Boys soccer: Strang, whose father played with Naperville Central coach, is starring for him

Brady Strang wasn’t born to play soccer, but he was destined to play the sport at Naperville Central.

The senior forward is the son of Brett Strang, who runs the Naperville-based Galaxy club and was one of Naperville Central coach Troy Adams’ high school and club teammates.

How long has Troy Adams known Brady Strang?

“Since he was born,” Troy Adams said. “I’ve seen him grow up. I’ve seen him get better as a player.”

Troy Adams also got to see Brady Strang play on a club team with his son Chase Adams, who led the Redhawks to the 2022 state title and plays for the Columbus Crew.

But Troy Adams, of course, made Strang earn his varsity spot.

“Obviously, Naperville Central is a very good program, so I didn’t make varsity until my junior year,” Brady Strang said. “I wanted to make it sophomore year, but I was a little short.

“We had a good team. So I was just staying motivated, making sure I could be the best version of myself.”

The current version of Brady Strang is the best yet. After scoring 12 goals and six assists as a junior, he’s had a terrific start to his senior season. He scored twice in the Redhawks’ 2-1 win over visiting West Aurora on Thursday and has nine of the team’s 21 goals along with two assists.

“He’s having a good year,” Troy Adams said. “He has gotten better every year, which is what you want a kid to become.

“He’s gotten physically bigger, but he’s also gotten technically better, so when you put those two together, you’re going to have some success. He’s also a smart kid. He knows where to be on the field.”

Brady Strang demonstrated that against the Blackhawks, who went up 1-0 on an own goal with 29:21 remaining in the second half. The lead didn’t last long as the Redhawks (4-2-1) turned two long free kicks by senior defender Calum Bohan into goals by Brady Strang, who was in the right spot at the right time.

Brady Strang ran onto Bohan’s first free kick and scored on a short shot to tie the game with 26:24 to go. On the second play, Bohan’s boot found senior midfielder Logan Godfrey in the left side of the box. Godfrey volleyed it across the crease to Brady Strang, who finished from just inside the right post with 23:15 remaining.

“I’m really being good at my finishing, making sure I’m getting into those spots that I can shoot,” Brady Strang said. “I feel like I’ve been stronger this year with both feet. I’ve scored goals with my left foot too.”

Senior defender Jacob Adams has seen Brady Strang score a lot of goals over the years. Jacob Adams is no relation to Troy Adams, but his father, Mark, also was one of Troy Adams’ teammates at Naperville Central in the 1990s.

Brady Strang and Jacob Adams have known each other their entire lives, and both began playing soccer as 3-year-olds.

“He’s put in so many goals for us, probably going to put more in than last year, especially because he’s the only one doing the scoring right now,” Jacob Adams said. “I like when he holds the ball for us and spins the guy and creates space for other people to make runs or for himself to take a shot.

“I’m super proud of him. As long as he does what he needs to do, we’ll be good.”

Good soccer runs in the Strang family. Brett Strang, who coaches Brady Strang in club, played college soccer at Illinois State and Bowling Green, and his brother Shane also played for the Redhawks.

Brady Strang’s cousin Cameron came through the program, graduating in 2019, and played at Bradley. Another cousin, Trinity, played goalkeeper for Naperville Central’s girls team.

Troy Adams thinks Brady Strang will have an opportunity to continue his career in college too.

“He absolutely has the ability to do that,” Troy Adams said. “He has a chance to be one of the better players in the area.”

Brady Strang is talking with Division III schools like Ohio Northern, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Hope. Former teammates Eli Jarrell and Ryan Gervase play at Hope.

Wherever Brady Strang goes, he’s sure of one thing.

“I’ve always loved soccer since I was 3,” he said. “Right now, it’s so fun playing, whether that’s playing Galaxy with my dad or playing here with Troy. It’s great.”