“I am thrilled to announce that I have recently committed to Boston College!  Never in a million years did I think that by the end of my youth soccer career I would be given the opportunity to play at my dream school.  It still feels surreal!  This is by far the biggest accomplishment that I have ever experienced and I never would never have been able to do it without all of the support from my family, my coaches, and my teammates.

I can’t thank my family enough for the countless hours they have spent at the field cheering me and my teammates on.  Their love and support are invaluable and I will always treasure all the time and effort they put into making my youth soccer years the best they could be.  I would like to thank Gene DuChateau tremendously for developing me into the player I am and for making me fall even more in love with the sport.  I am forever grateful for all of the support he provided me throughout the three great years we spent together.  I would also like to thank Bart Morefield for the year he spent coaching us; his confidence in me pushed me to become a stronger and more dedicated player.  Also, a big thanks to Ron Benjamin for his dedication and passion for the game and to his players.  He has pushed me harder than any coach I have ever had and if it weren’t for him, my dream of having the opportunity to play at Boston College would not have come true.  He has made me realize that with hard work and determination, almost anything is possible.  Last but not least, I would like to thank all of my teammates for their support!  You are all such great friends and competitors, and I am so lucky to have gotten the chance to know and play with you.

Go Eagles!”

—Jena Keffer

“I am very excited to announce that I have verbally committed to the University of Nevada Las Vegas! After careful consideration I am very excited with my decision and know that it is the right fit for me academically and athletically.

I am very happy that my years of hard work have paid off and can thank my family tremendously for all the support and love. I would also like to thank my first competitive coaches for helping me develop as a strong player, Jon DeMartini and Jimmy Frazelle. I would like to thank Gene DuChateau for giving me confidence and support over the three great years with him. He was a big part in helping me become the player I am today. Also, a big thanks to Ron Benjamin who has been my “Jerry McGuire” the past couple of years and for having confidence in me as a player, as well as being a great coach.

I am so happy to be starting this new chapter of my life and cannot wait to be playing college soccer. I will miss my Placer girls so much, they are my second family and I could not have accomplished this without their support and friendship.”

Go Rebels!
Michaela Kelsey

“It brings me great pleasure to announce that I have verbally committed to play soccer for Menlo College.  After visiting Menlo’s campus and meeting the girls who play soccer there, I knew it was the right fit for me.  It is everything I could ever ask for in a college and more, and I know that I will be happy there not only athletically but academically as well.  There is honestly no greater feeling than to know that all of the hard work my family, coaches and I have put in is now paying off.

After starting my competitive soccer career from a recreational team back in sixth grade, I have developed immensely as a player due to the hard work and belief of various individuals.   I would like to first thank my very first competitive soccer coach, John Love, for recognizing my potential as a player and introducing me to the competitive soccer world.  You gave me the confidence to continue playing when I was a little fish in a huge sea of kids who had been playing at a much higher level than I had ever known possible and you always expressed your undying belief in my abilities and I can never thank you enough.  Secondly, I would like to thank Jamy McLaughlin for teaching me the importance of fitness to the game of soccer and that coaches love players that put effort in at practice.  I’d like to thank coaches Gene DuChateau and Bart Morefield for bringing me into the Placer United Soccer Club and for always being extremely relatable, positive and friendly.  You both developed my mental and technical game as you transitioned me from the outside of the field to the inside where you expected pound for pound toughness every game.  Finally, I have to thank coach Ron Benjamin.  Your constant pressure to send emails to college coaches and help with the whole college recruiting process has brought me to where I am now.  You are a wonderful resource when it comes to recruiting and an amazing coach.  My game has improved immensely with your constant pressure to work hard and get results and I know you will send me to Menlo ready for college level soccer.

In every year that I have played competitive soccer, my teams have been not only a great support system for me, but a family.  Every one of my teammates are sisters in my eyes and our bond on and off of the field is simply irreplaceable.

Finally, I would like to thank my family for always being so selfless and helping push me on in my pursuit of a college soccer career.  You all have given up so much for me to play soccer, whether it is taking time off of work to watch me play in a tournament and drive me everywhere, spending a Thanksgiving in a hotel room because I am playing in Surf Cup, doing a week’s worth of make-up school work because you were busy being a cheerleader on the sidelines of your sisters games over the weekend, or just being there to tell me everything will be all right when I had a bad game, every little thing has meant the world to me.  You have all put me first at some point in time when it came to soccer and sacrificed something for me to do what makes me happiest, so I want to thank you.  I love you so much for always believing in me and helping me even when it was not always convenient.  You are the reason I am here today, so thank you!

Let’s go Oaks!”

—Ashleigh Nelin

“I am very excited to announce that I have recently verbally committed to Westmont College. I chose this school because I felt it would be a great fit for me both academically and athletically. After the several times I had visited the school, I fell in love with its location, right in Santa Barbara. Also, I really loved the vibe and spirit of the school.

For as long as I have been playing competitive soccer, it has always been my dream to go on and play collegiate soccer. After seven years of soccer at Placer United, and all of my hard work and dedication, I now feel relieved and a sense of accomplishment that my hard work has paid off. I owe a huge thanks to Coach Kristi Kiely for believing in my soccer skills and giving me the opportunity to play for her team and be a part of her school.

