In a special moment for one of the best players in college soccer, Hakeem Morgan of St. Olaf College, a Division III program in Minnesota, was called up to the Costa Rica U23 national team. This is no small feat, as Costa Rica has reached five of the last six World Cups, highlighted by a quarterfinal trip in 2014. Morgan, a senior captain on eight goals and two assists through eleven games this season, has been one of the best players in Division 3 since day one, accounting for 50 goal contributions in 49 games.

His journey highlights the importance of prioritizing fit over flash in the collegiate recruiting process.

Before coming to the U.S. for four years of high school at Williston Northampton School, Morgan was a member of the Saprissa Academy in Costa Rica. Saprissa is the most popular and valued team in Costa Rica, with a storied history featuring more league trophies than anyone else.

With that background paired with impressive performances at Williston Northampton, major collegiate programs came calling, but Morgan had a focus on what he felt would be his best path.

“St. Olaf was the one school that really showed love to me and really made me feel at home," he said. "I loved the team, and the coaching staff and I wanted to go somewhere where I could play important minutes as I thought that’s what I needed in order to get better, and that’s what St. Olaf offered, and I have never regretted my decision.”

That desire to land in a destination where he felt at home and could play vital minutes paid dividends as Morgan continued to develop under then-head coach Travis Wall, newly at Kenyon College, who is regarded as one of the best young coaches in college soccer and was himself a DIII National Champion and National Player of the Year at Ohio Wesleyan in 2011.

Combined with current St. Olaf head coach Justin Oliver, who was an assistant, the program reached new heights, highlighted by a 19-win season in 2021, the most in program history.

'Keem for 3⃣!#UmYahYah | #OlePride | #d3soc pic.twitter.com/6OYNwxbruS

— St. Olaf Men’s Soccer (@StOlafMSOC) September 6, 2023

Oliver, who has helped coach the Costa Rican striker through his duration at St. Olaf, spoke to what sets Morgan apart, highlighting a burning desire to improve.

“Hakeem is truly a special individual and one of the hardest-working guys I have ever been around."

That hard work has shown through not only in NCAA soccer but also at the USL 2 stage, where Morgan spent last summer at Minneapolis City SC among players from all levels of college soccer. In a team featuring many D1 players, the Costa Rican was among the best, scoring and assisting multiple goals throughout the season.

Goal Crows.
And @MPLScitizens may owe Hakeem Morgan $130. pic.twitter.com/02k2zWhjIN

— Bridget McDowell (@BCMcDowell) May 13, 2023

The experience also gave credence to Morgan’s sentiment about the talent at all levels of college soccer. “I think the quality of Division 3 can be overlooked. There’s a lot of talent at this level, such as in any other level.”

Coach Oliver also touched on the over-looked quality of Division III soccer and the importance for players to find the right collegiate fit.

“More people should be prioritizing fit and going to the school that is best for them academically and socially and has what they are looking for in a soccer program, whether that is style of play, season goals, or ambitions. Most of our guys had DI roster spots or scholarship offers but chose to come to St. Olaf to compete for championships and NCAA tournament runs instead of just being on a DI roster.”

The St. Olaf team is loaded with players like Morgan, who sought an ideal fit over the name of more glamorous soccer programs.

Tied for the team lead in points is Shea Bechtel, who was Conference Rookie of the Year in 2021 and Second Team All-American last season, all after an illustrious high school and club career in Illinois. Leading all outfield players in minutes is Aidan Hills, a Sophomore from Iowa who was on the state and regional ODP teams. The star center back is Ben Beckman, the 2022 Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year and five-year member of Colorado Rapids ECNL.

Together, they help form a team that has won plenty and aids in the development of each player, contributing to the levels and notoriety Morgan has earned with his monumental accomplishment.

OLE! OLE! OLE!@StOlafMSOC claimed its first #MIAC Playoffs 👑 since 2015 and punched its 🎟️ to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row with a 2-1 win at fifth-ranked Gustavus this afternoon!

BOX: https://t.co/Dc2pb1Pprp#UmYahYah | #OlePride | #d3soc pic.twitter.com/Bo9P7jzSXX

— St. Olaf Athletics (@StOlafAthletics) November 5, 2022

As Coach Oliver said, “The fact that we have a U-23 Costa Rica International playing at the DIII level is a testament to Hakeem and should provide belief to a lot of other players out there where if they believe in themselves and invest in themselves, dreams can come true.”

You can catch Hakeem and the Costa Rica U23 National Team against Colombia on October 14 and 17.