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October 23, 2008

BU bound: Jess Morrow follows soccer coach's footsteps

Morrow follows coach's footsteps to BU

David Willis

When Boston University emerged as a finalist for Andover's Jess Morrow, she didn't have to go far for insight on the school. She needed only to look across the soccer pitch to her coach, former Golden Warriors and Terriers standout Meghan Matson.

"Meghan said that she loved it there," said Morrow. "She loved the coach, who is still there, and it was a good experience. I knew a few people who loved it, and that got me very interested."

Morrow will now follow in the footsteps of her coach. The Golden Warriors senior and two-time All-Merrimack Valley Conference selection will bring her impressive scoring ability to Division 1 Boston University next season.

"I knew I really wanted to play college soccer," said Morrow. "And when I visited (BU), the coaches were great and I thought the soccer aspect and the academic aspect fit me perfectly. And it's close to home. I really loved it there."

Morrow wasted no time starting the recruiting process. By the time she was a sophomore, she had already sent letters and e-mails to college coaches.

"Girls soccer starts very early," she said. "If you want to play at a good school, you need to contact coaches and tell them when and where you are playing. I initiated a lot."

Schools such as Penn State, Harvard and UC Santa Barbara all came to watch her play in club tournaments. But no school was more present than the Terriers.

"BU definitely went the furthest," said Morrow. "They knew my connection to Meghan and they talked to me. You can't play your best every time, so they saw me play a few times and showed interest."

One person who was in Morrow's corner was Matson, who starter at goalkeeper for Andover from 1993-95, then for the Terriers for three years.

"She was on their radar," said Matson. "The coach I had (Nancy Feldman) is still there, and if I have a player I think she should take a look at, she'll come out for a game. Last fall, she came to see a few girls, and became very interested in Jess.

"I talked to Jess and her parents about how the process works. Being a college coach as well (at Bucknell University), I gave them the ins and outs of what a college coach is looking for and the steps you take."

Morrow made three visits to BU, once during her sophomore year and twice in her junior year. Finally, she made the decision to commit to the Terriers before this high school season. She will receive a partial scholarship, however, the amount had not been determined.

"I didn't want to make a quick decision," she said. "I looked around at a few other schools like Brown, but (BU) was just the best fit."

Hitting the net

Morrow brings plenty of firepower to the Terriers. In four years as a member of the Andover varsity team, the two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star has scored 48 goals. She has a team-high 11 goals this year for the Golden Warriors (9-6-1), and scored a team-best 17 last year on her way to being named MVC Large Player of the Year and first-team Eastern Mass. All-Star. She also led the Golden Warriors with 14 goals as a sophomore.

She noted an ability to shoot with both feet and, at 5-foot-9, she is able to reach high passes with her head. A midfielder in high school, she expects to play forward in college.

"She is very fast," said Matson. "Her footwork is great and she just has a knack for scoring goals. She also has a great knowledge for the game. I think she will be a huge success in college."

Morrow will join a BU offense that is led by another former Golden Warrior, two-time Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year Emily Pallotta. A junior, Pallotta is tied for the Terriers' team-high in goals (4) and points (10) this season.

Hitting the books

Morrow is also a standout in the classroom. She was named to the National Honor Society last year and believes she is in the top 10 to 15 percent of her Andover High class.

However, she has not yet decided what she will study at Boston University, so plans to enter her freshman year undecided.

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BU bound: Jess Morrow follows soccer coach's footsteps
by David Willis , , Thu Oct 23, 2008, 04:52 PM EDT
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