Morgan embodies team-first mentality
10/28/2015 10:22:00 AM | Women's Soccer, Student Athlete
By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
Offense wins games. Defense wins championships. Both aspects are important, but embracing a less glamorous part of the game, defense, separates championship-level teams.
Â
Lehigh women's soccer senior Madi Morgan has embraced defense, which has led to individual and collective success.
Â
"Madi knows by embracing defense, it transfers over to the entire team," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "That's where I see her value. She really understands that the better she is, the better the team will be, which is all she really wants. She wants to win and wants to be a part of a great soccer team that she's proud of."
Â
Entering Lehigh, offense was Morgan's focus.
Â
"Throughout club and high school, I was an attacking center midfielder and forward," she said. "I constantly got forward and attacked."
Â
During Morgan's sophomore year at Lehigh, Lambinus had a conversation with the Grand Rapids, Michigan native. The conversation was a spark that helped propel Morgan to greatness, in a way she would have never imagined.
Â
"Coach flat-out told me I'm not good defensively and I had to improve in that area," said Morgan. "I really took it to heart and responded by constantly working on my defense. I listened to what he said, kept working on defense and became so good at it that I became a defensive center midfielder."
Â
Lambinus' conversation wasn't meant to discourage. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was meant to spark improvement in Morgan as an all-around player.
Â
"Madi is such a physical presence that we knew she could be more than a good defender; we thought she could be a great defender," said Lambinus. "She just had to learn and commit to defense. She figured it out over time and has become a great defensive midfielder."
Â
Morgan's road to Lehigh is almost like her road to defensive midfield. When exploring college options, she attended a Bucknell soccer camp, then decided to drive the additional two hours to Bethlehem. At the time, Madi wasn't serious about Lehigh, but visiting campus quickly sold her.
Â
"Immediately, I just had that feeling," said Morgan. "I turned to my dad and said, this is what I've always wanted in a college. Lehigh feels so Harry Potterish; I absolutely fell in love with the campus. Then when I met the team, I knew it was the right fit."
Â
One of the common themes from day one of Morgan's time at Lehigh has been family. She immediately connected with her teammates.
Â
"Being part of Lehigh women's soccer is special, way beyond the soccer field," said Morgan. "We genuinely love being around each other. We all have such close relationships and we've really worked on team bonding."
Â
Rather than goals or assists, defensive midfield features smaller victories that don't show up in the stat sheet, but lead to wins as a team.
Â
"When there are air balls, I mentally picture winning the ball," said Morgan. "I like to think, 'this girl's not going to beat me.' I take it personally when someone beats me, I get upset and try to win the next one."
Â
Morgan brings energy and composure in her midfield position.
Â
"Madi is always where she needs to be and has great awareness of where her teammates are on the field," said senior goalkeeper Ani Nahapetian. "Madi also has a lot of composure and has the ability to calm the team when we're playing franticly."
Â
Even though Morgan is a defensive midfielder, it doesn't mean she can't push forward into the offensive third of the field. Periodically, she has slid to a more offensive midfield role, including late in a September game at Temple, which led to her first-career goal in dramatic fashion. Morgan's golden goal gave Lehigh the thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory.
Â
"Coach has told me that even in my defensive role, he wants me to get shots on goal and try and go for it as much as I can," said Morgan. "In double overtime, we had the cross and I jumped up and headed it in. It was amazing to win a header in the attacking third."
Â
The day was extra special for another reason.
Â
"I was so happy because my parents were there from Michigan and it was their anniversary," said Morgan. "Before the game, they joked that our present to us is scoring a goal. I was so happy."
Â
Morgan's contributions go far beyond a goal, assist, or even a strong defensive play. Most importantly, she is a positive example for her teammates. Morgan has helped the Mountain Hawks put their recently-created vision into action.
Â
"Madi embodies our entire vision," said Lambinus. "She embodies self and team accountability. She has a toughness about her. She's one of our hardest-working people in the weight room, one of our hardest-working fitness wise and one of our hardest-working players getting better technically."
Â
Behind the lead of Morgan and her senior classmates, the 2015 Mountain Hawks have built a strong foundation to set them up for success. It all begins with base relationships.
Â
"When you have a relationship off the field, it comes so much easier on the field," said Morgan. "You're able to push each other to go for that extra run. If people aren't performing well, you can go up to them and constructively criticize them. Even if you're on the field, you can yell at your teammates, but they know it's not personal."
Â
Morgan's Lehigh experience has been memorable because of people, including her teammates, coaches, classmates and professors. In the classroom, she is a Psychology major who is already working her way towards a Master's Degree in Education. Morgan's ultimate goal is to become an Elementary School teacher.
