Morante provides veteran presence for ’Dogs

FAYETTEVILLE — When Harry Morante first joined the Fayetteville boys’ soccer program, the thought of the Bulldogs being a consistent participant in the Class 7A Tournament was still just a long goal off in the future.

Now in his junior season, Morante will do everything in his power to make sure the Bulldogs continue to build on the success he helped start way back in his freshman year.

Morante, a center defender, entered the Bulldogs’ program as a freshman in 2013 along with a talented group of classmates. That season, the young new crop of Purple’Dogs were a big backbone to a team that reached the 7A Tournament for a second consecutive season. While many 7A-West schools were used to regular postseason appearances, at the time Fayetteville was not. But Morante could sense his first year with the team was just the beginning of better things to come.

“We didn’t get to the playoffs much in the past,” Morante said. “But we got to the playoffs that first year and now we’ve been each of my first two years.

“Slowly, our team goals are growing each year. We know we can get to those places and we just need to play well. Our goals are higher and higher now, we just need to put together a good run towards the end of the season.”

This year, Fayetteville (6-6, 2-4 7A-West) has been struck by the injury bug at several key positions. Fielding a full roster has been a chore, and making a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance could be a difficult task as the team fights through the tough 7A-West schedule.

But while several teammates have been in and out of the lineup, having a veteran like Morante as a constant leader is invaluable to Fayetteville as it fights for its playoff life.

“His speed of play has gotten a lot better and he’s understanding the game,” Bulldogs boys soccer coach Steve Oliver said. “He still needs to play a little quicker, but he’s become a lot more disciplined.

“He’s grown up and played a good club level with the Lightning. So he’s a great soccer player with a lot of potential still in front of him.”

Morante took a backseat to upperclassmen when he was a freshman. But now, he knows this year’s Fayetteville team needs him to step up in a bigger role. Back when he first joined the program, he might not have been ready for leadership duties.

Today, he accepts and welcomes the new tasks with open arms.

“When I got here there was a lot of good players here already and they led the team,” Morante said. “As a freshman I was very timid on the field and I wasn’t ready for all the contact.

“But those juniors and seniors before me showed us how to play out on the field and now we’re doing the same thing for the younger guys.”

Another appearance in the Class 7A Tournament is the goal for Morante and the Bulldogs. Getting enough pieces to the puzzle healthy in time might be neccesary to make a playoff run possible. But when Fayetteville is able to feature a full lineup. Morante is confident they can give any team they face a run for their money.

“We’ve had a lot of our starters injured and it’s been a big blow,” Morante said. “I think that’s messed with our chemistry, but now we’ve got those guys coming back and I think we’re starting to figure it out.”

Vernon Tarver can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAVernon

Harry Morante

SCHOOL Fayetteville CLASS Junior POSITION Center Defender HEIGHT 6-0 NOTABLE Three-year letterman for the Purple Bulldogs. … Has helped lead Fayetteville to the postseason in each of the previous two seasons. … Has played center-mid defender and center attack mid-defender in his time with the Bulldogs.

Upcoming Events