Fremd Soccer Player Commits To TCU

Eclipse Select Soccer Club U-17 forward and Fremd High School junior Michelle Mottonen has announced that she will play for Texas Christian University's women's soccer team beginning in 2013.

"Obviously it takes a weight off my shoulders to commit early, and I'm excited that I will be able to play at TCU," stated Mottonen in a press release. "I've been looking at them for a while."

Mottonen's journey to finalize her TCU destination had its uncertainties. Former TCU head coach Dan Abdalla recruited Mottonen, but after serving seven seasons with the Horned Frogs, Abdalla resigned in early November of 2011. By mid-December, TCU found its new head coach in former Florida State associate head coach Eric Bell, the press release stated.

Between Eclipse Select director of soccer Mike Nesci's knowledge of Bell, and Bell reaching out to Mottonen, her path to TCU progressed as planned.

"After Dan resigned and they found a new coach, my [Eclipse Select] coach, Nesci, who had a good relationship with Coach Bell when he was at Florida State, told me a lot of good things about him," Mottonen said. "They wanted to keep me as a recruit for TCU, and after talking with him on the phone, I felt happy about the new coach and thought he had a good vision for the team."

TCU showed significant interest in her throughout the recruiting process, Mottonen said.

"I'm the first kid in my family to play a sport in college, so I was open to colleges that reached out to me and were persistent in contacting me," Mottonen stated. "TCU sent me letters in the mail every week and stayed in constant contact, and they were very genuine about their recruiting me. They made me feel special about it."

TCU will be in a new conference starting next year, moving from the Mountain West to the Big 12.

"It's encouraging moving to a new conference – I will be playing more of my current [Eclipse Select] teammates in that conference," Mottonen stated in the press release. "It's a really good opportunity for the school to get more exposure and move up the rankings."

Mottonen has been with Eclipse Select for two years now, currently playing for the U-17 Elite Clubs National League Team. She says that the club's winning attitude has been an integral part of how she approaches to the game.

"Eclipse really improved my mentality of the game," Mottonen stated. "From the get-go you know this is a driven club. All the teams encourage each other and give you the motivation and drive to win."

Information submitted by Eclipse Select Soccer Club.