THe program continues to grow
2011: The program growsWith the exit of the 2010 class, the Team leaned heavy on the senior class - most of which were incredible athletes, but did not have a Soccer pedigree, save for Mitchell Johnson, Dan Popp, Jacob Stegner, and Leo Chmirri.
But expectations were high, and the senior class was loaded with leaders both on and off the pitch. The team's leaders also garnered new support and excitement that ushered in an age that saw the already skilled and talented sophomore class bolstered by new additions in the ways of Cody Stangler, Zack Vieau, and Ben Gilchrist. The new freshman class also had great numbers and talent including Josiah Borst, Matthew 'The Shear' Paulson, Joe-Bob Perry, and Jordan Stegner. The season started with the return of Coach Dan Baird as the Assistant Coach. Under his tutelage, the squad returned to honing fundamentals and building the entire squad. With the coaching changes, the program became much more stable as Novak built the JV team and Baird's experience brought another level of play across the table. This year the team hosted their own tournament: The Becker Fall Classic early in the season. It was the start of a new tradition. With this new-found leadership, the program really started to hit it's stride. Not only did they see a growth in numbers, the team saw a new interest in Soccer from the community and the student body. In fact, come Football's Homecoming week of the 6 Homecoming King candidates, 5 were from the Soccer team. However, the highlights on the field were not so easily found. With every week Becker found itself facing foes from a very highly tuned and competitive Conference. The Bulldogs faced Sauk Rapids-Rice in the opening match and lost a nail biter in the last few minutes 2-1. The boys had to quickly put it behind them as they were about to host their own tournament two days later: The Becker Fall Classic. Facing a very strong Watertown-Mayer team, the Bulldogs lost the opening match. In the second round, the team faced the Centaurs from Brooklyn center and were blanked 5-0. It was a tough day, tough way to open up their first invitational. The Bulldogs could not right the ship over the next few matches as their inexperienced team was exposed and goals were not scored. Heading into the game against their Arch-Rivals from the Mississippi 8 conference - the Hornets of Big Lake - the team was 0-6. The team had not lost to Big Lake as a Varsity unit in their history. On a hot pitch, the Bulldogs netted two early goals before half. The Hornets had a little luck as a deflection by a Bulldog defender got passed Keeper Zach Johanns. But a late game insurance goal by Senior Tyler Nelson put the game on ice. The Bulldogs would drop 3 more before another M8 and Sherburne County rival Princeton arrived in Becker. The Bulldogs were hungry and the Tigers were no match as Becker posted it's 2nd win of the season. But it would be their last as they went on to lose the next 3 games in regular season. The Bulldogs had to travel to Proctor for the opening match of the Section 7A Tournament. Teaming with the Girls team (Playing in Esko), the team stepped off the bus to a temperature of 30 degrees. The team without late season gear saw no favor in the conditions. The team was down by 3 at the half, and would go on to lose 5-1 ending their season. In the face of great strides away from match-play, the Bulldogs under Coach Jurek saw their worst record realized as they finished 2-13. With this, new changes were on the way for the School and the team. |
New conference, new challengesFacing changing tides in the Mississippi8, County rivals Princeton and Zimmerman exited in favor of a new conference the previous year - The Granite Ridge. Becker was now at a crossroads. Becker was by far the smallest school with roughly 700 students in the High School - and having to compete against schools such as Buffalo, Monticello, Rogers, STMA, Cambridge-Isanti that boasted student numbers well above 1200 in their respective High Schools.
As the threat of the MSHSL placing two Duluth schools in the M8 Conference loomed - the M8 Conference did not want to consider inviting other schools such as North Branch, Chisago-Lakes, and St. Francis - even at the behest of a large number of the coaching staff at Becker. Facing a tough decision and looking out for the best of all students' interests, the administration and school board elected to move to The Granite Ridge following much debate and a community-wide forum held in the school's gym. NEW CHALLENGES, OLD RIVALS
By entering into Granite Ridge play, the Bulldogs were not in new company. Their old M8 Rivals, Princeton was waiting - as was their Section 8A foes Little Falls and St John's Prep. Also in the new Conference was the much esteemed St Cloud Cathedral. As some of the other Becker teams may have seen a decline in Conference opponents in the Granite Ridge, The Soccer Team was realizing that this was at the least an even swap - but more likely a much tougher road. SJP, Little Falls, and Cathedral were challengers for the Section 8A title every season - and Cathedral came with a pedigree. And this is where Becker remains, facing a conference that has great pedigree and where each of the squads can challenge for the Section 8A title. 2013 Granite Ridge Foes Little Falls - The Flyers were not just a hard-nosed team, since 2009 under their Head Coach, Julie Bell, they have posted a record of 38-31-3 and have bested Becker 7 times. St John's Prep - A global magnet for young students, SJP has a tradition of putting together a great squad from students from very different backgrounds. They have have found success in doing so despite 2 years of terrible losses. In match play since 2007, they have gone 46-47-8 and in the term have bested Becker 4-1. Their only loss to our Bulldogs was in Section Play in 2010. Cathedral - Has represented the Section in the State Tournament 4 of the last 5 years - and has challenged every other State entrant in the Section 8A Finals since 2006. They are not just a powerhouse in the Central Minnesota Area, they are a team that looks to compete against the best in non-conference play - many years facing other Section champs to cut their teeth. Since 2007 in match play, they boast a record of 98-20-8 and have beaten the Bulldogs in each of the 2 meetings thus far. Vaunted Conference The combined record for Becker's Granite Ridge foes is 182-98-19 - arguably one of the conferences in the state. It is not a conference to reckon with as the three top squads have posted top 10 scorers in all the last 7 years. The Granite Ridge Conference teams also boast past players such as Hayden Speaks (Cathedral/Sartell-St Stephen - 4 time All Conference, All State), Grant Bell (Little Falls 2010 - Minnesota's All-Time Goals, MN Player of the Year, 4 year All Conference, All State), Jerrid Money (Becker - Leading Save Percentage, #2 Save Leader 2010 - 2 Time All Conference, All State Candidate) |