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11/28/2018 11:00 PMCharlie Haughton has been a stalwart as the starting goalie for the Valley Regional boys’ soccer team during the past two seasons. The senior also served as vice captain for the Warriors this year. Last fall, Charlie earned All-Shoreline Conference Second Team honors in his first full season as Valley’s varsity starter. This year, he solidified a spot on the All-Shoreline Conference First Team. For his career, Charlie totaled 14 shutouts as a member of the Warriors. He also plays long-stick defender for Valley boys’ lacrosse and will lead that team as a senior captain this spring.
One of the reasons why Charlie gravitated into a leadership role with the soccer squad was because he constantly had to communicate with his defenders from the net. Charlie took his responsibility seriously, and the Warriors responded to his leadership.
“My role is to talk to the refs, settle the team down, and keep them under control. It’s all a team effort, though. It’s up to all of us,” says Charlie. “Being the goalie definitely helps. The team tends to listen when I need them to. They’re good at doing what I ask, and I’m happy with how they played this year.”
Charlie had the best perspective to see the opposition’s attack, and he used that full view of the pitch to help his defense limit shots on goal. Charlie would often point out the places where his defenders could make the biggest impact, while offering any advice he could from his vantage point.
“Between me and the center back, Chris Cook, we run the backfield. I have a better view of the field than the other kids,” Charlie says. “I move the players around where I want them and tell them who to mark. I try to give constructive advice where I can.”
The Warriors’ senior athletes collectively determine the team’s captain and vice captain, with Head Coach Mick Fearon finalizing the decision. Fearon says that Charlie played a key role as Valley’s vice captain this year. He also notes that the keeper had a great senior season in goal.
“Charlie had a good career. This year, he was voted First Team All-Shoreline, and I think that was deserving. There were a few good keepers in the Shoreline this year, but I think Charlie had a great year,” Fearon says. “I always want them to decide who they want for the leaders on the team. They respect the guys they pick, and I think that Charlie did a great job as a captain.”
Charlie has had plenty of time to hone his skills as a goalkeeper since he’s been tending the net from the moment that became an option. There’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of goalies, but Charlie embraced the challenge.
“I started playing goalie once we got to the level that you play with one. When you’re really young, you don’t have them. I prefer to use my hands, so I moved into that position as soon as I could,” says Charlie, who lives in Deep River. “It’s a little stressful being the last line of defense. It’s different, but it’s fun. I stuck with it, and I’m really happy that I did.”
Charlie often practiced with his older brother, Alex Haughton. Although the siblings never got the chance to play on a team together, Charlie learned a lot by getting in reps with Alex during their spare time.
“He was four years ahead of me, so I never played on the same team with him,” Charlie says. “We would go up to fields and kick around, and he would shoot on me, so I would get the practice there. We would build soccer goals out of wood and shoot around in the backyard.”
This spring, Charlie will reprise his role as a senior captain with the Valley boys’ lacrosse team. The Warriors will be welcoming in a new head coach, and so Charlie anticipates taking even more of an active role as a leader.
“I think the three of us captains will have to put it on our shoulders a lot more than in the past. We will have to put it on ourselves to get the team in shape and looking good,” he says. “We’ve played together a long time, so we know each other...I’m confident it will be a good year.”