Fagan's New Trier plans put on hold
By Michael Wojtychiw
Going into her freshman year at New Trier in 2017, Morgan Fagan was faced with the dilemma that many top high school soccer players encounter -- play academy soccer or try out for the high school team.
But she had a plan.
"I think I always knew I was going to start off playing academy," the junior said. "Because, my freshman year was the first year that it was happening for the girls side. I knew I wanted to try it and take part in it. I knew I was getting out of high school soccer, but I always thought that was okay, because I can do it when I'm older.
"I knew what academy would give me during that time. Itt gave me the best chance of being scouted and recruited and playing at the college level."
After two years of academy soccer with FC United, Fagan decided to come back and play high school soccer with her fellow Trevians.
For some players, like midfielder Emma Weaver, Fagan's arrival was a welcome addition.
"I was stoked," Weaver said. "I was super excited for her to experience high school soccer, because I know that she'd been on academy. I remember when I switched, it was the most amazing decision, and I'm super excited for her to strive next year.
"But I was really looking forward to playing with her, obviously, because she's a great player too."
A year after Weaver ended up scoring more than half the Trevians goals on the season, Fagan's arrival may have been one that benefitted all parties.
Even with how great Weaver is, at times it seemed like one thing missing -- a Robin to her Batman.
That's where Fagan came in.
While not the most intimidating player physically, Fagan uses everything else she has in her game to help make her successful. Coach Jim Burnside was looking forward to seeing what she could do for this year's squad, as well as the connection she'd have with Weaver.
"You’d come out and see her, and be like, ‘That’s exactly what Emma needs,’” Burnside said. "She's extremely dynamic. She's real quick, real precise. She has great vision. She's always calculating and then strikes. It's this real quick, dynamic type of movement with or without the ball."
Fagan has always been more of a forward or attacking midfielder, a position where she's always felt most comfortable.
"I like how you never know what's going to happen," she said. "It's your chance to really be creative. I just like how it's never the same thing every time. You can always do something new with the ball. You can always do something new with your run. You try new things every time. It's a chance to prove yourself as an attacker."
Fagan got the attention from colleges she hoped for in academy. She didn't waste any time and committed to Division I Boston University earlier this year.
College may be about a year-and-a-half away for the junior, but the feeling she got from her future coaches really put the Terriers over the top. Of course, it also helped that she had always had her eye on playing on the East Coast.
"I always wanted to go to the East Coast, and I always wanted to be in a city. Boston met my requirements perfectly," she said. "I came out for a visit in January, and then I committed in February.
"My whole junior year, I knew I wanted to end it during that time. I felt like I found the perfect match for me. I felt like I found the perfect combination of academics and soccer, and the coaching staff has been there for a while, and they're very passionate about the program, which I really liked. I'm thankful I committed during that time, because it's a little hard to now."
Coming into her first high school season, Fagan was confident that her skills would easily transfer over to the prep game.
"I think that the local competition … during academy it was a lot of time outside of practices … the travel, the dedication and sacrifice, just the whole environment, of all the times to practice," she said. "I think during those moments, that was training me for now.
“What the season would have been, with all the sacrifices you have to make between your schoolwork and keeping that balance, I think time-management skills while I was in the academy would have helped me this season if we would have had it."
The Trevians, like every other soccer team in the state, were really only able to get about a week into the season before the IHSA decided to postpone it due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Illinois' shelter-at-home rules.
That meant new players like Fagan were only able to play with their new teammates for a handful of days before the season was suspended.
That really stung the Trevians newcomer, who wanted to help lead the team back to Naperville and the Class 3A Final Four for the seventh-consecutive season.
"I was really devastated. We'd had one practice after I first met the team," she said. "It's a different environment than what my club experience ever was. I was so excited to play with all these players, like Emma (Weaver) and Heidi (Bianucci), and just really make this year the most of what it could be.
"I really wanted to win state and go to state and have all these experiences. When I found out, no, that was impossible this year, I was really devastated. But also, just keep in mind that … I still have next year, and one year's better than not having anything.
"I was also really looking forward to being coached by Burnside, because I did the New Trier summer camp the summer before my freshman year. I remember thinking he was a little scary then.
“I was really excited this year to be coached by him; I've heard from so many people he's such a good coach and he'd done so many things for so many girls, and helping their soccer careers grow. I was really excited to be coached by him and seeing what he would have to do for my personal development.
"I guess the final thing I was excited for is just playing for my school, representing my school. I've only done club soccer. It's a different environment when your school comes out to support. I had a vision in my mind of going to state and the whole school being there. But the coronavirus kinda killed that."
