Elyssa Anderson, Defender, Ohio Elite Soccer Academy
Class: 2013
School: Duquesne

Soccer has been a passion of Elyssa Anderson’s since she was four years old.

So the fact that the defender gets to continue playing the game she’s enjoyed for such a long time on another level for Duquesne is an extremely exciting proposition for her.

Along with the soccer program, Anderson found the right major at the Pittsburgh-based University.

“In pursuit of advancing to the next level, Duquesne met all of my desires in a college,” she wrote TopDrawerSoccer.com in an email. “I plan to major in Special Education. I can achieve my degree at Duquesne while having the opportunity to be active in this field as part of the college’s community engagement. Top quality education has always been my top priority.”

Along with the enticing prospect to compete in the Atlantic 10, Anderson said that she was influenced by location, as she’ll be heading across just one state line, swapping Ohio for Pennsylvania.

“I also considered location when choosing Duquesne. It is away from, but not too far from my hometown Cincinnati,” she said. “There has always been a competitive rivalry between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.  Having now visited the city I find the cities so similar not only geographically, but culturally and in diversity of neighborhoods.”

Chelsea Jackson, Forward, Lonestar SC
Class: 2014
School: Oklahoma

Chelsea Jackson is from just outside Austin, Texas – where the University of Texas is located – but that did not stop her from verbally committing earlier this month to the Longhorns' fiercest rival.

“My friends and family have been super supportive with my decision to attend OU,” Jackson told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I have to admit that a few of my friends say that they don’t like OU, but they will now be loyal fans of Sooner Soccer.”

Jackson is one of the top scorers on the Lonestar SC U16 team that won the ECNL National Championship last year. The quality of the team has attached college scouts to many of her games.

“It was so exciting to receive emails from my Lonestar coaches about colleges interested in me,” Jackson said. “I was so nervous when I called the college coaches but they were all really nice and they made me feel very comfortable.”

It was the Sooners proximity and history that sold her though.

“I put OU on my list of colleges that I would love to attend because they have a great reputation for athletics,” Jackson said. “I love that it is a D1 school in the Big 12 and that it is fairly close to home so it will be easier for my family to visit and to see me play. When OU made an offer for me to play, I knew I wanted to be a Sooner.”

The forward added that she also had interest from SMU, TCU, UTEP, Colorado College, Arkansas, and Auburn.

“Now that I have made my decision, I do feel like a lot of weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I can’t wait to be on the soccer field at Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner!”

Jordan Pearson, Defender, Freestate Soccer Alliance
Class: 2013
School: Penn

A composed and physical outside back for Freestate, Jordan Pearson recently decided to head not too far north for school, making her verbal commitment to Penn.

The Ivy League-bound defender loved the mix of school and soccer.

“I chose Penn because I wanted a college with strong academics and a good soccer program,” she wrote TopDrawerSoccer.com in an email. “When I went up there in the fall of my sophomore year I just felt at home, and I didn't want to go anywhere else.”

The program has been a model of consistency of late, and Pearson is looking forward to working under coach Darren Ambrose.

“The Penn soccer program is great,” she said. “They just put in some really nice new fields, and it's a winning program with a coach that has been there for over ten years. Also when I went there for my overnight I got the sense that the team was a family. I love the coaches and the players, so I can't wait to go.”