Taking on a new role: Senior Becca Denning is now Bigfork's last line of defense

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

If you've been to girls soccer game this year you've probably heard a voice yelling encouraging words across the field. Something along the lines of "This is our game. You've got this." It isn't a cheerleader, a coach or even a parent. It's first year goalie Becca Denning.

"She is constantly a positive voice in the back of the field," said Bigfork High School head girls soccer coach Hauna Trenerry.

The senior has stepped up and taken on the role of goalie this season after spending the last three as a midfielder and defender. Denning spent some time as goalie when she was a kid, but her youth pastor, a former goalie, has been training her to take on the position, which was previously held by Chary Miller.

"I love it," Denning said. "It gives me an opportunity to slow down an encourage the team. It's something I'm good at so it keeps me positive. And I like to tackle people."

Charlie Appleby, the assistant coach of the girls team and a former goalie, said that Denning doesn't play like a first year goalie.

"She has been working toward this for a while now and it shows," he said. "The most important thing a good keeper can have is instincts because you can't teach that. Becca has great instincts and finds herself in the right position most of the time. From there she is clearly not afraid of the ball and that is almost as important as having good instincts."

Denning started playing soccer when she was five years old. She picked up the sport with her older brother, Robert.

"It's something that my brother and I have always done," Denning said. "It's something we have in common. We've always just gone out and kicked the ball around together. And it's an all around cool sport."

When Denning was first approached by her coaches about taking on the goalie position she was relieved by the thought that she wouldn't have to compete with anyone for a position because no one else wanted to goalie. Over time she said she realized how much she really liked it.

"I like being able to encourage my team," Denning said. "I miss being on the field sometimes. I want to get out there sometimes and do a few moves and school some people."

Denning gets to do plenty of schooling at the goal though. She has made 70 saves so far this season and has had two shutouts.

"I was pretty proud of my first shutout against Frenchtown even though I didn't have too much to block," Denning said. "It gives me a little boost."

She also gets a boost from her teammates who she said have helped her do well this season.

"I have an awesome team," Denning said. "I couldn't be so successful without them. They are all really positive even when we mess up."

Denning's coaches credit her success to her work ethic and positive personality.

"Becca takes her job very seriously and works hard at practice to get better," Appleby said. "She listens to everything we tell her and tries to adapt that into her game. She is extremely easy to teach and to coach."

Denning lettered in soccer last year, and this year has taken on the role as co-captain.

"She's a leader on and off the field," Trenerry said. "She is a pleasure to have on the team. She works hard in practice and in games."

Denning is also part of 4-H and the school newspaper. She takes honors classes at the high school and also takes two online college classes. Somehow she also finds time to volunteer at Lighthouse Christian Group Home, which serves developmentally disabled adults.