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11/07/2018 11:00 PMEven though David Saturno has played soccer throughout his life, he didn’t join the boys’ soccer squad at Morgan until he began his senior year this fall. However, David made up for lost time by quickly grasping the team’s offensive system, and he’s been producing plenty of points for the Huskies ever since.
David started playing soccer when he was six after being inspired by the Italy men’s soccer team’s victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. David decided to sign up to play at the high school this year, and the senior forward made an instant impact. Thus far, David has recorded 19 goals and 19 assists for Morgan, which claimed its second straight league crown by beating Haddam-Killingworth in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final last week.
“The success has to do with consistency and being ready for every game. I was also able to develop relationships with the players, which has helped,” says David. “In the preseason, I got to meet all of my teammates and get familiar with them. I’ve always been involved with soccer, so it was just a matter of learning my role on the team.”
David plays striker in the Huskies’ offense and likes how he’s constantly in motion while working the ball up field toward the opposition’s net. David says that Morgan’s defensive scheme can be grueling, but he knows that all the hard work is worth it, because it leads to success on the field.
“The best part of playing forward is honestly going forward, because you can also get creative with the ball,” David says. “We’ve been incorporating a high-pressure defense, which really is the toughest part of the position, but everything else about it is a blast.”
While David is only in his first year with the Huskies, he’s still playing an influential role during his senior season. David understands that it’s important for him to serve as a template for Morgan’s younger athletes by showing them the right things to do both on and off the field.
“As a senior, I have to lead by example. I do that by trying to be there on time and prepared with everything I need,” he says. “I like to be the first in the circle to stretch during warmups. When it comes to teaching the younger guys, you have to let them know what they have to do better.”
David has made quite an impression on Morgan Head Coach Ross Demay in a short span of time. Demay says that David has stepped up to fill some big shoes on the Huskies’ attack this fall.
“David has solidified our offense after losing Juan Avila,” says Demay. “He really works our system well. He is one of the best talents I have seen come through high-school soccer.”
Morgan is competing in the Class S State Tournament gets underway this week. David and his teammates are going to put everything on line every day to help the Huskies try and claim their second straight state championship.
“We just have to make sure we are focused and ready to train daily,” says David. “It’s win or go home from here on out, and we expect to win.”