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Sofia Rossi, Midfielder, Cleveland FC
Class: 2017
Commitment: Wake Forest

In 2017, Sofia Rossi will take her attacking mindset to the ACC.

“I decided to commit to Wake Forest because it felt like a second home,” she told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “There is a great atmosphere of such great people who have the best of both worlds with receiving a great education and having such a strong soccer program.”

An Ohio native who eyed up a number of the region’s top programs, the central midfielder is always on the lookout for space in front of her to unlock the opposition’s defense.

Wake’s history of success caught her attention, as she eventually join one of the nation's premier college soccer conferences.

“The soccer program at Wake Forest is a successful program that creates a hard working environment, helping many of their players earn a spot on professional teams and national teams,” Rossie said. “It's a family environment with a great caring coaching staff, close unity, and their playing style fits my style too.”

Rossi also came away impressed by the Winston-Salem region of North Carolina.

“The school is in a great area with great weather,” she said. “Also the campus isn't spread out which makes it easier to get around in shorter amount of time. The students and players at WF are so proud to be where they are and which makes it hard to not want to be a part of.”

The midfielder joins fellow Ohioan Abby McNamara as verbal commitments for Wake’s 2017 recruiting class.

Sabrina Painter, Goalkeeper, Patuxent Football Academy
Class: 2015
Commitment: Rhode Island

Few goalkeepers have the audacity or ability to also double as field players. But Sabrina Painter, a Mid-Atlantic, had done just that during her high school career.

The Maryland native's college career will take her up to the New England region and the Atlantic 10.

“I decided on Rhode Island because of its sound academics and strong athletics,” Painter told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “Going to a school in the heart of New England has many benefits for creating connections for internships and jobs after college which is something I'm really interested in. Also Rhode Island is a strong competitor in the Atlantic 10 Conference, which is something I want to be a part of. With strong academics and athletics the University of Rhode Island was a natural choice.”

The positive atmosphere created by head coach Michael Needham helped lure her commitment.

“Having a coaching staff that would push me to improve my game is very important, with the head coach, Needham, being Atlantic 10 coach of the year this past year it made my choice all that much easier,” Painter said. “Also the school's team has made a major turn around and is only getting better which is something I want to be a part of.”

Halle Lahammer, Goalkeeper, Loudon FC
Class: 2015
Commitment: Robert Morris

A netminder who fashions herself as a modern day sweeper-keeper, Halle Lahammer’s aggressive tendencies and willingness to come off her line almost makes her a fifth defender instead of just a goalkeeper.

Her shot-stopping ability also proved to be an asset last spring, helping her Battlefield high school team to the Virginia 6A state championship in 2014.

Now, Lahammer takes her big game experience to the Northeast Conference this fall.

“I decided to commit to Robert Morris after visiting the campus and staying overnight with some of the players,” she told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “From the beginning, I knew that I didn't want to attend a giant university, but a smaller school where I would be able to more closely enjoy my college experience. On my visit, I was able to meet about half the team, all of whom were kind and welcoming, as well as several other athletes at RMU and learn what being a student-athlete at Robert Morris was really like.”

The up close, first impression went a long way to convincing Lahammer that Robert Morris was the right place to continue her soccer career and get an education.

“I knew that RMU could definitely be where I go to college and as I learned more about the university and how the women's soccer program is run I knew that I wanted to spend the next four years of my life there,” she said. “My last stop on my visit to campus was to meet with the head coach, John Kowalski, and the assistant coach, Jennifer Tobar. My meeting with the coaches confirmed all of the great things the girls on the team had to say about the program and coaching staff.”

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Robert Morris also had plenty to offer Lahammer in the classroom, as she’s planning on majoring in biology and possibly pursuing the medical route. And along with having such a positive experience with the girls on the team, she also was looking for a place that would offer her a chance to compete for minutes.

“When choosing a college I also wanted to find somewhere that I would be able to compete and play at the Division 1 level and RMU’s smaller roster provided all athletes with the opportunity to play,” Lahammer said. “The fact that RMU was graduating their primary starting goalkeeper meant that the position should be open in the fall to competition from a 2015 keeper.”