rageu23: My Site News

The Rage U23 team lost to De Anza today 4-2 with some exciting opportunities that wouldnt go in. The strong De Anza team out shot the Rage team   18 to 14 with many good opportunities that were turned away. Deanza opened the scoing and was ahead 3-1 in the first half and in the second have both teams traded goals to finish with a 4-2 score. Rage goals by Kendra Perry (Santa Clara) and Alyssa Stearns (UC Riverside), In the net Templin 1st half had 10 shots on and 3GA, Harrison in the second half had 8 shots and 1  GA. Up next is the RageU23 vs SVU in Visalia next Sunday at 1pm.

The Rage played their first game of the season this Saturday with a loss to Bay Oaks 6-4. Both teams played with no substitution (players still coming back) and both had spirited play. At the end of the first have Rage had the lead at 2-1 but Bay Oaks cam back in the second to score 5 goals to Rages 2. Ashley Nied (Saint Mary's College) led the Rage with 2 goal and an assist and the other 2 goals scored by Emily Mearns (BYU Hawaii) and Nicole Meyer (CSU Stanislaus). The Rage out shot Bay Oaks in the contest 24 to 19 and in the save department (1st half) Michelle Harrison (St Mary's College) had  8 saves, Tara Templin (Columbia) had 7 saves in the second half. The Rage will play next week vs De Anza at home at Val Visa field 3 at 11:00am Saturday June 20th.   

The Rage U23 team will begin their season with the first game vs Bay Oaks and the following week vs De Anza

Come out and see some of the top womens soccer in the valley 

The Rage U23 will again be coached theis year by Rage's Technical Director Philippe Blin and assisted by Paul Sapsford (Las Positas College), and Scott Alexander (Saint Mary's College).

The Pleasanton Rage U23 '09 team has assembled an impressive roster of College Soccer players to play in the new NOR CAL Premier U23 Soccer league. This soccer team bridges the gap between youth and a college players. The team will play against 9 other teams in the league through June and July and allows the team members to sharpen their skill before reporting to their college teams. "It is nice to have the continuation of the players with Rage, they are part of the family" commented Philippe Blin Technical director for Rage and coach of the team. (More to be added)

Bring your teams and players out to see this exciting high level Soccer from the Rage Soccer Club!!!!!

Again this year the Rage U20-U23 teams (Previously U21) will compete in the Norcal League. We are looking to have 2 teams one for current College players and one for players who will play soccer as freshmen in College.

If you are interested please contact Rob Harrison 925-413-5697 or at harcom@att.net

Practice will start in early May for those out of school and as others get out will join the squad. We are looking at applying a cost $50 for the season -this will go toward USClub soccer registration etc. We will play a 8 to 10 game schedule with one to two practices per week and weekend games mostly. Coach Blin is also lloking at running a prepare to report camp that will run in July before players report - more on these details to come.

In the last game of the season the Rage team went down in defeat 3-2 io a scrappy Davis team even though Rage outshot Davis 21 to 8. Davis opened the scoring at the 18 minute mark with a chip over keeper Harrison (Idaho State). Rage evened the scoring at the 30 min mark with a goal from Piersten Gaines (Columbia). Davis went ahead on defensive misque by Rage putting it behind keeper Powers (Duke). Davis scored again at the 63th minute mark. Rage evened up the scoring at the 85th minute.

This ends the season for the Rage U21 team with a record of 3-3-2 and for the first year showed the importance of reconnecting these stellar players back to the Rage Club. Thanks to all the Volunteers, the Rage Club and NorCal Premier. See you all next year.

The Rage U21 played valiantly to a 3-2 loss to league leading Sonoma County Alliance last night. The Rage team that had but 11 players (no subs) including keepers Powers (Duke) and Harrison (Idaho State). The team looking at the resources available went to position that best worked for the team thus having some players in unnatural position but with tenacity and a "dont quit attitude" played magnificantly. Rage opened the scoring at the 41 minute with a header assist from Pedlow (Point Loma) to Marshall(BYU) who headed it over the SCA keeper. Rage went into the second half with a lead but that was to be eliminated when Sonoma scored at the 55th minute. Not to be out done, on the transition Rage returned to have Jenny Marshall on transition score her second goal assisted by Alyssa Stearns (UC Riverside) at the 65th minute. Rage continued to battle hard taking more of a defensive poster given to fatique and looking for the transition goals. Sonoma on a beautifully orchetrated play evened the scoring up at the 77th minute. The score remained even till 85th minute when SCA put a bouncing corner kick ball into the net.

