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12/25/2018 11:00 PMThe Morgan girls’ soccer team used its unity to put together a storybook season this fall. As the Huskies were traveling their path to prominence, senior captain Alyssa LeMay served as a consummate leader for the squad, while piling up a plethora of points.
Alyssa had a tremendous senior season as a forward for Morgan, guiding the Huskies to 17 victories, their first Shoreline Conference championship in 15 years, and an appearance in the semifinals of the Class M State Tournament. Alyssa recorded 15 goals with 10 assists on the year to finish her high school career with a total of 39 goals and 27 assists. When all was said and done, Alyssa solidified spots on the All-Shoreline Conference First Team and the All-State Team, earning her third straight All-Conference nod.
“It was really a team sport for us this season,” says Alyssa. “My success and the team’s success came from everyone. We all worked together really well, which is a great thing to have happen.”
Alyssa says the nonstop motion of playing forward can be physically taxing on athletes as they make their charge toward the net. Still, Alyssa loves the rush that she gets from firing the ball at the opposing goalie while playing the forward position.
“I really like using my speed and working the ball down the field as a forward,” Alyssa says. “The one downside of the position, I guess, would be the constant running, because it can get tiring.”
Alyssa feels that she’s learned how to overcome adversity as her time at Morgan has unfolded. Alyssa credits her fellow Huskies for providing a deep system of support that helps her push past any pressure.
“My dealing with stress has gotten easier from freshman year to now,” says Alyssa, who also runs track at Morgan. “It’s nice having such a supportive team. I like being a supportive teammate to them, as well, to help them with any stress they may have.”
Alyssa emphasized that approach in her role as a captain for the Huskies this season. The senior was always ready to lend a helping hand to any teammate in need, whether it was related to the game or life in general.
“Being a captain was great. I got along really well with my teammates, and they were like a second family,” Alyssa says. “It was great to be able to talk to them about any issues they may have had.”
Head Coach Steve Sullivan was impressed by the character that Alyssa displayed as a leader. Sullivan also lauds Alyssa for her ability to consistently provide points for his club, despite having to deal with two defenders on her heels.
“Alyssa has been one of the strongest offensive threats to ever play for Morgan. She is a player with tremendous speed, strength, and athletic ability,” says Sullivan. “While often double-teamed defensively, she was still able to produce both goals and assists on a regular basis over the course of her career. As one of the senior captains this past season, she was a very important asset to the coaching staff with her leadership and organizational skills.”
Alyssa believes that the synergy among the Huskies’ athletes was one of the biggest factors that propelled them to the conference crown this fall.
“We just worked hard as a team and connected so well,” she says. “We do a lot of team bonding away from the team and in the offseason, and we talk a lot off the field.”
Reflecting upon her tenure at Morgan, Alyssa feels thankful for all the advice that she’s received from her coaches. Alyssa says the lessons that she’s learned mean just as much as anything she’s achieved on the field.
“My coaches had a huge impact on me,” says Alyssa. “They’ve all been great, and they helped the players with anything. The coaches were the highlight of my career here.”