As the Morgan boys lacrosse team walked off the field last spring, they knew this season they would be looking for more.
This season’s players are looking to build an environment more friendly and welcoming to all players. When senior captain Declan Shortt was asked what he wants out of this season, he stated, “I definitely want to make a run in states and hopefully make a far run in shorelines, maybe get to the final. I think it’s definitely possible.”
While discussing last year’s 8-10 record, Braedan Steahle said, “We really haven’t been a crazy winning team in the past two years. We just need to know when to bear down and really fight, especially in those close games that we could have won in the past couple of years.” The boys lacrosse team had lost 10 games last year and lost to the first seed in the states with the ending score of 18-0.
This season, Morgan returns with second-year coach Conner Paige. For starting goalie Braeden Steahle, it is his coaches’ drive and determination that matters. “You know, he started this because we really needed a coach, but he stuck around, and I think that’s also important to have someone who really cares about the kids like that.” This season, the lacrosse team needs a new assistant coach after coach Alex Amendola left to complete his master’s. Now, Morgan hopes to find one before the season starts.
This season, the team is going in with the same phrase from last season, which is, “Bring the Juice.” It means to give everything you have, no matter what, in each game. It motivates each player before a game because at the end of the game one player is given a quart of any flavor of juice. The team also likes to use the word “Grit.” Sophomore defender Aiden Wyatt talks about what the word grit means to him: “Grit means getting things done. When we hear grit its so in our heads that it just pushes us to g0 100% everytime we hear it.”
Morgan returns 21 players this season, 9 of whom were starters last season. Steele, who averaged 12.1 saves last season, sees communication as a key to the team’s success. While discussing some key players and advantages for this upcoming season, Steele mentioned how valuable having nine returning seniors will be. Steele mentioned, “But Nick Menza, he’s been around all four years. Defensive end and that’s it, it’s really important to have those, like, older kids who have been there all four years again, just to, like, enforce what is expected.”
This season we have many returning players like Jake Lichack, Declan Shortt, and Braedan Steahle. Some winnable games this season are against Valley, Cromwell, and Old Saybrook. Teams that are needed to beat to enter states are HK and North Brandford. These games against HK will be very interesting regarding the losing streak against them for 7 years. This season, North Brandford will also bring some competition with having some returning players but losing many seniors.
Enrique Carvalho-Dotor is running with the ball to make a shot on goal
What are the winnable games for this season? What teams will they need to beat to get to states? Who are the returning good teams or players?
This last season for Steele is really important to him, “My sophomore year here only had, you know, those two wins. So I found out that here we’ve had a lot of bad things, a lot of good things. But, um, it means a lot. I think we’re gonna have a good season. We’re gonna be able to compete very well, especially on the shoreline. So I’m excited just to be able to compete,” said Steele.
