The North Haven boys’ soccer squad is building up a crop of new competitors, and the foundation of that construction is a fortified leader within its defensive front in Justin Gouin.

The Nighthawks’ senior defender and captain grew up playing sports his whole life, with basketball and baseball, in addition to playing on the pitch since he was in his youth. This fall, Justin has taken the initiative as a squad steward to help lead a youthful North Haven club back to the promised land in the form of a potential postseason appearance.

“I like soccer, because it is a contrast from other sports. Baseball is a different sport and is so individualized, but soccer is a real team game; you go up and down the field as a group. I have also made great memories with the coaches and players here,” says Justin. “My athleticism has helped me succeed. It has kept me up to par with everyone else. As a defender, most of my job is clearing the ball out and getting rough with the other teams’ strikers, so keeping myself strong by being in the gym has helped.”

As the last line of protection before seeing the Nighthawks’ net, Justin takes great pride in the spotlight he garners from the oppositions’ forwards. He explains that it can wage a great war on the body as well as the mind, but whenever he can gain an edge, it produces a profound feeling of satisfaction.

“I like the attention I get as a defender and that I need to stop the offense, because I feel I thrive under that type of pressure,” Justin says. “The physicality of the position can be tough because a lot of the kids for varsity soccer are very talented, fast, and good on the ball. You have to predict their movements a little bit and use whatever advantage you can.”

Justin admits that in his tenure with North Haven, the wins may seem few and far between, but one thing that is certainly close is the camaraderie between himself and his teammates–even more evident this year through the season’s opening month of action.

“Mentally, it has been a struggle for our team, because we have not been successful since I have been here,” says Justin. “But with that, we know we have to stay positive and develop bonds as teammates, and I feel we really have that this year. We each have that desire to really do it for the guy next to us.”

Personally in the captain’s helm, Justin notes it has been daunting at certain junctures, plus the added pressure of having the admiration and adoration of his younger mates, but he has certainly put all his might and fortitude forward to make it work.

“Being a captain has been challenging, but it has been fun,” Justin says. “We are trying to rebuild the whole culture here, and we have a small senior class with four guys, so most of the younger guys look up to me and the other seniors. I know I need to play well and be on the rest of the team to play well, too. It is a difficult balance, but it has gone alright so far.”

North Haven boys’ soccer Head Coach John Parisella gives Justin his laurels by praising him for holding all the ideal intangibles and fortitude a coach could request in a leader of their team.

“Justin has a great attitude and is always hard-working,” says Parisella. “He is a soft-spoken leader. Justin also leads by example, he is supportive of his teammates, and is just overall a really good captain.”

A slate of games that displays the letters “W” and “L” quite often do not spell out the whole story being a squad’s season, and such is the case in North Haven this fall in 2023. A state tournament spot is still on the table, and Justin and the Nighthawks are ready to swoop and grasp it after several close defeats in September.

“We had a goal to make states, and while we are not on pace to make states, we are buying into the fact that we can still do it,” says Justin. “We are not a bad team as our record shows. We know we are a good team and have lost some games by only one goal, so with a couple bounces that go our way, we know we can do it.”

Once he embarks on college and leaves North Haven, one thing Justin knows that will not leave him is his competitive fire and spirit to keep moving in multiple avenues. He details that sports have shown him that so many things in life are a grind, but you have to show gusto to really grab it by the horns and achieve big things.

“I plan to play baseball in college, but I will look to play rec soccer and basketball to stay in shape, because sports are an outlet to get rid of stress,” Justin says. “A big lesson in life I have learned is that nothing comes easy, and so you have to put the work in to have things go your way. If you work hard in practice and at your craft, and just trust good things will happen, then they will.”