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Brigit Reder has always wanted to play college soccer.

And now, she'll get that opportunity to fulfill that dream.

Reder, a Lakota West High senior-to-be, verbally committed to Ball State University on June 9, choosing the Cardinals over Morehead State, Northern Illinois and Coastal Carolina.

She cannot sign a national letter-of-intent until February of 2009.

"They have one of the top academic programs for my major (exercise science)," Reder said. "They've been on top of the (Mid-American Conference) the past two years. I got to meet with the coaches and absolutely loved them. The campus was gorgeous. It felt right to me."

Reder, a defender, is a three-year letterwinner, including a full-time starter the past two seasons for the Firebirds. She earned a second-team, all-Greater Miami Conference pick as a sophomore.

"I think it's a great fit for her," West coach Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff said. "I know they saw her play a couple times and were very impressed by her. She's a kid with size and strength who can definitely make an impact right away.

"Physically, she's very strong. She can win balls in the air in the back. Her intensity is going to be a big asset at the collegiate level," she said.

Ball State has a new coach in Michael Lovett, who took over the program in March when Michelle Salmon left for the University of Cincinnati.

Lovett inherits a squad that went 26-9-5 the past two years, becoming the first team in MAC history to win two straight outright regular-season titles. In 2007, the Cardinals were 13-5-2 overall and 9-1-1 in the MAC.

"I'm looking to go in and hopefully make an impact right away my freshman year," Reder said. "I'll see how the positions shake down. I'm hoping to go in and be the player they want on the field — somebody they look to in clutch situations to step up and perform. I want to help lead the team to another MAC championship."

Reder is the third player in her class to commit to a Division I school. West's Marie Argo (Valparaiso) and Christine Brewer (Ohio) also made their intentions known in the spring.

Reder, who plays club for Ohio Elite, carries a 4.2 GPA.