The Becker Bulldog boys soccer team is hoping their competitive drive is what takes them further than they’ve gone in the past.
Alex Jurek is heading into his fifth year as head coach and his coaching staff remains the same from years past. Brad Novak is in his third year at the junior high level and Dan Baird is in his fourth season as the JV coach.
The captains chosen for this season are seniors Joey Perry, Josiah Borst and Matthew Paulson.
“This year's team is an exceptional group full of talent and athleticism,” says Jurek. “Once they gel, this is going to be a very good team.”
Jurek says he has watched as this group of juniors and seniors develop over the last few years so he knows that this would be a tough team.
“They are carrying on a tradition of building a strong team that is focused on not just winning, but building strong character,” Jurek said.
Jurek’s team will be challenged this year as the schedule dictates some very strong competition.
“After last season, we realized that in order to get this team properly prepared for Section 8A play, we needed to bring in some better competition,” Jurek says.
“It has been a struggle each game thus far, but you can see the growth of this team in a short order. We will be in a position to win the Granite Ridge Conference this year and we already have four points out of a possible six. Cathedral will be our big test.”
The boys soccer team’s biggest strengths will be possession and passing the ball. Jurek says he has at least six or seven guys that can and will snipe shots well beyond the 18-foot mark. So far, through half a dozen games, eight different players on the team have tallied points.
“We are spreading defenses out and placing shots from all parts of the field,” Jurek said.
The future of soccer in Becker looks very bright, according to Jurek. The program has 40 kids in grades 9-12 and 27 in junior high.
“We are looking to add another level at both the high and middle school levels,” he said. “And with the work that the BYSA is doing in preparing our younger kids, we will continue to see Becker Soccer grow.”
Becker has a number of kids playing year round in leagues out of St. Cloud and Monticello.
“It has been great to help build this program,” said Jurek. “I have a couple of great coaches to work with that have helped steer the development in the right direction.”
The team consists of: David Berning, Zachary Moeller, Hunter Mccalla, Paulson, Broderick Hed, Nick Vieau, Jacob Charboneau, Caleb Vekved, Collin McDowell, Jeremy South, Austin Hill, Isaac Popp, Jonah Kollman, George Lomeli, Jordan Stegner, Andrew Davalos, Perry, Qadry Fakhreddine, Daniel Zimmerman, Noah Arrigoni, Bradley Bauer and Borst.
Becker 2, St. John’s 1
Borst and Jeremy South each scored goals for Becker as the Bulldogs defeated St. John’s Prep 2-1 in a Granite Ridge Conference boys soccer match Tuesday afternoon.
Andrew McGee scored the lone goal for the Johnnies.
