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10/22/2020 12:00 AMFor the past three seasons, Evan Baptista worked hard on the JV team as a member of the Morgan boys’ soccer program. As a result of his efforts, Evan earned his callup to the varsity squad for the Huskies as a senior this fall.
Evan suits up at the outside midfielder position for Morgan. Evan has been playing soccer since he was five, and he’s always been intrigued by the team aspect of the sport.
“I stuck with it and, as a kid, kept playing and watched a lot of soccer in my free time, which I enjoyed doing,” says Evan. “I really like the team aspect of soccer. Soccer is a sport where the whole team is involved and constantly talking and working together. Everybody has an impact in the game, whether that impact is big or small, positive or negative.”
Morgan has a record of 3-2 thus far this season, having earned wins versus Hale-Ray, Westbrook, and Portland. Evan is typically the first sub that steps off the bench for Head Coach Ross Demay’s club. He leads the Huskies in assists with three on the campaign.
“Evan has a great attitude. He plays with massive amounts of heart,” Demay says. “He’s got a great work ethic, and he really stepped up this year from a JV player the last three years to the first player coming off the bench.”
Evan had to put in plenty of work both on and off the field in order to earn his promotion to the varsity ranks. In addition to improving his skills, Evan learned a lot through good communication with his coaches.
“I would say I have a great relationship with my head coach and a great relationship with the entire coaching staff,” Evan says. “I feel that I can talk to them whenever I need to, and I am also able to ask them questions on positions, game situations, and what I could do better. They always give me a clear-cut answer on what I can do to improve. I also practice on my own or with friends at the turf sometimes, and I enjoy working on my overall fitness.”
Even though Evan primarily played JV last year, he was still part of the ride when Morgan won a share of the Shoreline Conference title. Evan will always remember when the Huskies claimed their third-straight conference crown by playing Old Saybrook to a 2-2 tie in the league final.
“My favorite moment from last year was winning Shorelines,” says Evan. “It was a great game, experience, and one of my favorite memories playing soccer.”
Evan also competes for the Morgan wrestling team in the winter and plays rugby with the Shoreline Spartans during the spring. Evan is always looking to lend a helping hand to Clinton’s next generation of athletes in all three of his sports.
“I like to help coach some of the different younger sports teams in town, including soccer, wrestling, and rugby. I enjoy working with the younger kids and helping them get better,” Evan says. “I have a younger brother who also plays soccer, and I help him sometimes.”
As the COVID-19 numbers begin to rise again in Connecticut, Evan feels fortunate that the Huskies have been able to play soccer at all this year. Regardless of whether Morgan is ultimately able to compete in any sort of playoffs, Evan just wants the Huskies to enjoy the time that they spend together, while notching as many victories as possible.
“Some expectations I have for our season is to hopefully have a winning record. Also, to hopefully win Shorelines if we have it this year, which is on the fence because of COVID-19,” says Evan. “I would also like to finish off the season on a good note and finish the season playing with my teammates, who I have been playing with for many years.”