Â
The Michigan native has experienced a lot of change over the last four years, from her college choice to her change of position on the soccer field, and everything in between.
Â
"I think it's so important for people to experience something different than they ever experienced growing up," said Morgan. "I never lived out here before coming to college. It's important to find yourself, try new things and not be afraid to be away from your family."
Â
For the ups and downs of her college career, Morgan wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Â
"Lehigh has definitely challenged me in many ways, not only academically, but in all aspects of my life," she said. "I feel like I have grown and matured so much. From freshman year until now, it's incredible how much Lehigh has done for me. I have met so many incredible friends and am so fortunate my parents allowed me to come to such a great academic and athletic school."
Â
For now, Morgan is focused on finishing her Lehigh career out strongly. Regardless how her senior season ends up, she has made a profound impact on her teammates, and the program as a whole.
Â
"Madi is a great role model for the underclassmen," said Nahapetian. "She spent a lot of time learning from upperclassmen and growing as a player, and I think it is evident now in her play. The underclassmen that struggle with playing time can really look to Madi because at one point, she was in their shoes. She proves that with hard work and patience, good things will come."
Â
"Madi is a great example for all other players about how you can become a better player," said Lambinus. "You come to college to become better. Madi knew that she wanted to become this great soccer player, wanted to get better every day and wanted to do the things necessary to accomplish that goal."
Â
One of those necessary improvements was defense. Defending isn't just the responsibility of the back four, but the entire team. Morgan has helped create a powerful buy-in amongst her teammates, which is invaluable.
Â
Thinking back to her Lehigh experience, Morgan has advice to younger players, especially those aspiring to play collegiately.
Â
"No matter how hard it is, try and push yourself to be that versatile player," she said. "No matter where you are on the field, you'll always have to know how to defend. It's so important for players to know that just because you're a forward, it doesn't mean you're only a forward. You have to work as a team."
Â
Student-athletes come into college with talent, but need some seasoning. That is expected. Student-athletes are in college to learn and grow, and that's exactly what Madi Morgan has done.
Â
"We recruit great players, but the biggest thing we do at Lehigh is develop those players," said Lambinus. "Madi buys into what we're teaching and makes it a lot easier for everyone around her. When one of our best players is buying in, it's really easy for everyone else to say 'I think I can do it' too."
Â
Offense wins games. Defense wins championships. Both aspects are important, but embracing a less glamorous part of the game, defense, separates championship-level teams.
Â
Lehigh women's soccer senior Madi Morgan has embraced defense, which has led to individual and collective success.
Â
"Madi knows by embracing defense, it transfers over to the entire team," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "That's where I see her value. She really understands that the better she is, the better the team will be, which is all she really wants. She wants to win and wants to be a part of a great soccer team that she's proud of."
Â
Entering Lehigh, offense was Morgan's focus.
Â
"Throughout club and high school, I was an attacking center midfielder and forward," she said. "I constantly got forward and attacked."
Â
During Morgan's sophomore year at Lehigh, Lambinus had a conversation with the Grand Rapids, Michigan native. The conversation was a spark that helped propel Morgan to greatness, in a way she would have never imagined.
Â
"Coach flat-out told me I'm not good defensively and I had to improve in that area," said Morgan. "I really took it to heart and responded by constantly working on my defense. I listened to what he said, kept working on defense and became so good at it that I became a defensive center midfielder."
Â
Lambinus' conversation wasn't meant to discourage. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was meant to spark improvement in Morgan as an all-around player.
Â
"Madi is such a physical presence that we knew she could be more than a good defender; we thought she could be a great defender," said Lambinus. "She just had to learn and commit to defense. She figured it out over time and has become a great defensive midfielder."
Â
Morgan's road to Lehigh is almost like her road to defensive midfield. When exploring college options, she attended a Bucknell soccer camp, then decided to drive the additional two hours to Bethlehem. At the time, Madi wasn't serious about Lehigh, but visiting campus quickly sold her.
Â
"Immediately, I just had that feeling," said Morgan. "I turned to my dad and said, this is what I've always wanted in a college. Lehigh feels so Harry Potterish; I absolutely fell in love with the campus. Then when I met the team, I knew it was the right fit."
 One of the common themes from day one of Morgan's time at Lehigh has been family. She immediately connected with her teammates.
Â
"Being part of Lehigh women's soccer is special, way beyond the soccer field," said Morgan. "We genuinely love being around each other. We all have such close relationships and we've really worked on team bonding."
Â
Rather than goals or assists, defensive midfield features smaller victories that don't show up in the stat sheet, but lead to wins as a team.