I would also like to thank one of my former coaches, Gene DuChateau for always believing in me and always being there for me if I had any questions. Also, I’d like to thank Ron Benjamin for being such a great coach over the years. He has truly pushed me to be the player that I am today and he continues everyday on the field. A huge thank you to my previous coach, John Chimienti, who has played a huge part in helping me develop not only as a player, but also as a person. Although the years have been very tough, they have truly payed off.

Thank you to all my teammates for always being there for me and also for all the endless memories that we have had together. They will never be forgotten. You girls are truly my family. Most importantly, I’d like to give a huge thanks to my parents for sacrificing so much for me and always being there to keep my dreams alive. I don’t know what I’d do without your guys!

Go Warriors!”

—Kaleigh Landberg

“Playing competitive soccer for the majority of my life truly helped me to gain exposure and explore many universities across the country. I’m grateful to all of the instrumental coaches who worked with me to sharpen my skills and provide assistance throughout the entire college consideration process. Though I had many offers to play across the divisions, I decided not to commit solely from a soccer standpoint. Ultimately, soccer aside, I knew in my heart that the University of Notre Dame was the college meant for me, and that I would have to excel both in the classroom and on the field during my high school experience.

When my acceptance letter came, I realized I would be attending a school with a strong sense of tradition, spirit, values, and a focus on the shaping of the entire individual. At ND, I plan to major in Preprofessional Studies in Medicine and minor in either African American Studies or Psychology, and later go on to attend medical school! I’m looking forward to joining my Notre Dame Fighting Irish family, but will never forget my soccer family. While I’m not going to ND as a soccer recruit, I’m extremely proud to say that I gained admission based on my academic merit, and I’m excited to explore my athleticism through new avenues. Thanks to everyone who has supported my efforts throughout my academic and soccer careers and in all of my endeavors!

GO IRISH Class of 2016!”
—Aliska Berry

“I am very thrilled to announce that I have recently verbally committed to Sacramento State University.  The moment I stepped on campus I just felt at home.  I am so excited to play for coaches Randy, Mary, and Jenny, and I’m really looking forward to getting my degree in kinesiology there.  I would like to thank Coach Randy Dedini and Assistant Coach Mary Trigg for giving me an amazing scholarship opportunity to play Division 1 soccer with them.  It’s all I have ever wanted.

I would like to thank Ron Benjamin for everything he does for my teammates and me.  He is truly an amazing coach and an amazing person.  Thank you for everything Ron.  I don’t know where I would be without you.

I would also like to thank my former coach, Nathan Williams, for all that he did for me, including all of the support he still gives to me. He is always there to cheer me up when I am down, even from a thousand miles away.  Lee Callow for putting me in goal for my very first time ever when I was nine years old at the Sacramento State 6v6 (It was meant to be!).  My goalkeeper trainers, Gene DuChateau, Matt Scammaca, and Simon Sheppard, for making me a technically sound goalkeeper.  I want to thank all of the above coaches for having confidence in me, for maintaining high expectations of me, and for making me work so hard in every training session to get what I wanted.  Without all of them, I wouldn’t be the goalkeeper I am today.  Thank you so much to all of you.

I want to thank my teammates as well! Not only are we teammates, we’re sisters. We are a family. Thank you for all of the support that you guys have given me and for all of the confidence you have helped me build in myself. I cannot wait to play two more wonderful and successful seasons with you. I love you!

The biggest thank you I have is to the people who mean the absolute world to me, my mom and dad.  Without their sacrifices none of this would have happened.  They have turned my dream into a reality.  I love you guys!

Go Hornets!”

—Destiny Butcher

“I am very excited to announce that I recently verbally committed to California State University Sacramento. I chose this school because I feel it is a good fit for me both academically and athletically. After visiting the campus, I was very impressed with the athletic facilities available to student-athletes.

Soccer has always been my outlet and I cannot imagine living my life without it. It has always been a dream of mine to play soccer collegiately at the Division 1 level. After 13 years of hard work and dedication on the soccer field, I feel a sense of accomplishment that my hard work has finally paid off. I am very grateful for the amazing scholarship opportunity that has been extended to me. I am determined to continue to strive to do my best both academically and athletically. I owe a huge thanks to Coach Randy Dedini for giving me this amazing opportunity. I am very excited to play soccer for Coach Dedini and the Hornets.

I would like to thank my former coach, Todd DeCarlo, for all of the support and guidance he has given me and my family in helping me make my decision to attend CSUS. I appreciate Coach Todd not only for believing in me as a player, but also believing in our team and supporting us when we needed it the most. I would also like to thank Ron Benjamin for supporting me during this process and during my past 4 seasons at Placer United. Your commitment to the Placer United family is truly appreciated. A huge thank you goes out to my previous coaches, Kim and Lonnee Richardson and John Chimienti who have all played a huge part in helping me develop not only as a player, but also as a person.

Thank you to my teammates for the endless laughs and memories we continue to make – you girls are truly my family. Most importantly, I would like to thank the people who mean the most to me, my parents. My parents have sacrificed so much for me and have always supported me and pushed me to dream big. Thank you Mom and Dad for always believing in me, no matter what I set my mind out to do. Without you two, none of this would have ever been possible.

Go Hornets!”

—Bianca Tabuso