This is the Los Angeles Sol: Julia Schnugg

Part 22 in a series of articles on the players that make up the Los Angeles Sol.

The Pali Blues, who are still in contention to defend their W-League title as of this article's writing, have had earned a reputation of being a pipeline team. Many players who were on last year's championship side are now competing in Women's Professional Soccer.

Another team whose reputation fits the same mold as Pali are the California Storm of the Women's Premier Soccer League.

One of those players whose last club was this three-time champion club from Sacramento is current Los Angeles Sol forward Julia Schnugg.

Schugg was born on March 12, 1985 in Alamo, California. Yes, there is a place in California called Alamo. Of course most people outside of the Bay Area or the Wikipedia readers of our generation would not have a clue about Alamo, CA.

One would associate Alamo with that famous mission-turned-museum in San Antonio. But this unincorporated community of 15,626 was named after the poplar trees in the area. "Alamo" is Spanish for "poplar."

There have been many attempts to turn Alamo into a city. The most recent attempt in March 2009 failed miserably.

But while the efforts for Alamo to earn its own self-determination have gone one direction, Schnugg's efforts to progress as a footballer have gone the other.
As a prep star, Schnugg played for the Monte Vista High School Monarchs of Danville, CA. In 2002, she was named the school's Offensive Player of the Year, while earning a Parade All-American Honors in 2003.

A member of youth club Pleasanton Rage, Schnugg won a 2002 National Championship to go with five straight State Cups and two Far West Regional Championships in 2000 and 2002.

Like many who have gone through the college ranks, Schnugg established her role as a striker with the Florida State Seminoles and California Golden Bears.

Her freshman season at Tallahassee saw her earn All-ACC Freshman and Soccer Buzz Freshman All-American honors.

During the 2003 season, Schnugg found the net six times to go with ten assists and 22 points. Florida State would progress to the NCAA Women's College Cup Final Four that year.

In her sophomore year, Schnugg led the Noles with seven goals and three assists. Florida State would finish 12-5-2. For her efforts, she was named to the All-ACC second team.
Unsatisfied with her surroundings, Schnugg transferred to UC Berkeley located not too far from Alamo. In her junior season, Schugg mainly played a supporting role, posting six points. The Golden Bears were eliminated by her former team 2-1 in the third round of the NCAA tournament.

In her final season, Schugg finished with 14 points (six goals, two assists). Once again, the Bears were eliminated by the Seminoles, losing 3-1 in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

Schnugg graduated from Cal in 2007 with 14 goals and 17 assists to her credit in 61 total appearances for the Golden Bears and Florida State.

After a stint which saw her compete for the California Storm, her big break came in June 2009, when the Los Angeles Sol signed Schnugg.

Her signing meant that she would be reunited with Sol starting defender Allison Falk, who played with Schnugg with the Rage.

As of the date this article was published, she has yet to make a start for her new team.

But you can be sure that once she is on the pitch, her debut will be as memorable as the town she comes from. Or at least the mission that shares the same name as her home town.

Because if you can Remember the Alamo, you will remember Julia Schnugg.