Lawrence grad named to all-conference first team
By: Jim Green
According to Lawrence High School boys soccer coach Keith Fithen, there’s only one way to describe former Cardinal Pat Haggerty.
"He’s a leader," Fithen said. "He leads by example, and he leads by his voice. He can carry a team on the field."
Haggerty’s steady rise to collegiate stardom reached its zenith this season, as he employed those leadership qualities to guide the Boston College men’s soccer team to a 12-4-2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division I National Tournament. As a result, Haggerty was named to the All-Big East Conference First Team, the league’s office announced Friday.
"It’s definitely a tremendous honor," Haggerty said. "There ware a lot of great players in the conference. It’s an awesome honor to play on such a great team."
And that team is great, in large part, because it has the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Haggerty defending its backline. The senior has had a tremendous season in all facets of the game, consistently marking the top opposing scorer for a defense that allowed just nine goals in 18 games, while also developing into an offensive threat, ranking second on the team with 11 points on five goals and one assist.
Add those numbers to the fact that Haggerty is a natural-born leader, and you have a player that any coach would love to call his own.
"It was an honor to coach him," said Fithen, who coached Haggerty at Lawrence from 1998-2001. "He’s a special player. I’m very happy he’s gotten the success he’s achieved at Boston College. We’re definitely proud of him."
No one who ever saw Haggerty play for Lawrence ever doubted he could reach such heights. During his four years with the Cardinals, he started every game, receiving several All-State honors and twice being named to the Mercer County Soccer Coaches Select Team. As center midfielder his senior year, he tallied 16 goals and eight assists, leading the Cardinals to a 15-5 record and place in the Central Jersey Group III semifinals, where they lost a fierce game with Ocean Township on penalty kicks.
"It was a great game and typical of the types of teams we had at Lawrence," recalled Haggerty, who also played basketball and tennis at LHS. "Our teams played hard and battled to the last whistle."
With Haggerty leading the way, no one would expect any different. But, despite his many achievements at the high school level, Division I soccer was no guarantee for Haggerty no guarantee, that is, until he was spotted by a Boston College coach while playing defense for his club team, the Mercer Warriors. The Eagles were so impressed by what they saw that they offered Haggerty a partial scholarship to play defense, and he accepted.
"He’s showing the coach (Ed Kelly) it was a great pick to go to Boston College," Fithen said. "I think Ed Kelley would be very thankful Pat picked Boston College, and I think Pat would be very thankful that Ed picked him."
Haggerty also is thankful that he had the benefit of Fithen’s tutelage for four years prior to graduating from LHS.
"It was terrific," Haggerty said of the longtime Cardinals coach. "He’s a great guy. He has a great understanding of the game. He’s a good man, and a good leader. He’s turned out some great players and teams. It was a great opportunity to play for him at Lawrence."
But in the fall of 2001, it was time for Haggerty to move on and begin the journey that would lead to him becoming one of the best collegiate players in the country.
"I came out of school, I knew I had a great opportunity to play soccer," he said. "I never thought about where it would take me or where I would finish up. I’ve tried to take it one step at a time. It’s been great."
Haggerty’s success did not come immediately at BC, but it came pretty quickly. He began his freshman season as a reserve, although it did not take him long to break into the Eagles rotation.
For their third regular-season game that year, the Eagles traveled to Seton Hall. Hoping to see his former star get some playing time, Fithen took a trip with some of his players to South Orange for the game. Sure enough, 20 minutes into the contest, Haggerty began stretching on the sideline.
"I didn’t expect him to play that much," Fithen said. "Twenty minutes in, they put him in the game, and he hasn’t come out since."
That might be an exaggeration, but not by much. Haggerty ended up starting the final 14 games that season, recording two assists and helping the Eagles reach the Big East Tournament quarterfinals and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. And in the three years since, Haggerty has started every game for the Eagles.
