The U16 Girls 99 Gold and the U18 Girls 98 Gold traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah this past weekend to play in the first college showcase of the year. There were a number of college coaches in attendance scouting the talent. The games were played at the beautifully manicured Quinn’s Soccer Complex.

The U16 Girls were thrown right into the fire against LaRoca Premier out of Utah. LaRoca is the #1 ranked team out of Utah and ended up winning the event. As the girls played a great game, they came up on the short end 2-0. In Game 2, the girls rebounded with a 1-0 win over Utah Celtic, ranked #4 in Utah. In Game 3, the girls avenged a 4-2 loss back in March at the Players Showcase in Las Vegas, with a 2-0 win over Downtown Las Vegas who is ranked as the #1 team in Nevada. In the 3rd/4th place game, the girls played the host, Utah Avalanche, ranked #3 in Utah.  The game was back and forth with both teams having a number of chances. The game ended in a draw and the girls came up on the short end in penalty kicks.

The U18 Girls started off the tournament in great fashion notching two wins right out of the gate. In Game 1, the girls had a convincing 3-0 win over the New Mexico Rush, the #2 ranked team in New Mexico. In Game 2, the girls continued their winning ways with a 2-1 win over Leahi from Hawaii. In Game 3, with a shot at reaching the championship game on the line, the girls played against Sparta Premier, the #1 ranked team in Utah.  They girls played a great game but came up a bit short in a 2-0 loss. In the 3rd/4th place game, the girls ran into a buzz saw with the #3 ranked team in Colorado, WAFC. The score line was not indicative of the game as WAFC finished their opportunities and won 3-0.

Congratulations to the girls on a great weekend of soccer and great collegiate exposure!

Placer United had an incredible weekend out in Davis at the Nor Cal Regional Championships. All five teams that qualified for the Regional Championships advanced to play on Sunday morning  in the semi-finals. Four out of the five teams were victorious in their semi’s and moved on to play in the finals later that day.

With all Nor Cal Regional finals kicking off at the same time, the Davis complex was flooded with Placer United families as they cheered on their teams in the 100+ degree weather.

On Field 8, the Placer U11 Boys, who had earlier beat out a very good Barcelona Academy team in the semi’s, took on another strong team from the Bay area and sealed the first Championship of the day by winning 1-0 in a hard fought game.

Meanwhile over on Field 2, the Placer U11 Girls were in a massive battle with the Barcelona Academy girls who were out to avenge their boy’s loss. The game was a really great game as both teams went at each other despite the high temperatures and the girls were extremely unlucky to lose out  2-1.

Back at field 7 the Placer U14 Girls who had earlier come from behind  to win their semi 2-1, didn’t waste any time in the final as they jumped out into the lead and never looked back as they picked up Championship trophy number 2 for Placer.

While the other teams were busy picking up their medals and cooling off in the shade. The Placer U12 Girls were involved in a PK shootout out on Field 4 against the trophy favorites, West Valley Premier. The girls nerves held strong in shootout as they won Placer’s 3rd Regional Championship of the day.

Congratulations to all five Placer United teams that qualified for Regionals.

What a great weekend for the club!

All 5 teams made the semi’s.
4 teams moved into the finals.
3 teams brought home the bacon.

Go Placer!

Five Placer United boys will travel to The Pacific Coast Invitational, an Olympic Development Program (ODP) Showcase, for the 2001 age group held over Memorial Day weekend. The tournament will serve as an official national identification event for U.S. Soccer and will be held  at the Ventura College Sportsplex, one of the top community college facilities in the country.

Congratulations to the following players:

• Alex Carpignano
• Hunter George
• Cade Mawson
• Dominic Paielli
• Austin Wehner

Anna Gregg – Placer United U18 97 Gold (standing to the right of middle with St. Francis shirt)

St. Francis junior soccer player Anna Gregg was named the River Cats Girls Soccer Player of the Year at the High School Awards Ceremony before Sunday’s game against the Tacoma Rainers.

“It means so much and feels so great,” said Gregg of the Player of the Year honor. “I set a goal to help the team to the section championship and that was accomplished. I could not be happier.”

