Richard Veytsman Photography

Coach Morgan White talks to the varsity team at half time of the Dallastown vs. Red Lion game.

Dallastown girls soccer team is suited up and ready for the season, but this is a unique year. Not only are the freshmen new, but the head coach is as well.

Morgan White, a 2007 Dallastown graduate, is eager to be back for her opportunity to give back to the soccer program.

And she does this by becoming the head Coach for the Dallastown girls soccer team. 

 “I just love Dallastown Soccer! I feel as though I owe a lot to the program and everything it gave me,” White said.

After graduating from DHS, White majored in Elementary Education at York College, and is now a teacher at Leader Heights Elementary and Dallastown Elementary as an Academic Intervention Specialist.

With the help of four assistant coaches, Matt Dunn, Lisa Stokes, Melanie Farabough, and Skyler Wilt. She is prepared to lead, help, and push the team outside their comfort zone and try something new which is the only way to improve. 

White will always treasure the strong relationships she built on and off the field with her teammates as well as her coaches when she was a Dallastown soccer player. Some of her most memorable moments came from her time as a student athlete during her high school soccer experience.

“Coaching now, I want our program to be a place of positivity, where players can come and feel uplifted and supported while still growing with their skills,” White explained.

So from experience White understands that the life of a high schooler can be difficult, and for many, soccer is a way to escape that. 

As far as soccer goals and expectations they are high, but reasonable for the first season with each other. 

White plans to have a good season where the players learn, adapt and grow each game together while still performing at a high level.

“My main goal is that we are competing in a way we are proud of, and walk off the field knowing we gave everything we had,” White stated.

However, one of the biggest challenges the Dallastown Girls Soccer team will face is their really tough division. 

Both Central, and South Western have very strong and talented programs, resulting in very tough games for the Wildcats. 

The Wildcats have gone to double overtime twice this year, once with the Panthers and once with the Mustangs. 

White hopes to get some wins against big opponents, but no matter what happens she aims to pick the team back up and keep fighting.

“As a whole team it’s a learning curve when a new coach comes in, but we worked over the summer and learned together what needs to be done for success,” senior captain Gabby Kurzmiller said.

White is also a soccer coach for her daughter Harper’s U10 team that plays for Ballyhoo. Harper not only loves to come to practices and games but she also looks at the high school girls as professional players, making her feel extra special to be apart of the team.

No matter what, a new coach, new players, and new season isn’t going to be perfect but White just hopes to shine a positive light on the soccer program and believes that if they meet the challenges head on then they will fight back even stronger.