overtime draw. Like the Chaminade contest, the Penguins trailed 2-0 but rallied to pick up a point in the standings.

Lauren Gollnick

Kolby Mitnick

College Bound, News

Placer United Alumni Pick Up College Awards

Ryan Hollingshead, UCLA – Pac-12 Player of the Year

The Granite Bay native and former Placer United Player is the fifth UCLA player to earn Conference Player of the Year honors. Hollingshead joins fellow Bruins Matt Taylor (2003), Patrick Ianni (2004), Michael Stephens (2008) and last year’s winner Kelyn Rowe (2011) to win this award. Hollingshead was a second-team all-conference honoree in 2011 and earned honorable mention honors in 2010. The senior midfielder tallied 20 points this season with six goals and five assists. Hollingshead is second on the team in both goals and assists. He leads the Bruins to their 40th all-time NCAA tournament appearance earning the No. 6 seed and a first-round bye.

 

Seth Casiple, Cal Berkeley – Named to All Pac-12 2nd Team of the Year

Seth Casiple, Rocklin High School and Placer United alum, had another outstanding year for Cal and was named to the 2012 Pac-12 second team of the year. Seth adds this award to his Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award for 2011 and All Pac-12 2011 Honorable Mention as well as the Soccer America All-Freshman 2011 Team and College Soccer News All-Freshman Second 2011 Team.

 

Casey Bernard, CSUS – Named to Big West Conference Team of the Year

Casey Bernard was the rock of the Sacramento State defense. The former Placer United senior from Roseville started all 13 games he appeared in and played 1,183 minutes in the season.

College Bound, News

Former Placer United Player, Lauren Gollnick, Named 2012 Pacific West Conference Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year

November 11, 2012

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Lauren Gollnick, Dominican University, has been named the 2012 Pacific West Conference Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year. In addition, Gollnick was named to the All-PacWest First Team as a forward. Senior forward Julianna Bratsberg and junior goalkeeper Megan Herringboth earned Second Team honors while sophomore midfielder Mckenna Kimball earned an honorable mention. The awards were announced live on air during Thursday’s PacWest Radio Show by Conference Sports Information Director Tom Di Camillo.  Read More

College Bound, News

Placer United’s Niko Hansen Comes Up Huge in High School Division 1 Final

The High School soccer final everybody has waited years to see, Jesuit versus Granite Bay, was just the platform Placer United dazzling senior midfielder, Niko Hansen, needed as he scored three of his team’s five goals to help Jesuit High School win its10th D-I section championship and third in four years. It was also Niko’s 2nd hat trick in two games as he led the team in scoring with 35 goals for the season.

Hansen, the Delta River League Player-of-the-Year has also verbally committed to New Mexico, who is currently ranked 13th in the Nation heading into the NCAA Division 1 Playoffs.

Click HERE to read more.