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Goss Scoring Like a Boss for Morgan Lax

She received a lacrosse net for Christmas this past December, and it's helped manufacture the gifts of many goals for both Catlen Goss and Morgan.

The sophomore additionally runs for the Huskies during cross country and indoor track seasons and uses each campaign to bolster her speed for the turf come springtime. This year for Morgan through its first 11 contests, swift Catlen is the team's leading scorer with 35 goals and 14 assists.

"Playing with Nor'Easter Lacrosse this year, I learned a lot of the fundamentals, like switching my hands, and it's all made me a much better player," says Catlen. "It's been a great experience there playing with people from all over the Northeast. But it's also my teammates passing to me and me running down the field to get open."

She adds that running ability is a key physical trait to constantly put the ball in the net, yet Catlen also says you have to have a mind that runs as rapid as one's release of the stick.

"You just have to focus on getting to the goal, so you need the speed to get down the field and around other people," Catlen says. "Mentally, you have to have a strong mental state to be able to shoot it quickly around the goal."

Huskies' Head Coach Lindsey Carroll knows that Catlen not only brings so much to the table in the stat book, but also dishes out even more off the field with her attitude and work ethic.

"She has speed, strength, stamina, and an undying tenacity. She works hard and is always looking to better her skills," says Carroll. "She brings with her a charismatic personality and ton of energy which is contagious to those around her."

While she thrives off of competition and despises being on the short end of decisions, Catlen also feels that the first phase of every tally is draw control and she's won 43 thus far this spring.

"I just know I need to get the ball and go to the goal. You need those draw controls to get goals in the game; that's the main thing," says Catlen. "I'm just a competitive person that loves to win and hates to lose."

In her search to improve her skills, Catlen can be seen shooting in her back yard, running at the Morgan track, or just running around Clinton. On the field and sideline, she is always prepared to pick up her fellow teammates when needed.

"I just have a positive attitude and also try to help build people up that may have a negative attitude at certain times," Catlen says. "I also want to help the seniors, too."

Those final-year players are also part of Catlen and Morgan's motivation to return to the state tournament this season and erase the memory of a painful exit from the bracket a year ago.

"The seniors were on this team last year when we had to play one of the better teams in the state [falling to eventual Class S champion Weston, 24-6] and got beat pretty good," says Catlen, who thanks her father Christopher, along with her team, and Coach Carroll. "Our seniors deserve to go to states again, because it would be such a great experience to get past the first round."

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