Rage U21 will play their last game of the season at 7Pm Wednesday July 23rd at Aquatic Park in Pleasanton vs Davis. Come out to watch and send the players back off to their college teams.

The Rage U21 team with twelve players fought hard and out shot the San Francisco Seals 15 to 10 but could not finish and lost 2-1 this Friday night. San Francisco opened the scoring ay the 23rd minute on an outside arching shot. Rage was able to tie it up with determined play by Jenny Marshall (BYU) assisting Najma Homidi (Oreagon State)65 minute. With tough play in the middle San Francisco was able to go ahead on the 74th minute with a goal of a post rebound shot.

After the poor showing in Santa Rosa on Saturday the Rage U21,  bolstered by the return of their college compatriots beat Bay Oaks 6-2 at Aquatic Park. The 9:00 am game vs Bay Oaks was less than 24 hours from the previous game. The Rage started slowly adjusting to the field conditions and early game time . Bay Oaks scored first (20:00) with a high chip that went over an out stretched Michelle Harrison (Idaho State). Rage tied the game up with a run from Lani Amack (Washington State) at the 32:00. Shots in the first havle were Rage 7 BO 7.  In the second halve Bay Oaks again capitalized on on the Rage with a put behind Alexa Douglas (APU) (47:00). The Rage appeared to get their second wind and at the 52th minute Leah Larot scored the first of her hat trick. 5 minutes later on a cross the goal shot by Gaines a horitzonatlly flying Najma Homidi headed the ball in the Bay Oaks net. Rage continued to put pressure on Bay Oaks out shooting them in the second half 14 to 10. Leah Larot (Sac State) scored the back breaker at the 77:00 minute off a throw in from Roxy Kamal (San Jose State). Rage went on to score with Piersten Gaines (Columbia) scoring at the 81 minute and Leah Larot finishing her hat trick at the 84th.

Rage plays Friday night in San Francisco at Redwood H.S.

On a beautiful summers eve the Rage U21 played a pumped up Cal Cougars squad. "This was the largest and mosted talented player turnout we have had" stated Michelle Reimer , of the Cal Cougars, "it was because the Rage came to play". And play they did led by Angelica Figueroa of the Mexican National team and UoP. The Rage not to be out done had the addition of Dani Potts SCU and Caitlin MacDonald Dartmouth to go along with the impressive crew.

The first half saw some settling in as players playing together for the first time in some case fought to get the touch and field balance. The up tempo of the game was evident from the start. In the 40th min of the 1st half, with miscommunication and a pressing Cougars team , the Cougars scored a ping pong type goal. Shots on the first half were 3-4 Rage with plenty of work for the keepers.

The second half with the Rage coaching staff and the older Rage players directing play, the momentum seemed to swing to the Rage side. With a new alignment the Pleasanton Rage put on the offensive pressure. In the 55th min, Akaylah Fischer was able to bury the ball in from in front of the Cougars net. With increasing opportunities and swift footed play the Rage againe scored at the 65th minute on a well construcetd pass from Jennie Marshall to Brenna Schaaf. The tempo and physicality of the game stepped up with the Rage defensive line of Fischer, Potts, Feeney, Boehen and Michelle Harrison in the goal kept the Cougars at bay, while the Rage offensive pressure continued with nice saves by the cougars keepers and near misses. The Rage out shot the Cougars 15 to 1 in the second half and look toward their next game against Santa Rose July 12th.   

The Rage U21 team went down to their first defeat to an aggressive Santa Rosa team 3-0. The Rage team which today rostered  7 high school players from the Rage U18 & U17 teams to help got to to see more of what college soccer has to offer. " This was a learning experince for them. They have to understand the speed and physical nature of the higher level game, stated Philippe Blin Coach of the U21 and U18 team. This was a good test for them." Santa Rosa opened the scoring  at the 8:00 minute mark on a right to left cross miss cue by the Pleasanton defense. P'Town continued to struggle but especially on the offensive end. Santa Rosa scored again at the 39:00 minute behind the defense and a valiant Alexa Douglas (Azzula Pacific). Shots in the first halve were 5 to 4 in favor of Santa Rosa  

In the second halve Rage started to press with key opportunities espesically from the Larot sisters Raylene (Missouri) and Leah (Sac State) especially leann who showed impressive tenacity and Piersten Gaines "P" (Columbia) who was back from injury. Santa Rosa agained scored on the 9th minute of the second halve on a bouncer past streched out Rage keeper Michelle Harrison (Idaho State). The Rage pressed but with the lack of many of its college forwards were unable to put it in the net. Santa Rosa out shot Rage 8 to 4 in the second halve. " We didnt have it today" stated Dani Potts (Santa Clara) Rage defender, "will get'em tomorrow". Rage plays Bay Oaks at 9 am at Aquatic Park Sunday.  

