Most prospective student athletes search for a college by visiting multiple campuses in order to find the perfect fit.  Campus tours, meetings with coaches and other research efforts take place during much of a player's sophomore, junior and even senior year of high school.

But for some, such as 16 year old Alexandria Crown , there is not much of a search.  Crown, who goes by Alex, fell in love with Florida State University and committed to Mark Krikorian's program when she was just a freshman in high school.

Alex Crown began playing competitive soccer at the age of nine and since then has developed into a top player in the country.  A 2007 NSCAA All-American, U.S. National Team pool player and TopDrawerSoccer.com Player to Watch for the past three years, Crown has garnered numerous accolades in just a short amount of time.

Crown currently plays club soccer for Space Coast United, a top premier team located almost an hour away from Orlando, FL home.  Because of the distance, Crown is unable to attend all practices and often trains with the local FC American Boys team. 

Despite playing on a premier team composed of almost all state ODP players and 3 to 4 regional players, Crown stands out as both a forward and a midfielder.

"She is in love with the game, which is very rare" said Space Coast United coach, Fidgi Haig.  "Right when I saw her I knew she had something special."

What makes Crown stand apart is her creative ability on the ball.  Her technical skills are exceptional.

These skills helped her land a spot with the W-League's Boston Renegades, an arm of Massachusetts Premier Soccer. Crown is spending her summer competing there.

"She has great 1v1 ability," Boston Renegades coach, Darren Gallagher, said.  "She is exciting to watch…she's very technical and very crafty."

Aside from her ability on the ball, Alex sets an example for her team by displaying great sportsmanship and work ethic.

"She's always smiling and she's always ready to work," Gallagher said.  "Her willingness to work makes her a very coachable player."

"The girls feel stronger when she's on the field," Haig added. "The team misses something when she's gone."

Unfortunately due to her travels with the regional and national team, she is forced to miss some Space Coast United games. 

"I had to miss State Cup weekend one year because I was in California," Crown said.  "Traveling is tough.  The past two years have been difficult because I've had a trip with the regional team at the end of the school year that conflicts with my end of semester exams."

"She's always out of town," Haig explained.  "But she still manages to balance everything perfectly."

Crown described a typical week in her life to consist of either attending a Space Coast United practice or going for a run on Monday, practice with the boys on Tuesday, either attending Space Coast United practice or playing some soccer with friends on Wednesday, practicing with the boys on Thursday, taking Friday off and playing games on the weekend.  This is an easy week without having to travel for the state, regional or national team.

One might ask when she has time for schoolwork.

"I usually do my schoolwork right after school or if I do go to practice I will do it during the car ride there," she explained.

Excelling in the classroom as well as the soccer field, Crown will be graduating high school a year early and getting a head start at FSU under head coach Mark Krikorian.  Krikorian and his FSU staff have had top recruiting classes in the nation the past two years.

"We have scrimmaged FSU several times in the past and done well," Haig stated.  "Alex is very familiar with the campus and likes the way FSU plays.  They like to play a style that gives players a lot of freedom.  Alex will fit in well."

"Coach Krikorian is a great coach and everything he said about FSU was exactly what I wanted in a college," Crown stated.

Crown believes that the style of play at FSU will be a perfect fit. 

"I was talking to other colleges and their style didn't strike me as fitting well with mine.  There aren't a lot of coaches that embrace my dribbling style with their team."

Crown is looking forward to playing with FSU in the near future, but for now is concentrating on her summer competing on the Boston Renegades U20 team and occasionally helping out on the Boston Renegades first team that participates in the W-League.  The Boston Renegades are one of the top amateur women's teams in the country and Crown is one of the youngest players to help out on the team.  Some other FSU players play for the Boston Renegades, so Crown has enjoyed the opportunity to play with some of her future teammates.

Gallagher described the potential he spotted right away in Crown.

"If the U20 players has been doing very well they are brought into training with the first team and then they are asked to travel," Gallagher explained.  "Alex has managed to achieve playing time with the first team and she is only 16 years old."

Crown enjoys challenging herself to play at the highest level possible.

"They are so much faster, so much more physical, it's almost ridiculous to be playing with such a difference," Crown said.  "Playing with the college girls is tough because the speed of play is a lot different."

"The W-league is a level up from a physical standpoint," Gallagher explained.  "This year has benefited her because she's seen that level and seen how physical she has to be to have a presence on the field.  Building strength, muscle and size will allow her to be effective at the higher level."