BOSTON — Being both a collegiate men’s soccer and men’s lacrosse player at Boston’s Emmanuel College, Morgan Mercier is a unique collegiate student athlete. That is because the majority of dual-sport collegiate athletes compete in more closely-linked sports, such as cross-country or indoor and outdoor track and field. 

But Mercier is not your average student athlete. He is attending an NCAA Division III institution that competes in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, where is he maintaining a 3.5 grade point average, and since he first started playing at a young age, he has committed his heart and soul to the games.

Mercier recently shared his perspective on becoming a collegiate student athlete, as part of the Penobscot Bay Pilot’s series on Midcoast athletes who have taken their skills and talents to the next level. 

Mercier is a five-foot 10-inch midfielder who hails from Lincolnville and is a graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School, where he was a four-year varsity player and three-year starter in soccer.

At Camden Hills, the business management major helped guide the Windjammers to the Class A North regional championship during his senior soccer season and was selected to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference all-academic lacrosse team as a senior. 

In his freshman year at Emmanuel, Mercier is striving to maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average throughout his undergraduate studies while balancing sports. 

“Being in the heart of Boston had a big part in my decision, but also the ability to play both lacrosse and soccer at the collegiate level,” Mercier said about his decision to play for Emmanuel. “I came to Emmanuel initially to play soccer but then I wanted to play lacrosse as well because my brother Max played here at Emmanuel for four years and won three GNAC Championships.” 

Mercier became a lacrosse player after his brother, Max, began playing in eighth grade. The younger Mercier has been playing ever since. 

Older brother Max also inspired Morgan to become a soccer player at age six. 

Mercier advises high school students to begin the recruiting process early by taking initiative — emailing college coaches and inviting those coaches to watch one play. 

“Play the sport you love year-round and try to get as much exposure as possible,” Mercier said. “I played year-round soccer since eighth grade and that helped me become the player I am today.”

On the field, Mercier aims to get better after each practice and do everything I can off the field to better myself on [the field]. 

For a career, Mercier is interested in being an athletic director or a physical education teacher. 

“I want to be involved with youth sports and I want to be a positive influence on kid’s lives how many coaches and teachers were to my life,” he said. 

Below, are some rapid question-and-answer questions the Penobscot Bay Pilot posed to Mercier. 

What was your favorite sports-related memory from high school?
Mericer: My favorite memory from high school soccer was upsetting Lewiston in playoffs my senior year 1-0 at Lewiston.

What is your favorite thing to do in Midcoast Maine?
Mercier: Watch a sunset at Beauchamp Point. 

What is your favorite way to spend your down time?
Mericer: Hanging with friends, watching sunsets, hiking with my dog Maverick. 

What is your favorite quote?
Mericer: If you want it, work for it. It’s that simple.

What is one thing that motivates you or inspires you in life?
Mericer: My mom motivates me to become the best person I can. She inspires me every day.

What is one place you hope to travel to one day that you have yet to visit?
Mericer: Hawaii. 

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.