Erika Palmacci Signs with SFA Soccer
2/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 9, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer coach Jaime Frias announced Thursday the signing of Erika Palmacci to a national letter of intent. Including a pair of college transfers, Palmacci's addition brings Frias' first signing class total to seven players. Palmacci is the fifth prep signee inked this semester.
Palmacci is a 5-5 forward from Plano. She attends Prestonwood Christian Academy, where she was a two-year letterwinner in both soccer and track and field. Prestonwood has supported a soccer program for only two years, but that didn't stop Palmacci from piling up honors. She scored 55 goals in her abbreviated high school career and earned recognition on the all-district and all-state tournament teams. Palmacci captained her team in 2005 and 2006, guiding the squad to the TAAPS Division II state championship in 2005.
On the track, Palmacci has been equally impressive. She was named the district's top performer in 2004, when she won the 400-meter dash, the long jump, triple jump and was part of first-place performances in both the sprint and the mile relays. That year, Palmacci finished second in the state in the long jump and triple jump, and took third in the 400. She holds the school record in the long jump and the triple jump.
Palmacci has logged six years as a club soccer player with the Dallas Texans Red 88 team under coach Kerri Riley Stark. She helped take the team to the regional semifinals in 2005 and the regional quarterfinals in 2004. The squad has been ranked as high as 12th in the nation during Palmacci's stay.
Palmacci has also played on the North Texas 87 squad in the Olympic Development Program. She was a two-year player for coach Kenny Jones.
Palmacci was an honor student at Prestonwood Academy. She is the daughter of Greg and Julie Palmacci.
"Erika is another player who will add a great deal of explosiveness and speed to our team," Frias said. "She's versatile enough to play as an outside midfielder or forward for us. Erika is an attacking personality that always looks to penetrate defenses with the runs she makes. When the ball is at her feet, she's technical and creative enough to beat people one-versus-one."
- SFA -