"He won a job in the middle of his freshman year," Fithen said. "Pat’s a player you want to play with a player who, when he plays with you, you know you’re going to get everything he’s got. To play at that level (Division I) is a testament to Pat and his desire to be the best he can be."
Haggerty’s development as a player continued during his sophomore season, as he helped the Eagles have the best season in program history, going 18-5, capturing the Big East Tournament championship and reaching the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals before losing Creighton.
And, like his freshman appearance at Seton Hall, Haggerty had another memorable homecoming when the Eagles visited Rutgers late in the year. Just before halftime, Haggerty netted an unassisted goal the first of his career as BC went on to win 3-2.
"It’s great," Haggerty said of scoring his first goal in New Jersey. "There’s nothing better than going home and playing in your home state. And scoring your first goal is a great feeling, and my parents were able to see it, and some of my friends and family. It was a great honor, being able to score."
Last year, the Eagles took a step back as a team, missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years. Haggerty, though, continued to be a rock in the back, helping BC lead the Big East in goals-against average at 0.82. He again victimized a New Jersey squad, scoring his second career goal in a loss to Seton Hall.
"I think, through my four years, just practicing hard every day, I’ve been able to improve each year, and between my junior and senior years, I’ve learned a lot about the game," Haggerty said. "I’ve taken a step and improved in the last year, and that is a credit to the coaching and the system I’ve been able to have over the years."
With an infusion of several talented freshmen this season, the Eagles have returned to the ranks of the nation’s elite teams. With their 12-4-2 mark, they earned the 15th seed in the NCAA Tournament, which translated into a bye through the first round. The top 16 teams in the tournament receive a bye.
"It was a great feeling we definitely were looking for a bye and a top-16 seed," Haggerty said. "We were on the bubble, and it was a great feeling to get that bye. We felt the draw was set up for us. We just have to come out hard and get it done come Tuesday."
On Tuesday, BC will play host to the Connecticut-Marist winner in the second round of the tournament. The Eagles already have split two games with conference rival UConn. If the Eagles can top the Huskies, they could be on the way to a run similar to the one they had in 2002.
"We feel like, on our best day, we can give anybody a good game," Haggerty said. "We feel like we have great potential to make a run in the tournament. If we can get past that game, we look forward to making a run in the tournament."
One reason the Eagles are so dangerous these days is Haggerty’s emergence as an offensive threat on set plays.
"Basically, I come forward on direct kicks and corner kicks," he said. "I’ve been able to get in on the end of some great services. I don’t generally get many opportunities a game, but when I do go forward, I try to make the most of those opportunities."
While the numbers show that the physical side of Haggerty’s game has continued to improve, he feels he has made his greatest strides in the mental aspects of the game.
"I think the greatest thing about playing for Ed and (assistant coach) Ian (Hennessy) is I’ve gained a greater understanding for how to play the game and mentally where to be and how to position myself," Haggerty said. "The greatest improvement I’ve made in my game is mentally. The coaches’ greatest strength is preparing us for games and practice and letting us know what it takes to be successful on the field."
All the great coaching Haggerty has received throughout high school and college has helped him reach the pinnacle of individual success he achieved last week.
"To have him be All-Big East is tremendous," Fithen said. "We’ve been ecstatic about what he’s accomplished. Hopefully, they can make a run in the national tournament. They have the right talent."
Haggerty’s tremendous college career will forever rank him with the great players in the history of the Lawrence boys soccer program a list that includes the legendary Glenn Myernick (class of 1972), a former Olympic and professional player and coach who currently serves as an assistant coach on the U.S. men’s national team.
"Lawrence has a great tradition in soccer," Fithen said. "Pat is definitely one of our top players, and we’ve had a lot of top players."
As for the possibility of following in Myernick’s footsteps by continuing his soccer career at the professional level, Haggerty is keeping all his options open.
"Right now, I’m taking it one step at a time, filling out law-school applications," said Haggerty, who is majoring in history. "I’m not ruling anything out right now. I’m going to take it one step at a time and take it form there."