Missy Strasburg Mead Year: Senior Sport: Soccer Position: Sweeper

“There has to be a reason,” Mead soccer coach Dick Cullen said, “we’ve only given up one goal in league games and four for the season.”

The answer is a defense with four returning starters and, according to Cullen, Missy Strasburg as the anchor.

“Missy is a real smart player,” Cullen said. “She reads things pretty well. Sometimes she thinks too much and gets in trouble, but when she realizes it, that’s when she stands out. She takes charge back there and gets in the right place at the right time.”

Strasburg is no different than any other top player. She started out as a goal-scorer and enjoyed the cheers.

“I was put in the back because I could kick farther than anyone else,” she said. “I grew to love it. Right now, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

She also enjoys her leadership role, something she inherited even though the other defenders are experienced.

“I have a pretty large leadership role. It’s my job to organize people in the back,” she said. “Since I’ve been on the team four years, I kind of inherited (leadership). Sweeper is a lot of responsibility. I’m one of the few people on the field who sees the whole field. (Leadership) comes with the position.”

Obviously goals - for or against - don’t.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo