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12/19/2018 11:00 PMAthletes always have to be on call for anything that their team needs. Sometimes, that means coming off the bench during the middle of the season. For Erin Lindsay, it meant stepping up to play a different position for the Morgan girls’ soccer squad during the biggest game of the campaign.
Erin started playing soccer when she was in kindergarten, and so she’s competed alongside her fellow seniors on the Huskies for the past 12 years. This fall, the senior led Morgan with fellow co-captain Alyssa LeMay, while primarily playing the left back defender position. Erin finished the year having earned All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors, as well as the Huskies’ Most Valuable Player Award.
Erin helped Morgan notch a record of 17-2-3, win its first Shoreline Conference title since 2003, and then advance to the Class M State Tournament semifinals this season. In the Shoreline final, Erin was called upon to move up from defense to the sweeper position due to an injury to one of her teammates.
“Taylor Wyatt was injured, so I kept asking her for pointers. It was important for me to learn the position from someone who knew it and to also have the belief of my teammates, which I had,” says Erin, who helped Morgan defense’s post 13 shutouts and allow just 15 goals this year. “I was a captain last year, and Alyssa LeMay and I work well together. During practices, we are told to practice like we play, so we worked hard and grew more.”
No matter her vantage point on the defensive front, Erin likes to eliminate any potential offensive threats from the other end of the pitch. It can be difficult to get the message across during those fast-paced situations, but Erin and the Huskies found a way to get the job done.
“My favorite part of defense is being able to stop a goal. I think it’s just as exciting as scoring goals,” Erin says. “The toughest part of it is communication, because it’s a whole unit back there with four players, so you just have to tell each other what to do.”
This year marked Erin’s second season serving as a captain for Head Coach Steve Sullivan’s club. She felt honored to lead such a large and talented cast of seniors. Erin constantly gave her best effort and was happy to see her teammates follow suit.
“Coach Sullivan told us how all the seniors were in team leadership roles, because they were all capable of being captains,” says Erin. “For me, I try to do my best and lead by example, so other girls will be motivated.”
Sullivan says that Erin has all the attributes a coach would want in a captain. Sullivan feels proud of Erin for what she’s achieved as a student-athlete at Morgan, while contributing to the Huskies’ championship run.
“Erin has been a tremendous asset to the team over the past four years. Her character and leadership qualities are what led to her being named a captain,” says Sullivan. “Blessed with great athletic ability and tremendous drive, Erin has never played a game where she isn’t giving less than 100 percent. That drive also carries off the soccer field, where she excels and is one of the top students in her class. She will be deeply missed next season, not only for her athletic ability, but also for her role as captain.”
Erin has developed many long-lasting relationships throughout her time playing soccer at Morgan. Erin appreciates that she’s a member of a family that she’ll never forget.
“I played on varsity for three years and did JV when I was younger, so working with all the different players created a family bond I’ll miss,” Erin says. “We all learned to love the sport, and it made us the people we are today.”