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Morgan Girls' Soccer Eying Deeper Playoff Run with Returning Seniors

Last fall, the Morgan girls’ soccer squad advanced to the semifinals of the Shoreline Conference Tournament and the quarterfinals in the Class M State Tournament on its way to an overall record of 15-4-2. Now in their second year with Head Coach Steve Sullivan, the Huskies are looking for even more success behind a strong core of returning players.

Coach Sullivan was happy with Morgan’s performance during his first year, although he believes that his team can do even better. Sullivan wants the Huskies to build upon their strengths and turn the heat up on the competition in 2018.

“We want to make a farther run into the Shorelines and states. I think we have a really good shot at getting to the top. We have so much depth, it’ll be difficult finding minutes for everybody. I’d much rather have that problem than only have 8 or 10 quality players,” Sullivan said. “I’ve challenged many of the kids in the preseason, and many of them are responding.”

Morgan graduated five seniors, including defender Brianna Navarra, who was a captain last year; along with All-Shoreline Conference First Team and All-State attacker Courtney Viglione, who led the team with 17 goals to go with seven assists. Still, Coach Sullivan believes the Huskies have plenty of talent to overcome any losses. With defender Erin Lindsay, Morgan has a returning captain who earned that title as a junior. She also garnered All-Shoreline Conference Second Team honors on top of Morgan’s Most Valuable Player Award. Coach Sullivan is also counting on senior captain forward Alyssa LeMay, who had 11 goals and 11 assists, to provide support for the Huskies. Sullivan said that both seniors are great leaders who consistently anticipate the team’s needs.

“Erin’s an extremely hard-working kid on and off the field. She’s somebody that can be vocal, and that’s what you want in a captain,” said Sullivan. “Alyssa could have been a junior captain last year like Erin. She’s very organized, and she does things the right way. There are times when I ask them to do something, only to find out they’ve already done it.”

Morgan features 10 seniors on its roster this year. Sullivan has known many of the kids since their youth soccer days, and so he has a great deal of trust in them.

“This is a group of kids that I’ve coached for many years in Clinton Youth Soccer, and I always admired their creativity. They will move off one another, and they’re good at doing that with balance,” Sullivan said. “You need kids there that you can trust...The kids know what their responsibilities are, and you just have to let them play.”

Seniors like Isabella Ranaudo and Kylee Clifton will be stationed in the midfield for Morgan, looking to control the pace of the game.

“Izzy played in a forward position last year. We changed our formation a little, and we’ll probably push her back into the midfield. Kylee will be back in the midfield. She and Izzy work really well together,” Sullivan said. “Kylee’s a tremendous basketball player, and her maturing through that and other sports has really helped her become a much better soccer player.”

Fellow senior Grace Roman is also going to be patrolling the midfield this season. Coach Sullivan thinks that Roman is one of the most skilled players on the squad.

“Grace Roman plays outside in the midfield, and she is probably the player on our team that has the best technical ability,” Sullivan said. “She is just very precise in everything she does. I think she’s a kind of leader by example when we go through drills.”

Lindsay will be back on defense, alongside Taylor Wyatt and Madeline Stopkoski, who are both juniors. Wyatt and Stopkoski both played big minutes in the backfield last season and are slated to do the same this year.

“Taylor Wyatt is extremely talented in the middle at center back. She’s got tremendous speed, and she plays soccer year-round with a high-level Premier team. We missed her in the first four games last year due to injury. When she came back, the whole complexion of the team just changed,” said Sullivan. “Maddy Stopkoski has shown herself to be a good midfielder. We had been looking for an outside back, and she had an outstanding year back there last year. With her ability, we should look good in the backfield.”

Senior goalkeeper Rebecca Cockley will again be tending the net after making 97 saves and recording six shutouts in 2017. Junior Natalie Novarro is also expected to see a little more time in goal after showing solid skills when given the chance last year.

“Up until an injury in the Shoreline Conference tourney, Becca played just about every minute of every game. She’s motivated, coming back, and working very hard,” said Sullivan. “Natalie will do anything for the team, and she was tremendous last year. She will also play a bit of defense. I’m hoping to give her some more time on the field.”

One of the Huskies’ biggest strengths last season was their ability to adjust quickly and effectively. Sullivan wants that to be a theme once again this year.

“I like to teach the kids to adapt depending on whether we’re ahead or pressing for a goal. We’ve been able to adjust or adapt to what’s happening over the course of the game,” Sullivan said. “Our kids are smart enough that someone will look to drop back and hold or go forward as necessary. I don’t like to be so rigid that we have to play one way or one formation. It may even be game by game, or we adjust in the second half.”

As he gears up for the season, Coach Sullivan believes that the Huskies are going to play a style of soccer that will not only yield success, but also prove fun for spectators. With Morgan’s depth, Sullivan plans to keep fresh legs on the field and use his team’s speed to constantly apply pressure on the opposition.

“I think that we’re going to be a fun team to watch. We like to play a high press and put a lot of pressure on the ball to create turnovers. It makes for a faster pace, and it will help get kids more playing time,” said Sullivan. “I don’t just want to throw 11 kids out there. I’m hoping that since we have the depth and speed, that we can get 18 or 19 kids in a game.”

• The Morgan girls’ soccer team’s 2018 varsity roster includes senior captains Alyssa LeMay and Erin Lindsay; seniors Chloe Bousquet, Kylee Clifton, Rebecca Cockley, Madison Emmi, Rachel Flanagan, Isabella Ranaudo, Grace Roman, and Joelle Vuillieumier; juniors Maura Kelly, Natalie Novarro, Annalysse Olcott, Alyssa Smith, Madeline Stopkoski, Olivia Swan, and Taylor Wyatt; and sophomores Caitlyn Donadio and Carley Schmidt.

• Head Coach Steve Sullivan’s staff includes assistant coaches Jessica Choronzy and Bill Lindsay, who both help Sullivan make tactical changes on the fly throughout the course of a game.

• The Huskies open the regular season by hosting non-conference opponent Bethel at the Indian River Complex on Friday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. at home. Morgan defeated Bethel by a 2-1 score in 2017.