As Elizabeth Morris prepares for her final high school season at Palm Harbor University High School, the 2026 standout isn’t just focused on stats or accolades. She’s focused on leadership, presence, and impact.

“I think my main goal is just be like the best team leader I can,” Morris said. “I’m a captain on Palm Harbor, so just being able to be there for all the girls and be a good leader is huge for me.”

While Palm Harbor may not always carry the same reputation as some Tampa-area powerhouses, Morris has embraced the challenge. Rather than comparing rosters or results, she’s locked into controlling what she can, including effort, energy, and example.

On the field, her goals are simple but demanding.

“I just want to be all over the field,” she explained. “Get a lot of goals, get a lot of ground balls, like do whatever I can to help out around the field. I don’t want to just have one thing that I’m doing. I want to be able to help out wherever I can.”

That versatility and relentlessness have become hallmarks of her game. They are also a big reason why her recruitment ultimately paid off.

A Long Recruiting Road and a Moment of Relief

Morris recently signed her National Letter of Intent with Nova Southeastern University, a moment that capped a long and sometimes mentally taxing recruiting process.

“My process was really long, so it was definitely a relief being able to commit,” she said. “Signing was just the best thing ever. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt.”

That moment didn’t come overnight. While her sophomore season showed promise, it was her junior year, both in high school and club, that marked a clear turning point.

The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

For Morris, the breakthrough wasn’t about changing her game as much as changing her mindset.

“After my sophomore summer and my junior fall, I wasn’t committing, I wasn’t talking to a lot of schools,” she said. “I kind of found that I just needed to put myself out there and stop worrying about all my friends that were committing and I wasn’t.”

Like many high-level athletes, Morris admits she used to fixate on mistakes rather than success.

“If I missed one goal but made five, I would only focus on the one I missed,” she said. “I thought that was the reason I wasn’t getting college coaches.”

Once she let go of comparisons and fear, everything clicked.

“I changed my mindset and was like, it doesn’t matter. Everyone has a different process,” Morris explained. “I’m going to find my school one day.”

That shift allowed her to play freely and confidently.

“I wasn’t constantly worrying about what schools were at my game,” she said. “I was just focused on being in the moment, being the best player and the best leader that I can. And I think it showed that it paid off.”

What College Coaches Saw

When asked what college coaches consistently told her during the recruiting process, Morris didn’t hesitate.

“A lot of them said I was fun on the field,” she said. “They said I looked like I was playing because I loved it.”

That joy, paired with her competitiveness, made her stand out.

“They said I was gritty,” Morris added. “I’m not the tallest or the biggest, but I’m always after the ball. I’m always trying to be everywhere at the same time.”

The Constant Behind the Scenes: Mom

Through every high and low, one influence has remained constant, her mom.

“My mom is probably the biggest impact I’ve had,” Morris said. “She’s very supportive. She’s done everything she can to get me where I am today, and I would not be where I am without her.”

Beyond logistics and sacrifice, her mom played a crucial role in Morris’s mental approach to the game.

“She helped me a lot with my mental health about the sport,” she explained. “She would always talk to me before games and help me change my mindset if it was negative.”

For Morris, the gratitude is simple and absolute.

“I give all everything to my mom,” she said.

Ready for One Last Run

As Elizabeth Morris enters her senior season, she does so with clarity, confidence, and purpose. She’s already proven she belongs at the next level, but she’s not done leaving her mark.

Not just as a scorer.
Not just as a recruit.
But as a leader who plays the game with joy, grit, and heart.