For the 2021 season of the Becker Bulldog girls soccer squad, Ben Strom returns as head coach and he recruited Isabelle Strom to be his assistant after Abby Rothstein stepped down from her duties on the pitch.

“Abby couldn’t make coaching work with her college schedule, and we are still looking for another coach to help out,” said Ben.

Strom has 41 high school girls in the program for this year’s season.

“We are lucky to have some great leaders in our four captains,” said Strom. 

Adeline Kent, Kennedy Rusin, Riley Norberg, and Sarena St.Denis will help the Stroms make 2021 a memorable season.. 

“They are fantastic senior leaders that work hard on and off the field, lead by example, and create a culture that will help the program for years to come.”

“Soccer is a great team sport that teaches hard work, discipline, and the value of putting a team before self,” said Ben. “I wouldn’t begin to know how to compare soccer to those other sports, I think everyone needs to pick the sport that is best for them.”

Strom is grateful he has almost four dozen girls to choose from to field a team. 

Becker finshed a disapointing campaign in 2020 with a 2-11-1 record and was 0-10-1 in the Mississippi 8 Conference. They finished the regular season with a tie against Princeton, then shocked the world when they bounced Big Lake (3-0) and Heritage Christian Academy (4-1) before losing to Orono in the section final, 4-0.

This year, the team kicks off the seaosn on the road Aug. 26 against Willmar, then follow thqt up with a road match aginst Delano the next day. On Sept. 2, they travel to Little Falls before finally playing on home turf Sept. 7 against Hutchinson. Five more home matches continue through much of September when the Bulldogs host St. Francis, Spet. 9, Big Lake Sept. 14, Chisago Lakes Sept. 16, Watertown-Mayer Sept. 18 and North Branch Sept. 20.

The last half of the season sees the Bulldogs on the road for five out of the last seven matches including a road match against Zimmerman Sept. 21, a road match against Cambridge-Isanti Sept. 23, a road match against Monticello Sept. 27, a home match against St. Cloud Cathedral Sept. 28. another road match Sept. 30 against Princeton, a road match against Rockford Oct. 4 and the fianl regular season match at home against St. Cloud Apollo.