To kick-off Impetus’ new season of ‘WA On Wednesday’, Ben Gilby spoke to UWA-Nedlands’ goalkeeper Morgan Springer about overcoming major health challenges to put in a collection of excellent performances for her new club, the NPLW WA’s newest side, so far this season (10/4/24)
Above: Morgan Springer making an outstanding save during UWA-Nedlands’ first NPLW WA match at home to Hyundai NTC. Photo supplied to Impetus by: UWA-Nedlands.
Morgan Springer is a player who is grabbing her second chance at being a footballer with both hands. The American has overcome a benign brain tumour and stomach ulcer to fight back and put in some stand-out performances since moving to Western Australia.
“When I was playing in Spain I had the chance to transfer and sign in Italy but my body started breaking down,” Springer revealed to me.
“I’d broken fingers on both hands and just had a lot of symptoms otherwise. Blurry vision, tiredness, and headaches all the time, confusion, and a hard time remembering things. I’d sleep sitting up against the wall because my head would just pound and I had a hard time breathing from a cold. I’d lay in bed all day until I had to go to training.
“After the season, I cancelled the trial in Italy and flew home from Madrid. I got an MRI and a few other scans and they found a benign brain tumour and a stomach ulcer. I took about a year and a half off of soccer to recover from everything. My family, friends, doctors, and coaches helped me get through it all. At the end of the day, it was also having a resilient mentality and strong faith in God.”
This incredible resilience has given renewed energy to Springer as she looks to thrive in the sport again with her move to UWA-Nedlands – the latest chapter in her footballing story.
“I bounced around clubs most of my career and represented three different universities. I finally found my home senior year at Coastal Carolina. Post college, I had opportunities to play in Sweden, Spain, and the US again and have now made my way here to Australia. I owe a lot of my success to my parents, they’ve sacrificed so much to help me.”
That college career included a year at the University of West Georgia which produced some incredible statistics. A save rate of 76%, six clean sheets – a record for the team as was an average concession of just 1.23 goals a game. It was a season that Springer looks back on by saying: “Honestly just the sick stats! Putting those numbers up on the board helped me secure my next opportunity.”
Springer’s arrival in Western Australia comes hot on the heels of last year’s World Cup, and it was that event that really opened the goalkeeper’s eyes to the potential opportunities in the country.
“A lot of eyes are on women’s soccer in Australia after the national team’s incredible performance in the World Cup. When I got the call from my agent I jumped on it. The people within this club are amazing, everyone has been so welcoming. The standards are high. Expectations of ‘the modern goalkeeper’ are similar globally between the US, Europe, and Australia.
Springer caught the eye with a succession of superb saves in the opening round game against the NTC – reward for her hard work ethic, which she summarises as. “Every rep matters.
“It comes down to the details that separate the good keepers from the great keepers. Train with someone that pushes you. At Coastal, I spent most of my time training with the men’s keeper. We had high standards for each other.”
After overcoming her health battles and in strong form, Springer is laser-focussed on the 2024 season.
“Personally, this is a year to finally shine again. As a team, we have so much potential, I can’t wait to see what we’ll do.”
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