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10/29/2026 11:45:00 AM | Soccer
For Houston captain Morgan Donohue, the lessons learned on the soccer field extend far beyond the final whistle. They’re helping prepare her for a future in the cockpit
The journey of pursuing college soccer hasn’t been easy, but the journey has set fifth year Morgan Donohue up for success after her playing days are over.
Donohue knows what pressure feels like. She’s felt it with a soccer ball at her feet, in the classroom and someday, flying an airplane. And for her, those worlds aren't as different as they might seem.
Donohue began playing soccer at eight years old and although it was later than most, she picked it up quickly.
“I caught on quicker than the other kids, and I was faster than them,” Donohue said. “I connected with the other girls who played soccer, and I accelerated faster in soccer than I did other things.”
Although she loved soccer, it was not something that she pursued very hard. Donohue enjoyed playing and if the opportunity presented itself, she would consider playing in college.
“I always thought it would be cool, and I knew that I could do it, but never felt pressured like I had to do it,” Donohue said. “COVID was a big thing that limited my opportunities, but I was okay with being a normal college student regardless.”
COVID ruined virtually any chance of Donohue being recruited to play college soccer. She took a couple of visits but wanted to stay close to home.
“I went on two or three visits but decided it wasn’t for me,” Donohue said. “They were small schools and far from home, so I decided I’d rather just go be a college kid somewhere fun.”
Donohue eventually settled on Stephen F. Austin and attended as a Walk On.
“[Nacogdoches] wasn’t too far from home, and it was a cool small town in Texas,” Donohue said. “I had no expectations and I just wanted to have a good time.”
Donohue worked her way onto the field playing in 18 matches with 10 starts as a freshman.
“My freshman year went well, and I was able to get a tiny scholarship after proving myself.” Donohue said.
Following her sophomore season, where the Ladyjacks won just two matches, a coaching change was made.
“My teammates and I were all wondering what to do, but I thought to myself ‘I don’t have anywhere to go. If I get in the transfer portal, I’m screwed.’” Donohue said. “So, I decided to stay.”
Enter Ben Williams.
As a first-year collegiate head coach, Donohue and her teammates didn’t exactly know what to expect but quickly learned that Williams was about so much more than just soccer.
“He turned the program around quickly,” Donohue said. “He was an awesome person and coach, because he treated us with so much respect. He showed us what an appropriate relationship between a player and coach should look like.”
The 2024 season presented the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for Donohue. After three games, Donohue was forced to miss the remainder of the season due to a herniated disc in her back.
That season, watching from the sidelines, SFA won the 2024 Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships and a berth to the NCAA Tournament.
The 14 wins that season tied for the largest turnaround in NCAA Women’s Soccer history.
“He turned the program around quickly,” Donohue said. “He was an awesome person and coach, because he treated us with so much respect. He showed us what an appropriate relationship between a player and coach should look like.”Morgan Donohue
Then Williams left for Houston.
“When Ben left SFA, everyone was down in the dumps, and the team just wasn't the same," Donohue said.
Once again, Donohue had a choice to make: play with a new coach or quit soccer altogether.
“I was about to be a senior,” Donohue said. “I was tied down to aviation school, and I had already invested a lot of money and time into it.”
Coming off her injury, Donohue gave the new coach a chance as she trained and played throughout the spring. However, she didn’t enjoy it and decided to enter the transfer portal.
Following the spring season, Donohue, along with Ava Shannon, Ella Morgan and Logan Pilgreen, transferred to Houston.
In her first season with the Cougars, Donohue played in all 18 games, making 15 starts, and scored the game-tying goal in a historic win against Texas.
Now in her fifth season, and before her second and final season in Houston, Donohue was voted a team captain by her teammates.
“Having people put a lot of trust and faith with me was insane because I’m always myself and don’t try to reach for anything,” Donohue said. “Anything in my life, if I’m going to earn something, I want it to be from my heart.”
Donohue missed the first four games of the season with an ankle injury but has started 12 of her 13 games since returning including every game in Big 12 play.
And although Donohue’s final season of college soccer is dwindling down, there is so much to look forward to.
“Having people but a lot of trust and faith with me was insane because I’m always myself and don’t try to reach for anything,” Donohue said. “Anything in my life, if I’m going to earn something, I want it to be from my heart.”Morgan Donohue
An aviation major at SFA, Donohue plans to become a commercial pilot after she graduates in December.
Her love for flying began with her family. Her grandfather was a pilot for Braniff Airlines, and another family member is a captain for Southwest. Growing up around that influence, the idea of becoming a pilot always felt familiar.
Her grandfather had a simple way of describing the profession.
“He always said being a pilot is the best job in the world,” Donohue said.
Aviation is definitely a hands-on career and in her three years at SFA, Donohue got to experience that within her major.
The aviation program is structured around four years of training, taking students through their private pilot, instrument, commercial and flight instructor certifications before continuing toward the required flight hours.
The program also allows students to fly planes and for Donohue, it was the experience she has always envisioned.
“It was awesome,” Donohue said. “It was one of the first things I’ve done in my life that I was like, ‘Wow, this is big.’”
“It was awesome,” Donohue said. “It was one of the first things I’ve done in my life that I was like, ‘Wow, this is big.’”Morgan Donohue
Flying an airplane comes with a lot of pressure, but as a collegiate athlete, Donohue is well versed in handling pressure.
“Something that I’ve always been really good at is being calm under pressure,” Donohue said. “If someone were to ask me, ‘What’s your superpower?’ that would be it.”
At times, the pressure can consume you, but the way in which Donohue has handled that pressure is something that will stick with her beyond her playing career.
“I remember how I’ve handled all the adversity I’ve faced,” Donohue said. “From being young to now and how I’m at Houston, a Power 4 school, and a captain, I never thought I would be here in my life.”
“I remember how I’ve handled all the adversity I’ve faced,” Donohue said. “From being young to now and how I’m at Houston, a Power 4 school, and a captain, I never thought I would be here in my life.”Morgan Donohue
As a captain and student-athlete, and after battling multiply injuries, Donohue’s ability to face adversity will serve her well in the cockpit, but for now, she and the Cougars have their sights set on making history as they chase the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth.
“Obviously, [making the NCAA Tournament] would be the best thing that could happen to us,” Donohue said. “Everyone’s goal this season is to come off the field with no regrets. With how far this program has come in a year and half is a world of a difference.”
With two games left in the regular season, Houston has already secured their spot in the Big 12 Tournament. Now, their eyes are set on punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
“Everyone’s goal this season is to come off the field with no regrets. With how far this program has come in a year and half is a world of a difference.”Morgan Donohue
