By Kyle LoJacono
Morgan Crescent never tied herself to one sport while growing up.
The Land O’ Lakes High graduate did almost everything, including playing volleyball and softball for the Gators, while also being one of the nation’s highest rated amateur wake boarders.
“I just liked all of them, and I’m really competitive,” said Crescent, a sophomore goalkeeper at Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg.
Crescent, a business administration major, picked up soccer at age 10, but originally saw playing outside hitter in volleyball as her chance at college ball.
She gave up club soccer at age 14, but kept playing for Land O’ Lakes throughout high school as a midfielder. She turned back to the sport after being lightly recruited for volleyball, but not at her primary position.
“My senior year I decided to try out for goalie for Hillsborough County United,” Crescent said. “I ended up liking it, got offered from Eckerd and thought it was a great opportunity.”
Vicky King, who coached Crescent at Land O’ Lakes and at the Central Pasco United Soccer Association (CPUSA), said she knew her former pupil had the ability.
“She’s extremely athletic and wanted to learn how to be a better goalkeeper,” King said. “We had another keeper (Tara Marshall) who had started for us for a few years, so she knew she’d be a backup, but she still wanted to do it.”
Crescent got into four games as a senior at goalkeeper, making 11 saves and allowed seven goals in 141 minutes.
“At first I just wanted to know if I could do it,” Crescent said. “I didn’t have the technique, but I knew I could throw myself out there and make some of the saves even without any techniques.”
There was something about her competitiveness and raw ability that stood out to Tritons third-year coach Danielle Fotopoulos.
“Not only her athleticism, but she’s an all-around great person,” Fotopoulos said. “She’s a very good student. She’s someone that you want on your team. She always puts her arm around somebody if they need to be picked up. She’s a great leader on the field as well as off the field.”
Crescent began last year as Eckerd’s backup, but forced a platooning situation by the end of the season. She spent last summer training with the semiprofessional Tampa Bay Hellenic club.
“I didn’t really get to play, but I got so much good practice time,” Crescent said. “It really helped me with my form and what I’m supposed to do as a goalie.”
Fotopoulos said she’s seen a huge difference in Crescent’s game this season, which helped her win the starting job during the first two weeks of practice.
“Morgan has come up big in every single game and every half,” Fotopoulos said. “She’s been making some out-of-this-world saves. It’s all due to her preparation, but really her athleticism and competitiveness.”
She has played in 11 of the Tritons’ 12 games this year, including 10 starts. Crescent has gone 6-2-2 with 76 saves, five shutouts and a goals against average of 1.05 in 1,030 minutes.
Eckerd has also started to make waves in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC).
After going 0-1-2 to start SSC play, the Tritons won their next three, the first against Saint Leo University Sept. 26 to snap a 46-game winless streak in conference matchups.
“We had a lot of freshmen come in this year like we did last year,” Crescent said. “Last year, I know the scores didn’t show, but I think we competed better than before. I think that was the starting point for this year. The girls in my grade, I think that helped us realize what we wanted to accomplish because we lost so many games the year before. I think we’re rubbing off on the freshmen.
“We’ve been working really hard, and it’s starting to pay off,” Crescent continued. “We’re starting to realize that we can beat any team as long as we play with our hearts in it. It’s not always who has the best players, but who wants it more. We have some really talented players, but they’re putting their all into it, and that’s what’s helping us win.”
Crescent has made 18 saves and allowed just two goals in Eckerd’s conference victories, and was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Week for helping her squad to 0-0 draws against Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern Sept. 18 and 22, respectively.
“All the other coaches respect her,” Fotopoulos said. “Whenever I come off the field the other coaches say, ‘Wow, you have a great keeper.’ There’s a lot of respect for her not just with the team, but in the conference.”
Crescent and the Tritons host SSC rival Rollins Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
