FAIRHOPE, Alabama — Lady Pirate goalkeeper Morgan Grace signed her National Letter of Intent Wednesday to play soccer at the University of North Alabama this fall.

Head soccer coach Steve Morisani said it was a proud moment at Fairhope and for him as Grace’s coach of the last three years. 

“Morgan always works hard. First one out. Last one in. Toughest kid I know. Happy and proud of her and for her and her family,” he said adding that her strengths are many and significant. “Quick as a cat. Agile. Very strong. And the girl can jump. She’s really a complete package and I hate to lose her to graduation after this year, but UNA is going to pick up a nice keeper. I expect her to keep working hard developing her skill set. She’s never satisfied with where she is. She always wants to get better and has the drive and work ethic and passion for the sport to do it. A lot of making it at her position is mental toughness and she has that and she also has the ability to make difficult saves in important situations. And she seems to have all that. Even though, in a real situation, you don’t have the luxury of thinking about all that—you just have to do it. I think much of her success starts with her natural quickness and her commitment to being prepared. She works so hard at being prepared for anything.”

Grace produced six shutouts as a junior for the Pirates and has never allowed more than one opponent goal per game.

The signee said she was was excited and happy to get the anxiety of decision making over before beginning her senior season.

“I really wanted to have it all decided before the season started and it’s a big pressure off not having to think about, where am I going to play next year and all that stress. Now I can concentrate on just playing, finishing up here.”

She hopes to step in right away for the starting keeper position. The goalkeeper they had is graduating this year. 

“The girl they had was an All-American and I want to play at that level. I believe I can and I’m going to work hard to get there.”

 Working hard shouldn’t be much of a problem said Fairhope women's athletic director Jessica Webb, who agreed with Morisani that Grace’s work ethic was unquestioned by anyone who knows her and said pound-for-pound the senior is the strongest girl at Fairhope. Webb added that Grace appeared to struggle once during an athletics class workout and run assignment.

“We found out later, Morgan had mono. But she still finished the run and made her time. And she never complained. That's how tough she is. We are so proud of her here at Fairhope. And it’s just so great to see her at this point. She is a fierce competitor and we know she’s going to represent us all very well at North Alabama.”

Grace also said the campus of UNA in Florence appealed to her right away.

“It’s a gorgeous place and I love everthing about it there. Kind of reminds me of a miniature Auburn and I’ve always been an Auburn fan. But I think it will be a good place for me to fit into and they have a good program too.”

Grace plans to major in criminal justice.