Strebeck in middle of South’s uprising

By John Beisser, Sports Writer
   Things are starting to click for the South Brunswick High girls soccer team.
   A big reason for the team’s 8-4 record (7-4 in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division) and current three-game winning streak has been the fine play of junior center-midfielder Lauryn Strebeck.
   Following a 1-0 defeat to East Brunswick on Oct. 6, the Vikings have strung together wins over Edison (4-0), North Brunswick (1-0) and, most recently, a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Old Bridge.
   In virtually every team sport, strength up the middle is a valuable commodity. In baseball, the shortstop and is regarded as the leader of the infield while the most important outfield position is centerfield. In football, the middle linebacker is the quarterback of the defense and the quarterback of the offense is well, the quarterback – a centrally located key decision-making leader.
   When it comes to the Viking girls soccer team, the unquestioned leader of the middle of the field is Strebeck.
   ”She does it all for us out there,” coach Beth Barrio said. “She’s been unbelievable. She pushes the ball up the field, she defends, she gets balls in the air, she gets to balls on the ground. She’s just the quintessential center-midfielder.”
   Barrio never ceases to be amazed at several other qualities Strebeck brings to the team, including consistency, patience, durability and an even temperament.
   ”She’s constantly getting hit out there,” said Barrio. “They beat her up left and right. But she keeps on going, doesn’t say a word. Most girls if they had to endure what she does, there’d be a fist-fight. But not with Lauryn.”
   Strebeck acknowledges that soccer is increasingly becoming a more physical game. She credits her stamina to the several years she has been a member of the Viking winter and spring track and field teams where she is a standout in the 100-meter and 400-meter runs.
   ”I just try to do my job each game,” she said matter-of-factly.
   And the job description is?…
   ”Mainly to control the center of the field,” Strebeck said. “I get the ball to the forwards in position, hopefully in a good spot, where they can do some scoring.
   ”Lately, we’ve been working on getting the ball on one side of the field and having me send it to the other side.”
   Strebeck has three goals and two assists on the season and while those five points is nothing to sneeze at, her value to the team lies in a hose of intangibles that don’t hit the stat sheet.
   A well-rounded student academically with an eye on a potential teaching career down the road, Strebeck loves being around children.
   ”My favorite class is ‘Kids, Kids, Kids’ which is a class where we are the teachers and we actually teach pre-school kids,” she said.
   She’s love to continue her soccer career in college but feels there may be more opportunities for her in track and field. “I used to run track to stay in shape for soccer but I’ve really grown to like it,” she said. “So, we’ll see.”