By Michael Wojtychiw
Going into her freshman year at New Trier in 2017, Morgan Fagan was faced with the dilemma that many top high school soccer players encounter -- play academy soccer or try out for the high school team.
But she had a plan.
"I think I always knew I was going to start off playing academy," the junior said. "Because, my freshman year was the first year that it was happening for the girls side. I knew I wanted to try it and take part in it. I knew I was getting out of high school soccer, but I always thought that was okay, because I can do it when I'm older.
"I knew what academy would give me during that time. Itt gave me the best chance of being scouted and recruited and playing at the college level."
After two years of academy soccer with FC United, Fagan decided to come back and play high school soccer with her fellow Trevians.
For some players, like midfielder Emma Weaver, Fagan's arrival was a welcome addition.
"I was stoked," Weaver said. "I was super excited for her to experience high school soccer, because I know that she'd been on academy. I remember when I switched, it was the most amazing decision, and I'm super excited for her to strive next year.
"But I was really looking forward to playing with her, obviously, because she's a great player too."
A year after Weaver ended up scoring more than half the Trevians goals on the season, Fagan's arrival may have been one that benefitted all parties.
Even with how great Weaver is, at times it seemed like one thing missing -- a Robin to her Batman.
That's where Fagan came in.
While not the most intimidating player physically, Fagan uses everything else she has in her game to help make her successful. Coach Jim Burnside was looking forward to seeing what she could do for this year's squad, as well as the connection she'd have with Weaver.
"You’d come out and see her, and be like, ‘That’s exactly what Emma needs,’” Burnside said. "She's extremely dynamic. She's real quick, real precise. She has great vision. She's always calculating and then strikes. It's this real quick, dynamic type of movement with or without the ball."
Fagan has always been more of a forward or attacking midfielder, a position where she's always felt most comfortable.
"I like how you never know what's going to happen," she said. "It's your chance to really be creative. I just like how it's never the same thing every time. You can always do something new with the ball. You can always do something new with your run. You try new things every time. It's a chance to prove yourself as an attacker."
Fagan got the attention from colleges she hoped for in academy. She didn't waste any time and committed to Division I Boston University earlier this year.
College may be about a year-and-a-half away for the junior, but the feeling she got from her future coaches really put the Terriers over the top. Of course, it also helped that she had always had her eye on playing on the East Coast.
"I always wanted to go to the East Coast, and I always wanted to be in a city. Boston met my requirements perfectly," she said. "I came out for a visit in January, and then I committed in February.
"My whole junior year, I knew I wanted to end it during that time. I felt like I found the perfect match for me. I felt like I found the perfect combination of academics and soccer, and the coaching staff has been there for a while, and they're very passionate about the program, which I really liked. I'm thankful I committed during that time, because it's a little hard to now."
Coming into her first high school season, Fagan was confident that her skills would easily transfer over to the prep game.
"I think that the local competition … during academy it was a lot of time outside of practices … the travel, the dedication and sacrifice, just the whole environment, of all the times to practice," she said. "I think during those moments, that was training me for now.
“What the season would have been, with all the sacrifices you have to make between your schoolwork and keeping that balance, I think time-management skills while I was in the academy would have helped me this season if we would have had it."
The Trevians, like every other soccer team in the state, were really only able to get about a week into the season before the IHSA decided to postpone it due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Illinois' shelter-at-home rules.
That meant new players like Fagan were only able to play with their new teammates for a handful of days before the season was suspended.
That really stung the Trevians newcomer, who wanted to help lead the team back to Naperville and the Class 3A Final Four for the seventh-consecutive season.
"I was really devastated. We'd had one practice after I first met the team," she said. "It's a different environment than what my club experience ever was. I was so excited to play with all these players, like Emma (Weaver) and Heidi (Bianucci), and just really make this year the most of what it could be.
"I really wanted to win state and go to state and have all these experiences. When I found out, no, that was impossible this year, I was really devastated. But also, just keep in mind that … I still have next year, and one year's better than not having anything.
"I was also really looking forward to being coached by Burnside, because I did the New Trier summer camp the summer before my freshman year. I remember thinking he was a little scary then.
“I was really excited this year to be coached by him; I've heard from so many people he's such a good coach and he'd done so many things for so many girls, and helping their soccer careers grow. I was really excited to be coached by him and seeing what he would have to do for my personal development.
"I guess the final thing I was excited for is just playing for my school, representing my school. I've only done club soccer. It's a different environment when your school comes out to support. I had a vision in my mind of going to state and the whole school being there. But the coronavirus kinda killed that."