Early in WSU sophomore forward Morgan Weaver’s high school years, it was clear that she was going to be a Cougar.

Despite drawing interest from the University of Washington as a freshman in high school, Weaver visited WSU and never looked back. As a promising high school soccer talent, she committed to WSU during her sophomore year of high school.

Starting for four years on the varsity soccer team at Curtis High School (CHS) in University Place, Weaver received several honors for leading her teams to a 56-15-6 combined overall record. Weaver was a four-time member of the South Puget Sound League First Team, three-time all-area First Team and was named the all-area Player of the Year by the Tacoma News Tribune three times and the 2015 Tacoma News Player of the Year. She also won the Washington Area Intergroup Association (WAIA) all-state MVP.

Weaver scored 97 goals during her high school career and although she aimed to lead the Vikings to a state championship, she led CHS to a quarterfinal finish in the WAIA state tournament her senior year.

Before arriving at CHS, Weaver was a member of the Washington state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team from 2009-2012 and later played at the premier level. Weaver said playing at a higher competition level was beneficial to her development as a player.

“Learning from the older girls, I learned what maturity is,” Weaver said. “By my senior year, I was able to help the younger girls work on their skills and focus when they needed to.”

Weaver was also invited to the 2015 Nike National Camp in Oregon to train prior to her senior year at CHS.

“I met a lot of new coaches that taught me what I can really do with my style of play,” she said.

That same year, Weaver was named an All-American and played against the East region with All-Americans from the West region in North Carolina.

“Playing with and against older players of high talent showed me what I was going to need to compete at the college level,” Weaver said.

Weaver’s success stems from her positive mentality, open personality, and her passionate and sports-focused family.

Weaver’s father, Michael, always watched her high school games from as close as he could get to the field and often travels to Pullman to catch home games at Lower Soccer Field.

“My dad reminds me that I should always go full force at all times,” Weaver said. “I am the person I am today because of my parents.”

Weaver’s mother, Jana, keeps statistics and notes of her games, contributing to her game-to-game improvements. Weaver also has a younger sister, Isabella, who is currently playing for CHS. Although the two argue just as many siblings do, she said, Weaver tries to be the best older sister she can.

“I love my sister,” she said.

To transition to college level soccer and play against higher competition was not as easy as it may have looked for Weaver.

“I had to understand the role of defense,” Weaver said, “not only just getting back on defense, but also making the runs behind the forwards.”

One player in particular that helped Weaver transition in her first year was graduating senior forward Kaitlyn Johnson. Weaver said playing alongside a senior and an All-Pac-12 player helped her with the adjustment.

“[Johnson] taught me how to become the player I am going to need to be,” Weaver said. “She would always boost my confidence and let me know when I did something wrong.”

As a freshman starting at forward for the Cougars last season, Weaver displayed her offensive talent early, starting all 18 games for Head Coach Todd Shulenberger.

Weaver scored her first career goal against North Dakota State in the team’s fifth game and quickly added two more against the Bison to complete a hat trick. Weaver was the first Cougar to score a hat trick since former midfielder Eileen Maes did against Hawaii in 2011.

Although the hat trick was impressive, the most memorable moment for Weaver during her first year was ending the season with a victory over the University of Washington.

“I loved it because a lot of people doubted us,” Weaver said. “It was nice to come out and defend the title for our school of being the best team in Washington.”

Weaver also said the win was a huge moment for the team after the Cougars failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years.

Quiet and humble, Weaver studies her schoolwork and game-film just as hard as she plays on the field. She attributes a lot of her growth to the amount of film she has watched on last years’ games.

The sophomore said she cannot wait for next season, and she forecasts that the team will have more success next season due to the hard work her teammates have put in during the offseason.

“I see myself just as I see my entire team,” Weaver said, “just another player that is going to come out every day and try as hard as I can. Our main goal is to play one game at a time. We want to make the tournament.”