Siblings, Soccer, Success — the Triumph of the Strine Brothers

“When I was deciding between schools, the chance to play alongside my brother was really appealing,” Ben said. “I knew that I could not miss out on such a wonderful opportunity."

For brothers Ben (’23) and James Strine (’21), both key contributors to the historic season achieved by the Men’s Soccer program, soccer is synonymous with family. From around the time they could walk, their father, Leo, introduced them to the game and they have been playing together ever since.

“From the age of 3, my family and I spent countless hours playing in the backyard and shooting on our goal,” Ben said. “It was there that my brother and I truly fell in love with the sport and tried to learn as much from our dad as we could.”

So, when older sibling James was applying to colleges, it was important to him to build upon the foundation his family created and continue playing the game he loves.

“My initial thought on Washington College was that I loved the campus,” James said. “I thought that the stadium was the best of all the ones I visited and that played a big role in my decision, since soccer was so important to me.” And as an added bonus, it left open the opportunity to play with Ben once he graduated from Salesianum High School.

The decision certainly paid off, as he had a breakout season in 2019, and in 2021 went on to tie the team lead for number of goals (10), assists (6) and points (26) in 21 games. He also earned numerous awards and accolades, including being named to the 2021 NCAA Division Men’s Region V first team, All-Centennial Conference in both 2019 (second team) and 2021 (first team), and Centennial Conference Player of the Week (9/14/21).

James, a Business major and Marketing minor, graduated this past December — but his passion for the game still runs deep.  He plans to stay involved with the Shoremen as an alum, visiting campus often and helping the men’s soccer coaching staff with recruiting to prepare for the 2022 season. He is also taking on a coaching role with the Delaware Football Club this summer.

For Ben, a current junior and Political Science major, the transition to college life came easier than expected — and not just because his brother helped him but also because of the other nine soccer recruits who came to Washington College at the same time.

“When I was deciding between schools, the chance to play alongside my brother was really appealing,” Ben said. “I knew that I could not miss out on such a wonderful opportunity.

“Having my brother as a resource definitely helped prepare me for what life would be like on campus, but I also can’t thank my classmates enough for making the experience so enjoyable,” Ben said. “Being a part of a group of 10 amazing recruits allowed me to already have a strong group of friends before beginning school. And that friend group increased after meeting the rest of the team. Coaches talk a lot about a strong team culture and it’s tough to find a team closer than the 29 guys who wear the Washington College colors.”

After the team experienced a disappointing end to the 2019 season – Ben’s first experience playing collegiate soccer -- the following season left no room for redemption, as the 2020 season was canceled by the pandemic. But instead of giving in to the disappointment, the interruption instead fueled both Ben and James — and the rest of the team — for the 2021 season, which would also be James’ last.

And a phenomenal season it was, as the team put up an impressive overall record of 15-5-1, earned the #2 seed in the Centennial Conference tournament and went on to win the championship in a 2-0 victory against Gettysburg. With that win, the Shoremen earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Division III Tournament, where their streak continued with victories over St. Lawrence University and then Montclair State. The historic run ended with a one-goal OT loss to No. 1-ranked Tufts in the Sweet Sixteen round.

“With the support from the fans and our family and everyone united for the same goal, there was no way we were going to lose that Centennial Conference semi-final game against Franklin & Marshall,” James said, reflecting on the post-season contests. “And then in the championship game against Gettysburg, with all the fans making the trip to Baltimore, we felt the support and our confidence was there. To then score a goal in the final, it felt amazing. To be on the team that gave Washington College its first-ever men’s soccer championship is everything.”

“The NCAA tournament was just icing on the cake for me, so no matter what happened, I would’ve been happy,” added James. “But to beat two great teams — St. Lawrence and Montclair State — was awesome.”

With James graduated and setting off on a new path, it’s now Ben’s turn to look towards his senior year and imagine what comes next for this talented team, which earned top 15 rankings in the national polls for the first time ever.

“I could not be prouder of the guys around me who worked tirelessly each day in the off season and every day of practice to achieve something this program has never done before,” Ben said. “The leadership of our captain, Del Jenkins, and the guidance of the coaches helped this team reach a whole new level. I am eternally grateful and can’t wait to get back at it in 2022.”