Identities are shaped by what you do and who you are when you’re young. For senior Liliana Novicki, her journey through the years with soccer has helped her to become who she is today, and give her the confidence and experience to deal with the everyday challenges many people do not know how to combat.
Novicki moved to Clinton from East Haven when she was in 2nd grade. She had done dance before she moved, but had to quit because of how far away her dance became. Leaving dance was a big step for her, because it was her passion, but she soon picked up soccer. She currently plays goalie, and it has been that way since before she can remember. “Clinton was a soccer town, and I needed a sport to play close to home and soccer seemed fun enough,” Novicki explained. “I also wanted to get to know other people in my town.”
Novicki was extremely excited for her 8th grade year, because it was going to be her first varsity season with the Eliot soccer team, because there was always a goalie in the grade above her. Soccer had meant so much to her over the past 6 years she had played, so her 8th grade year was going to be one of her biggest accomplishments throughout her full career.
She was thrilled for this new experience, until the Covid-19 lockdown happened. This really affected her confidence going into high school, as she had no prior experience of the stress of being in a stressful varsity game. But luckily, the high school team was welcoming and made her feel at home.
High school can be hard to manage school work with sports, but Novicki played all four years. She mentioned many reasons for wanting to play and pursuing the sport, although at times it was tough. But two specific reasons were definitely the most important to her decision, her passion for the sport, and her coach. “One of my biggest motivations to continue playing and keeping a positive attitude throughout it all was my passion and love for the sport,” Novicki explained. “But my biggest motivation was definitely Sully. His coaching and approach to the game was truly like nothing I’ve ever seen, and he made me love the sport so much more.”
Steve Sullivan was the Morgan girls soccer coach from up until 2022. He was a mentor for a lot of the girls on the team and meant a lot to them. He sadly passed away in July of 2023. Novicki said, “the loss of my coach Sully and the transition into the current coach was rough at first because of how much Sully meant to me. If I didn’t have such an intense love for the sport, I might have quit after Sully had passed.”
After Sully had passed away, it gave the team motivation to work even harder and achieve their goals, to honor coach Sully. Novicki helped in not only keeping spirits high, but also reminding everyone the reason for all the hard work and practice.
The next year, the Morgan girls soccer team had made it, for the first time in all of Novicki’s years on the team, to the state championship finals against Coginchaug. Unfortunately, the girls lost in penalty shootouts 4-3. Novicki said, “Making it to states felt like an out-of-body experience. The support from my friends and family was unbelievable. Even though we lost states, the experience and privilege of being there and with my team was incredible.”
Next year, Novicki is committed to play Division 3 soccer at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven. “I think without soccer, I wouldn’t be going to college at all,” Novicki shared. “It truly is my motivation for learning and going to school. It helps me stay organized and keep a schedule.”
Novicki explained how she is excited that soccer is not leaving her yet, and she will continue another four years playing the sport that guided her down the path she is still on today. “Soccer taught me my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Without it, I would not be the person I am today. Being in goal, I have to take charge of the field and be able to effectively communicate to my teammates in a respectful way,” Novicki said.
