Plackemeier Plies Trade for Fallbrook Football and Soccer

FALLBROOK ---- Ryan Plackemeier has long been know for his golden kicking leg.

The Fallbrook High senior began with soccer and recently moved into football. Now he balances the two as a Division I prospect in both sports.

``He has such a strong leg," said Fallbrook boys soccer coach Waad Hirmez. ``He has all the tools to be a fantastic goalkeeper. But he is also a great kicker in football. He can go to college in either sport, but I hope he chooses soccer."

Soccer season begins this week and Plackemeier, a three-year letterman, wants to improve on last year's showing. Fallbrook, the Cinderella team of the 2000-01 postseason, lost in the CIF Division I finals to Granite Hills.

``We have a very good team capable to getting to the CIF finals and winning the Avocado League," Plackemeier said. ``We lost a couple of players, but we should be fine. Last year the defense was our weakness, but this year I think it's going to be our strength."

Plackemeier, however, is still involved in football season with the defending CIF Division I champion Warriors. They face Rancho Bernardo in the semifinals on Friday night at Mesa College.

``He's definitely learned a lot this year," Warriors football coach Dennis Houlihan said. ``He has a different type of mentality, for a kicker. He plays linebacker on the scout team. And I think that comes from him being an aggressive goalie."

Plackemeier, who began kicking soccer balls by the time he could walk, joined his first team in Fallbrook. He started out as a defender, but moved into the goal when coaches noticed his powerful leg.

``I always kicked the ball to midfield, and everyone thought it was amazing," Plackemeier said. ``I didn't think it was all that much. It ended up being good. It came natural to me."

Plackemeier outgrew the Fallbrook club and transferred to the Southwest Soccer Club in Temecula before high school to fine-tune his skills under Hirmez, a former Sockers player.

``He shows instinct to play goalkeeper," Hirmez said. ``His biggest strength is he reads the game very well. He has excellent foot skills, so we use him in the back."

Football coaches recognized Plackemeier's kicking ability his freshman year, and convinced him to play football as a sophomore. He started as the placekicker, adding punting by midseason.

Plackemeier was named as an All-Avocado League and All-North County kicker this year. But he considers punting his strength ---- especially with a 43.9-yard average and nine kicks downed inside the 20-yard line.

``I think that's what he is best at," Houlihan said. ``It's a big step, but he could punt in the NFL."

As a junior, Plackemeier was 3-for-4 in field goals and kicked 50 extra points. This year, he's 8 of 13 in field goals ---- three have been blocked ---- and has 35 touchbacks on kickoffs. His longest field goal was 47 yards, and he hits 60-yarders in practice.

``Kicking is fun, and not everyone can do it ---- it's different," Plackemeier said. ``I'd love to play in college and do either sport, but I'd prefer soccer."

On the soccer field, Plackemeier struggled through two seasons of underachievement by the Warriors. However, opposing coaches considered Fallbrook a threat due to Plackemeier's presence.

When Hirmez took over last year, he turned the program around with his hard-nosed style. It took time for the players who didn't play in Temecula to adjust to the coach, which eventually led to the Warriors' late-season success.

``Discipline was the difference," Plackemeier said. ``He taught commitment. He set up rules and you had to follow them. Some guys quit because he really got on us."

Plackemeier excelled in that environment, recording nine shutouts with a 1.9 goals-against average.

A CIF championship could have been Fallbrook's, but Plackemeier accepts the blame for the loss in the finals. He injured his calf the day earlier in an unofficial practice and allowed three uncharacteristic goals.

Now he and the team both want revenge.

``I want to win CIF, but the right way," Hirmez said. ``I want to win league first, then CIF. And I think we have the team to do it."

11/29/01