Emulation of A Successful Pattern
Santa Rosa United isn’t the largest soccer club when compared to a lot of its California counterparts, but it has always attracted great coaches and has a tremendous history of success. The Santa Rosa United Freeze U14 Girls team emulates this pattern. The side was formed as a U9 squad back in 2006 and it has gotten better each and every year, with high points being CYSA North State Cup Championships after the 2008 and 2010 seasons.
As U10’s the Freeze played up under Coach Martin Perez and the girls were competitive in the U11 age bracket. In fact, they made it to the semi-finals of the Norcal State Cup and finished in the top half of the CYSA league that year.
The next year Justin Selander took over as coach and the U11 side won the CYSA North State Cup and placed in others, including a championship in the Lodi Tournament.
John Gilson took the reins in 2009 and also had a very successful coaching stint. Gilson led Santa Rosa United to an immediate US Club Soccer Regional Championship in June 2009 and he culminated his two-year run with another CYSA North State Cup Championship in February 2011. In that match the Freeze beat their biggest rival, the Mustang Xplosion, 2-1. Santa Rosa finished the 2010-2011 season with 36 wins, 4 draws, 10 losses, 126 goals for only 29 goals against, and 27 shutouts.
In the present 2011-2012 season Trisha Ziemer is leading the Freeze and the girls are continuing to improve while racking up the hardware. The season started with a Championship in the Santa Clara Sporting Girls Invitation and followed with titles in the Davis Legacy College Showcase, the Norcal Spring League, the Placer United Prestige Cup, the Norcal Regional Academy Fall League and the Juventus Coppa d’Oro Tournament. In between all the wins, the Freeze played some outstanding soccer and made it to the semi-finalist stage at the Far West Regionals, the San Diego Surf Cup and the Mustang Stampede. Although it was disheartening to lose in those prestigious tournaments, Santa Rosa can be proud of the fact that it brought Arsenal to the brink only to come up short 2-3 on both occasions, including an overtime defeat at Surf. Arsenal is without a doubt the most talented side the Freeze has faced thus far.
Currently, Santa Rosa sports an impressive 47 wins, 4 draws, only 4 losses and 31 wins by shutout. Even more impressive is the 189 goals for with only 38 goals given up. Still, every player on the squad will tell you their work isn’t done. The Freeze aspires to win the Norcal State Cup which will conclude in May. It will be a difficult task as there are several very good sides in the tournament, but the Freeze look forward to the challenge. Go Freeze!
Coach Ziemer
Not only is Trisha Ziemer having a successful inaugural season as the head coach of the Santa Rosa United (SRU) Freeze, but she also coaches the Santa Rosa United Blizzard U15G and is assistant coach of the Sonoma Academy Coyotes Girls Varsity side. Trisha previously coached with Sonoma County Academy (SCA) for a number of years and was with SRU for 10 years prior to that, achieving multiple State Cup Championship and Far West Regional Champions titles. Trisha’s brings a wealth of soccer experience to SRU and helped steer numerous players towards successful collegiate soccer careers. Trisha played soccer at Santa Clara University and Sonoma State University.
Player Impact Statements
Soccer fills my life with excitement, fun and friendships. The best thing about soccer is it is a team sport. We are never alone, on or off the field, and we always have our teammates to help us out in times of struggle. Soccer has made a huge impact on my life. Every victory and every loss builds me as a player and as a person. Soccer has given me the joy in my life that I could never live without.
Bria VarnBuhler #23
Soccer, especially in club, has given me friendships, experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Every field, game, and tournament is unique, involving people who have given me the opportunity to succeed not only in this sport, but in every obstacle I face off the field as well.
Isabelle “Izzy” Lilly #2
Soccer is everything to me. It has made me who I am today, and contributed to who I plan to be in the future. Soccer has given me opportunities to visit new places and has given me my sisters for life.
Madison “Mad Dog” Gonzalez #7
Soccer has helped to define who I am and how I act. I often translate soccer situations into other parts of my life. I realize that this game has made me a better person, athlete, and family member. It has taught me valuable life lessons that couldn’t be taught any other way.
Samantha “Zip” Zepponi #6
To say that I love soccer would be an understatement. I cannot live without it. It has made me the person I am today, and without it I would be lost. I have learned the value of friendship and working together with my team. These are life lessons that can only be achieved through experience. It makes me happy to know that I am a part of a fabulous team and I am honored to be able to contribute to it.
Sydney Rickert #44
Soccer is a part of me that I will never lose. I eat, breath, and sleep soccer. My soccer team is an extension of my family and I know I can always depend on them and they won’t fail me on or off the field. When I go and play soccer, I leave everything behind me and focus on the beautiful game.
Brooke Dunbar # 36
Soccer is my life and my teammates are my family. I love playing hard and knowing that my teammates are playing their hearts out too. It feels great when you get the perfect pass or the game winning goal or hold a shut out the whole game. Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses, but we cover for each other to create a winning team. Soccer is a beautiful game, and I want to play it every minute of every day.
Alison King #12
Soccer has become a big part of my life and it has made me who I am today. It is something that has given me so many great opportunities and has made me a better all around person. The soccer field is like my second home, and my teammates are my sisters. I am lucky enough to play with an amazing group of girls. The reason we all play so well together is because we are best friends on and off the field. Soccer has pushed me to excel in so many aspects of life, not just on the field. This is a game that I never want to give up!
Claire Howard #00
Soccer teaches a lot, but the most important thing is learning how to cooperate together as a team, and how to give your best not only for yourself, but for the people around you that are working just as hard as you are. The satisfaction of making a good play, or the feeling of accomplishment after you master something you previously failed at is what you play for, and to have your team there guiding you step by step and through the ups and downs is a way of life that I will carry with me for the rest of my life; on and off the field.
Savannah Stoughton #9
Soccer is more than just a game to me. It is a place where I can go after school or in my daily life and have fun with my friends. Soccer is a place where I can put my cleats on and forget about anything that happened and just clear my mind, and have fun doing what I have loved all my life.
Brianne Parsons #8
Simply stated soccer has given me confidence to tackle anything in my life. Having a group of girls stay together in easy times and tough times has made me appreciate teamwork and goals that we all have together. We have come so far, and it’s still just the beginning.
Chloe Colbert #1
I love soccer for many reasons, but basically I love to have the ability to play a game that I enjoy so much and better yet I get to play with my friends. My best friendships have been made through soccer. My coaches have taught me valuable lessons that I can apply both on and off of the field. I’ve learned you miss one hundred percent of the shots you never take.
Faith Deas #26
I have been playing with the same group of girls since age eight. They are like my sisters and best friends. Nothing can explain my feelings about soccer. Just going to try-outs and watching kids play is amazing. Being with this group of girls through thick and thin has made me a stronger player. This team has made me a stronger player. This team has created many opportunities for me, like going to Regionals in Idaho, winning State Cup twice, and going to Surf Cup twice. Soccer means a lot to me because you can be so creative and different on the field. You can be who you really are.
Amara Ortiz #15
Soccer has impacted my life because it allows me to a have a winning and competitive mentality. It gives me the opportunity to go places and do things I would never have done. It helps me push myself in everything I do, on and off the field. The sport allows me to express myself and be active. It is my passion, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Soccer drives me and gives me happiness knowing I can participate in this wonderful sport.
Yvette Perez #16
Soccer has made a big impact on my life. It has helped me develop my competitiveness, and it has taught me to work hard. I also rely on soccer to stay in shape and I have made a lot of great friends.
Taylor Ziemer
