March 1, 2012
The fifth 2012 signee to be introduced this spring is the lone goalkeeper of the nine-person class: Bradenton, Fla., native Shannon Morrish.
Morrish has started for Head Coach Eric Howell’s Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School’s Falcons since eighth grade, amassing a record of 76-23-5 in five seasons. The team has won four straight district championships, advancing to the regional finals or semifinals each year. Morrish was named the Team MVP in 2010 after her sophomore season.
In the classroom, Morrish is an outstanding student who has already earned honor roll distinction three times. She also made the school’s Directors List last semester. Morrish enjoys taking part in various community service efforts, including Special Olympics and J316 Soccer.
Outside of school, Morrish trains at the IMG Soccer Academy under the direction of famed Argentine footballer Marcelo Carrera. Located in Morrish’s hometown of Bradenton, IMG also is the home of the Bollettieri Tennis Academy and the Leadbetter Golf Academy.
Morrish has been with IMG for the past six years, earning IMG Goalkeeper of the Year honors in both her sophomore and junior years. Last fall, she posted 13 shutouts in 17 games as the captain for the U-19 squad that earned a Club Directors League championship.
Personal: Shannon Nicole Morrish… Born March 8, 1994, in Bradenton, Fla…. Daughter of Debra and Thomas Morrish… Has one older brother, Colton (20)… Father played college football at Furman University in Greenville, S.C…. Looking into Vanderbilt’s medicine, health and society major.
Coach Greene on Morrish:
“Shannon was a great late pickup for us. Sebastian is good friends with Shannon’s club coach (Marcelo Carrera), and he had a good chance to evaluate her. We feel very blessed to have found her this late in the recruiting class of 2012 and we are excited to be adding her and her family to our team.
“Shannon trains at IMG Soccer Academy, which is a full-time soccer academy, and she’s getting great coaching there. She’s developing really well and we know that she has the potential to come in here and challenge Alexa [Levick] and Brittanie [Barbero].
“For a goalkeeper, you always want to look for players that have certain skill sets and strengths. Shannon has really good size, she’s strong, she talks in the back very well and she is good with her feet. So starting out with that kind of skill set, and with Sebastian’s development of her skills through training, we think Shannon is going to have a very bright future here.”
