Madison Edgewood junior’s recruitment blew up leading her to commit to play ACC soccer
November 16, 2023
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Madison Edgewood junior’s recruitment blew up leading her to commit to play ACC soccer

Nov 16, 2023 | Soccer News

Madison Edgewood’s Sonoma Bever was relieved to end a recruiting process that forced her to sacrifice a lot of her personal life. 

She’s missed out on high school memories like attending a homecoming dance or prom for out-of-state soccer tournaments and college camps. This extends to her parents, who made time to take Bever to all these events. 

“It’s definitely been stressful but also nice knowing that all my hard work is paying off and have these opportunities,” Bever said. “I’m really grateful that my parents are willing to make these sacrifices for me.” 

Somona Bever, Madison Edgewood

Edgewood’s Sonoma Bever takes a shot on goal during the second half of the WIAA Division 3 state final against Plymouth.

The process escalated in June, while Bever and the Crusaders were pursuing a Division 3 state championship. On June 15, the first day college coaches were allowed to speak with her, Bever and the Crusaders defeated Ashland 5-1 in the Division 3 state semifinal. 

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Two days later Edgewood lost to Plymouth 2-1 in the state championship game. Bever finished her sophomore campaign with a team-high 39 goals, according to WisSports. 

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Taking no time off, Bever traveled to New Jersey a week later with her Milwaukee-based Girls Academy select team to face Florida United, which is a soccer club with a history of producing Division I talent and national team players. They had 11 Division I commits in the class of 2023 and have 13 more in the next two graduating classes. In 2022, seven players from Florida United received United States soccer national team invites for their respective age groups. 

Bever scored three goals in her team’s 5-0 win over Florida United, impressing several Division I coaches in attendance and making her a known commodity moving forward.

“It’s fun playing different competition and people who are really good because I can see how I compare to them and see what I need to work on,” Bever said. 

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Bever started receiving national recognition after being selected for the all-star game at the Michigan Hawks college combine in January. The Livonia-based soccer club was one of the founding members of the United States Soccer Development Academy in 2016.

They train soccer players across the Midwest in hopes of them becoming premier Division I recruits. University of Wisconsin freshman defender Hailey Baumann was a member of the club last year.

Only 22 players were selected from the pool of 266 uncommitted prospects, who attend the annual combine.

“That was the first time coaches were like, ‘Wow who is this kid’ because being in Milwaukee it’s not a big soccer hotbed so you have to go where the coaches are,” Sonoma’s father Glen Bever said. 

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On Oct. 27, the junior announced her verbal commitment to play soccer at Wake Forest. She chose the Demon Deacons over other Power Five conference schools in  Alabama, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Wake Forest has been to 21 NCAA Tournaments in the 26 seasons Tony da Luz has coached.

Bever said the coaches she spoke with, including Wake Forest’s, liked not only her scoring ability but how she helps others get involved in the game. 

“They felt like I was a strong forward and they’re graduating a big junior class so when I come in I can make a huge impact by scoring goals,” Bever said.

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While the pressure of this decision was sometimes overwhelming, Bever said she enjoyed meeting all the coaches and players from different schools. The recruiting process also made her more comfortable talking with people, which she believes can be used in the future for job interviews. 

With this behind her, Bever is focused on this spring where she hopes to lead the Crusaders to another state tournament appearance. 

“There’s definitely pressure because we made it to state last year,” Bever said. “Also four seniors graduated so hopefully there’s some good freshmen coming in to help us out and win it this year.”

Source: https://madison.com/sports/high-school/soccer/girls/edgewood-sonoma-bever-commit-wake-forest-recruit/article_c6b7eec6-7cc8-11ee-bddf-1bea2f9d43ac.html

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