Erika Leal got her college commitment out of the way last summer; she still has more than a season left before she’ll make it to Loyola Marymount in 2013, and yet, she has hardly taken her foot off the pedal. 


“As a player, I am very self-driven, and my own worst critic,” Leal explained. “If I think there’s something in my game that isn’t good, I’ll fix it.”



This is the mentality of a standout who is the No. 99 ranked player in her 2013 class. 

A midfield presence for the San Diego Surf, Leal has no doubt gathered some of her drive from her father, a Marine. 

He’s also a big reason she chose LMU.



“My dad has been deployed several times so he unfortunately has missed a lot of my soccer games,” she said. “I wanted to stay close to home so I knew he would always be able to make my home games.

“The location is perfect because all of my relatives live within a 20-mile radius of the campus. It is the perfect school for me - I love everything about it and couldn't be happier about my decision.”



But just because she’s made her decision doesn’t mean she’s resting on it. Far from it. Take notice fellow footballers.



In other commitment news:  

Jennifer Boudreau (Solar SC) has verbally committed to Memphis for the 2013 season. 


Abby Reed (FC United) has verbally committed to Indiana State for the 2013 season. 


Arianna Collins (FC Alliance) has signed with Morehead State for the 2012 season. 


Alex Hussar (Tustin United) has signed to Pacific for the 2012 season. 


Stephanie Kolwicz (Concorde Fire SC) has verbally Georgia State for the 2013 season.  


Lauren Knight (St. Louis Scott Gallagher) has verbally committed to Florida Gulf Coast for the 2013 season.

Danielle Mellem (West Coast FC) has verbally committed to the University of Charleston for the 2013 season.

Kiana Clarke (Cooper City Cobras) has verbally committed to Auburn for the 2013 season.

Karen DeGuisto (Chantilly Youth Association) has verbally committed to Saint Joseph for the 2013 season.

Caitlin Bucksbaum (FC Stars of Mass) has verbally committed to Villanova for the 2013 season.

Eleanor Cook and teammate Taylor Kennedy, both of Cajun Soccer Club, have verbally committed to Louisiana Lafayette for the 2013 season.


Alexandra Bruder (Real So Cal) has verbally committed to USC for the 2014 season. 


Kenzie Tillitt (Nevada Elite FC) has verbally committed to Colorado for the 2013 season.

Riley Narum (Tampa Bay United) has verbally committed to College of Charleston for the 2013 season. 


Talia McMurtrie (PA Classics) has verbally committed to FIU for the 2013 season.

Maha Maarouf (Houston Dynamo) has verbally committed to South Alabama for the 2013 season. 

Brittany Coca (Brandon Flames) has verbally committed to Belmont for the 2013 season.

Sara Smeltzer (Birmingham United) has verbally committed to Liberty for the 2013 season.