Today: Mar 19, 2024

Goggin looks to bounce back

Avery MartinContributor

The day before leaving for a nine-game trip to Florida, redshirt sophomore Connor Goggin was optimistic about the season ahead.  

Goggin, a marketing major who plays outfield, said, “We have good leaders, good coaches, a good group of guys, so I am excited to see what we can do. Last year, we made the regionals, but this year we will try to get to the world series.”  

Coach Tim Shea was quick to praise Goggin. He said, “He will do anything you ask him to do. He’s been banged up quite a bit, but he still performs at an extremely high level. He’s had surgery; he’s come back, retore something in his arm, and then decided he was going to play through it. He is really one of those gritty kind of players that will do whatever he needs to do he will do for the team. He is the kind of player you love having on your team”. 

When looking back at recovering from several injuries in his baseball career, Goggin said “At first I didn’t know if I was gonna play again, but as time went on I realized I was able to play and I wanted to. It’s just good to get back”. 

Shea was also excited to see how Goggin can help the team through the rest of the season. “I hope he continues his trend because right now he leads the team in every offensive category. He is hitting for power, hitting for average. He scores for us and gets on base for us. He is off to a very good start” he said. 

Thus far this season, Goggin has a .424 batting average. He has recorded 12 RBIs, two home runs, one triple, and two doubles. “We have been on two trips, played a few games around here, one at home. We are off to a good start” said Goggin. 

 Shea says “He is in the middle of our lineup, just like last year. He plays a great left field. He can go get a ball and is very accurate with his throwing”. 

Goggin, a native of Prospect, CT, previously was a two-sport athlete at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury where he was named the 2019 NVL Male Athlete of the year. He also earned All-NVL honors in 2018 and 2019, and hit .482 with 28 RBIs, 20 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, and six triples in his senior year. 

He then played at University of Hartford, but transferred to Southern after Hartford went down to Division three. Goggin says he chose SCSU because it game him new opportunities. Shea, who had initially tried to recruit Goggin out of high school, was glad to have him in New Haven and has been excited to see how he performs since day one.  

Andrew Eng, a graduate student who also plays outfield, says of Goggin “He is a lot of fun to be around. He is a really great athlete, we are in the weight room together a lot”.  

When looking forward to the rest of the season, Eng said “For Connor his first year really playing here was last year. I thing we are trying to build more outfield chemistry and work together as a unit. We are trying to help the other guys just get involved in the mix”. 

As of March 10th, the team has a 7-2 record. They have been to Florida and South Carolina. On March 11th, they departed for a trip back to Florida. There, they expect to play six teams, most of whom are from the New England area. 

Goggin has been a strong contributor the past few games. His two home runs this season have come against Mercy and Felician. He expects to hit more on the upcoming trip. 

As for his approach to the game, though? Goggin says “Getting older I realize, it is a cliche but, I try to play every game like it’s my last time on the field”. 

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