The Pleasanton Rage U21 team played its first game to a 3-3 tie against the De Anza Strikers at De Anza College this afternoon. The Rage U21 team has a roster of 23 players – with 8 still in finals or on injured reserve and with graduation and other commitments 3 girls were called up from the U18 team Raylene Larot (Missouri), Megan Jurardo (USDS) and Ashlynn Mazur (USF) to field a team of 13.

Rage drew first blood in the 6th minute with a nice feed from Larot to Emily Jenkins (NYU) for a run and shot behind Santa Clara bound Henninger. De Anza quickly responded to tie the game. As the Rage felt more comfortable in game play the fans could see the building and at the 15^th minute mark again a feed from Larot this time to a striking Emily Mearns (BYU-Hawaii) who skillfully put the leather in the net. The 1^st half shots on net were 8-3 in favor of the Rage.

The second half was to be a test, with temperatures well in the 90’s and playing on the synthetic surface with 2 subs. The Rage played on with Michelle Harrison (Idaho State) now taking her turn between the posts and Alexa Douglas (Azzula Pacific) now up top. The steady back field was anchored by Kim Feaney (LMU) and Akaylah Fisher (ASU). At the 17 minute of the half Harrison launched a punt to a racing forward Ayllsa Stearns (UC Riverside) who buried for the Rages’ 3^rd score. Again the Strykers came back with a quick chip score. The teams continued to battle with the Rage midfield and back holding and then sending a quick counter attacks only to be turned away by Henninger. In the 35^th minute De Anza broke through and scored thus evening the score. The score was to remain 3-3 with shots on net in the 2^nd half tied at 9 a piece. Asked what she thought of the game and the new league Kim Feaney stated, “This is great to get us ready for fall soccer. “

To All College Level Pleasanton Rage PlayersThe Pleasanton Rage Girls Soccer Club has entered the new Norcal Premier U20-U23 Soccer LeagueIf you asked any College coach if they could have their incoming players play on a PDL, a NPSL or a Under 20 U23 teams they would answer with a resounding – YES! The players would come fit and with more experience playing in some cases against older players, a reality in College soccer.  
 
            Beginning this year, US Club Soccer have begun sanctioning Adult Soccer Leagues. This June and July we will offer a Norcal Premier Under 21 Division for Northern California Soccer Clubs.
 
            The Under 20-23 League is the first step towards our vision of assisting Clubs in offering soccer to its members for their lifetime. The Pleasanton U21 team will be under the direction of Philippe Blin and staff. The team will be comprised of players under the age of 23 . The roster limit is 26 with 18 to 20 dressing per game.  The league games will be in June and July  There will be 6 to 10 teams in the league with approximately 10 to 12 games. There will also be approximately 1 practice per week for the team.

Registration Form found in Handouts to the left

Contact:

Philippe Blin blin@pleasantonrage.org

Rob Harrison Harcom@att.net   925-413-5697

The U21G division has shaped up nicely. It looks very competitive with many top clubs in Northern California competing in it. This is our first year so we flirted with a few different schedules/brackets. Looking at the calendar, knowing most schools are not out of college until June and knowing that kids will be heading to college in early August it leaves us with about 7-9 weeks to play our games. So, we feel that about 7-8 games would be best. Given this information I am recommending the follow, but would love input or suggestions that you would like to see or change.

Group A: SRU, SCA, San Fran Force and Bay Oaks

Group B: San Juan, Cal Cougars, Davis and Manteca

Group C: Rage, De Anza, Santa Cruz

Group A plays 3 games in round robin (each team once)

Group B plays 3 games in round robin  (each team once)

Group C plays 2 games in round robin (each team once)

Group play to be done by June 22^nd and Premier and Gold play starts June 27^th,28^th and 29^th.

Top two teams in each division move to Premier Division (forms group of 6)

Remaining teams move into Gold Division (forms group of 5)

Premier Division plays 5 games in round robin.

Gold Division plays 4 games in round robin.

Most games to be played would be 8 and the least would be 6 (one team from Group C who goes to the Gold).

The games will try to bring the community spirit Friday Night games and Saturday Night games with our home club’s younger teams coming to support. One game a weekend when possible. Midweek night games for local games. I see this going to U23 next year and -then moving into a amateur or even semi-professional level. We all know that a level of soccer in America like that is needed. How great would it be to have 1^st teams in a semi-professional/amateur league!! Let’s do this well and grow it!

Josh Sterling

U21 Womens Director Norcal