Â
"When there are air balls, I mentally picture winning the ball," said Morgan. "I like to think, 'this girl's not going to beat me.' I take it personally when someone beats me, I get upset and try to win the next one."
Â
Morgan brings energy and composure in her midfield position.
Â
"Madi is always where she needs to be and has great awareness of where her teammates are on the field," said senior goalkeeper Ani Nahapetian. "Madi also has a lot of composure and has the ability to calm the team when we're playing franticly."
Â
Even though Morgan is a defensive midfielder, it doesn't mean she can't push forward into the offensive third of the field. Periodically, she has slid to a more offensive midfield role, including late in a September game at Temple, which led to her first-career goal in dramatic fashion. Morgan's golden goal gave Lehigh the thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory.
Â
"Coach has told me that even in my defensive role, he wants me to get shots on goal and try and go for it as much as I can," said Morgan. "In double overtime, we had the cross and I jumped up and headed it in. It was amazing to win a header in the attacking third."
Â
The day was extra special for another reason.
Â
"I was so happy because my parents were there from Michigan and it was their anniversary," said Morgan. "Before the game, they joked that our present to us is scoring a goal. I was so happy."
Â
Morgan's contributions go far beyond a goal, assist, or even a strong defensive play. Most importantly, she is a positive example for her teammates. Morgan has helped the Mountain Hawks put their recently-created vision into action.
Â
"Madi embodies our entire vision," said Lambinus. "She embodies self and team accountability. She has a toughness about her. She's one of our hardest-working people in the weight room, one of our hardest-working fitness wise and one of our hardest-working players getting better technically."
Â
Behind the lead of Morgan and her senior classmates, the 2015 Mountain Hawks have built a strong foundation to set them up for success. It all begins with base relationships.
Â
"When you have a relationship off the field, it comes so much easier on the field," said Morgan. "You're able to push each other to go for that extra run. If people aren't performing well, you can go up to them and constructively criticize them. Even if you're on the field, you can yell at your teammates, but they know it's not personal."
Â
Morgan's Lehigh experience has been memorable because of people, including her teammates, coaches, classmates and professors. In the classroom, she is a Psychology major who is already working her way towards a Master's Degree in Education. Morgan's ultimate goal is to become an Elementary School teacher.
Â
The Michigan native has experienced a lot of change over the last four years, from her college choice to her change of position on the soccer field, and everything in between.
Â
"I think it's so important for people to experience something different than they ever experienced growing up," said Morgan. "I never lived out here before coming to college. It's important to find yourself, try new things and not be afraid to be away from your family."
Â
For the ups and downs of her college career, Morgan wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
Â
"Lehigh has definitely challenged me in many ways, not only academically, but in all aspects of my life," she said. "I feel like I have grown and matured so much. From freshman year until now, it's incredible how much Lehigh has done for me. I have met so many incredible friends and am so fortunate my parents allowed me to come to such a great academic and athletic school."
Â
For now, Morgan is focused on finishing her Lehigh career out strongly. Regardless how her senior season ends up, she has made a profound impact on her teammates, and the program as a whole.
 "Madi is a great role model for the underclassmen," said Nahapetian. "She spent a lot of time learning from upperclassmen and growing as a player, and I think it is evident now in her play. The underclassmen that struggle with playing time can really look to Madi because at one point, she was in their shoes. She proves that with hard work and patience, good things will come."
Â
"Madi is a great example for all other players about how you can become a better player," said Lambinus. "You come to college to become better. Madi knew that she wanted to become this great soccer player, wanted to get better every day and wanted to do the things necessary to accomplish that goal."
Â
One of those necessary improvements was defense. Defending isn't just the responsibility of the back four, but the entire team. Morgan has helped create a powerful buy-in amongst her teammates, which is invaluable.
Â
Thinking back to her Lehigh experience, Morgan has advice to younger players, especially those aspiring to play collegiately.
Â
"No matter how hard it is, try and push yourself to be that versatile player," she said. "No matter where you are on the field, you'll always have to know how to defend. It's so important for players to know that just because you're a forward, it doesn't mean you're only a forward. You have to work as a team."
Â
Student-athletes come into college with talent, but need some seasoning. That is expected. Student-athletes are in college to learn and grow, and that's exactly what Madi Morgan has done.
Â
"We recruit great players, but the biggest thing we do at Lehigh is develop those players," said Lambinus. "Madi buys into what we're teaching and makes it a lot easier for everyone around her. When one of our best players is buying in, it's really easy for everyone else to say 'I think I can do it' too."
Â
Players Mentioned
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