Maddie Burdick, Midfielder, Atlanta Fire United SA
Class: 2014
Top 150 Rank: 57
Commitment: Georgia

One of the best players in the state of Georgia is staying close to home for her next challenge.


Midfielder Maddie Burdick elected to verbally commit to the Bulldogs after an exciting recruiting process.

“I chose Georgia because it had the best of everything,” she wrote TopDrawerSoccer.com in an email. “I love the atmosphere at the games as well as in Athens, and the university has great athletics, academics, and facilities.  The coaches are committed to helping me improve.”

One of the biggest influences in her making the choice to commit there was how it felt like a home away from home.

“I think the biggest factor in making my decision was how comfortable I was with the campus, and I knew that I could see myself playing and going to school at Georgia,” she said.

Taylor Sancegraw, Forward, St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Class: 2014
Top 150 Rank: 59
Commitment: Arkansas

It did not take long for Arkansas to land Taylor Sancegraw.

Razorbacks head coach Colby Hale contacted Sancegraw’s club coach after watching her play at the Madison ECNL Player Development Camp. From there, all it took was a couple of trips to Fayetteville to convince Sancegraw that Arkansas was the right place for her.

“My decision was made after my second visit to the University,” Sancegraw told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “Coach Hale and his staff have all been winners at other programs and I feel that they will change the face of Arkansas soccer. I am very excited to get a chance to be a part of that.”

With Sancegraw, coach Hale, who was previously the associate head coach at UCF, has a blue chip attacking prospect to build around.
The dynamic forward has notched 13 goals and 16 assists in 25 ECNL games this season – best on her team for both categories. She has also collected a number of awards in her two seasons playing high school soccer.

The accolades have not bloated the striker’s ego, as she cited talking about herself to college coaches as one of the most difficult parts of the recruiting process.

“The recruiting process was fun but stressful at times,” she said. “I am kind of a shy person and do not like talking about myself, so it was awkward talking about myself to all these coaches.”

The Razorbacks nabbed the Missourian from Rutgers, Penn State, Nebraska, and Saint Louis.

Sancegraw is the fourth commitment for Arkansas’ 2014 class. She joins Gabby de Leon, Madison Hall, and Abby Sieperda.

Tatum Norton, Defense, Sockers FC
Class: 2014
Top 150 Rank: 122
Commitment: Cincinnati

The intimidating procedure of picking the right college initially had Tatum Norton nervous about the recruiting process, but that phase passed when she found out more about Cincinnati.

“I am relieved it is over because I know I picked a great school and I am extremely happy and excited about my choice,” Norton told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “It was also very fun to see what schools had showed interest in me.”

The defender cited the campus, the coaches, and watching one of the Bearcats games, as to what helped make her decision.

The Illinois-native added that she is excited to bring her fighting spirit to Cincinnati.

Norton is the first commitment for Cincinnati’s 2014 class.

Libby Leedom, Forward, Kings Soccer Academy
Class: 2013
School: Dayton

The Gatorade State Player of the Year in Kentucky, Libby Leedom is Atlantic 10 bound where she’ll begin her college career in a little bit more than a year.

A forward who likes to play alone up front, her search was influenced by the ambition to become a doctor.

“The most important aspect that I looked for in a college was academics,” she wrote TopDrawerSoccer.com in an email. “Since I want to go on to medical school, I knew that it was necessary for me to go to a school with the major I wish to pursue. The size of the school factored into my decision because I wanted a close-knit community in which I knew I would be able to get aid whenever necessary."

And when it came down to it, her dad being an alumnus of Dayton heavily influenced her decision to head there.

“I have been a Flyer fanatic since birth because my Dad went there,” she said. “It was always my dream as a little kid to grow up and play soccer for Dayton. When I went to campus for my first visit, I knew right away that I wanted to end up there. The coaches, players, and other people on campus were all so welcoming and enthusiastic which made me feel right at home.”