Gregg and her St. Francis teammates captured the Sac-Joaquin Section title on Saturday on her goal to defeat Oak Ridge 1-0.

“To be recognized with a bunch of amazing athletes is unbelievable,” said Gregg.  “We have amazing student-athletes at St. Francis and it is great to be part of it.”

Congratulations Anna on a stellar high school season!

U18 Boys Red
Champion – Placer United Boys Cup

U18 Girls Red
Won National Premier League
Finalist – San Diego Surf Cup
Champion – Davis College Showcase
Finalist – Las Vegas Players Showcase
Semi-Finalist – Placer United Girls Cup
Semi-Finalist – Pleasanton College Showcase

U18 Girls White
Semi-Finalist – Placer United Girls Cup
Champion – Sacramento United Cla
Semi-Finalist – Davis College Showcase

U17 Boys Red
Champion – National Premier League
Play in the Nor Cal State Cup Final May 10th
Champion -National Premier League National College Showcase
Champion -2013 Surf College Cup
Champion -Davis College Showcase

U17 Boys White
Champion -Las Vegas Showcase

U16 Boys Red
Qualified for National Premier League Champions Division
Finished 3rd in the National Premier League National College Showcase
Premier Elite Ranked Team

U16 Girls Red
Semi-Finalist – Las Vegas Players Showcase
2nd Place – Norcal NPL Fall League
Champion – Norcal NPL Winter League
Semi-Finalist – Placer United Girls Cup
Competed in both the Summer Surf Cup and Surf College Cup
Semi-Finalist – Davis College Showcase
Champion – Utah Avalanche College Showcase

U16 Girls White
Semi-Finalist – Las Vegas Mayors Cup
Semi-Finalist – Davis College Showcase

U15 Boys Red
Finalist – NorCal spring College Showcase
Quarter Finalist – Nomad College Showcase
Finalist – Placer United Boys Cup

U15 Girls Red
Champion – Las Vegas Players Showcase
2nd Place – Norcal NPL Fall League
2nd Place – Norcal NPL Winter League
Champion – Placer United Girls Cup
Semi-Finalist – Davis College Showcase

U15 Girls White
Finalist – Sacramento United Classic

U14 Boys Academy 
Invited to Play at 2013 USSF Academy Surf Cup
Finalist – Nor Cal 2013 Regional Play Off

U14 Boys Red
Champion – Davis College Showcase
Semi-FinalIst – Nor Cal Gold Cup

U14 Girls Red
Champion – Norcal NPL Fall League
3rd Place – Norcal NPL Winter League
Quarter-Finalist – Surf Thanksgiving
Champion – Placer United Girls Cup
Semi-Finalist – Mustang Stampede

U14 Girls White
Finalist – Northern California Spring Showcase

Big Surprise for Placer U14 Boys

USSF U15 Boys National Team Coach, Hugo Perez, surprised the Placer U14 USSF Academy team this week during training when he showed up to coach the team. Coach Perez, who played 73 times for the US Men’s National Team, and was inducted into US Soccer’s Hall of Fame in 2008, really put the boys to work in a training session focused on attacking in the final third. A huge thank you to Coach Perez for taking time at the end of training to talk with the boys about the session and explaining the importance of practicing as much as possible to improve your game.

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team head coach Michelle French has called 25 players to a camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, running from April 13-20. One of those players is Placer United Alumni, Madalyn Schiffel who played for Coach Gene Duchateau on the ’95 Gold team.  It will be the USA’s third-to-last domestic camp before the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup takes place in Canada in August.

Madalyn will attend the domestic camp next week at the Olympic Training Center.  Then the team will take a  trip to Europe in June and then a final domestic training camp in July before heading to Canada where it will face Germany, Ghana and Brazil in Group B play. The 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup runs from August 5-24 in Edmonton, Moncton, Montreal and Toronto.

French has called up most of the usual core of regulars, but is giving several players first looks as she continues to formulate the roster ahead of the World Cup.

The U-20s will play two scrimmages on Saturday, April 19, against college teams, taking on UCLA at 12:30 p.m. PT followed by USC at 2:30 p.m. PT.

Good Luck Madalyn! We are so proud of you!