If you’ve ever seen 13-year-old Linae Larson on the court,you’d never guess that this girl has a competitive side to her, but as soon asshe puts on a guard, a whole different person emerges.
Larson may be young, but she’s been playing power soccer forfive years already. Currently she is a part of the Minnesota Northern Lightsalong with her brother Grant. It only took a news segment for the Larson familyto quickly join the power soccer family.
“We heard there was a national tournament happening inMinneapolis, and after that season my brother joined, then I joined a few yearsafter that,” Larson said.
Originally, they were on separate teams that competedagainst each other. Larson said that at first they were competitive going up againsteach other, but now that they are on the same team they work well together.See, who says siblings can’t cooperate?
For people who haven’t seen power soccer, there are no agelimits or gender rules. Larson said that she loves that girls can be just asgood as boys, if not better.
“I really like how competitive the sport is, and that girlscan mix it up with the boys,” Larson said.
If you haven’t played against her beware. She might be smallbut she’ll bulldoze right through you if it means getting a win. One of herfavorite power soccer memories involves her proving the competition that she isnot to be messed with.
“I remember last year the opposing coach told them to pushme around because I’m small. The next play I pushed right through theirplayers’ guard and took the ball down for a breakaway,” Larson said. “Nobody ispushing me around.”
Although Larson wants to compete at a high level, it’s notall about winning for her. She said that it’s important for new athletes to getthe strikeforce chairs so that they can compete at high levels too. One ofLarson’s goals is to help create a grant so that people can get the chairs alittle easier because she knows how hard it is to fundraise.
When asked about her current power soccer role model, shesaid it was a no-brainer!
“Lexi Heer! She is always ready to push the boys around andis not afraid to get in on the action,” said Larson.
Larson continues to work hard to become the best she can be.Her opponents better watch out because she’s not afraid of anyone!
