Strohecker pursuing history as team pursues playoff run
10/9/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Millersville University senior Aubrey Strohecker was the guest on this week's On Deck Podcast. The episode is available at millersvilleathletics.com as well as Spotify and YouTube.Â
Aubrey Strohecker didn't know she was leading the nation in goals until her dad texted her a screenshot of a graphic posted on the @VilleMarauders Instagram. That's how quietly—and relentlessly—she's been stacking one of the best seasons in Millersville women's soccer history. With 15 goals through the first two-thirds of the season, the senior forward has scored in nine of 11 games and sits just three goals shy of the program's single-season record. For Strohecker, the surge comes down to confidence, experience, and a mindset built on pressure. "My confidence is huge this year," she said. "Just knowing that I'm a senior and putting together everything I've worked for the past 18 years of my life, I have one last go at it and I'm giving it all I can."
The numbers only tell part of the story. Strohecker's goals have come in bunches—four multi-goal games so far—and often in the moments when Millersville needs them most. She doesn't overcomplicate the process. When the ball finds her near the box, the mission is simple. "Once the ball's on my foot and I'm in a scoring opportunity, the only thing I'm thinking of is hitting the back of the net," she said. "I'm not thinking of anything else."
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Finding Her Stride
Strohecker's scoring run didn't appear overnight. It's the product of years spent learning the college game, battling through injuries, and embracing the mental side of her position. Early nerves still creep in on game days—"I always get pregame nerves until I get the first touch on the field," she said—but they fade quickly into focus. "It actually turns into excitement once I step onto the field," she said.
That senior composure has made her lethal in front of goal. Head coach Matt Procopio keeps the message simple: go get a goal. Strohecker has taken it to heart. "He's always telling me to be hungry, make runs over the top, check in, create opportunities," she said. "He always wants me to get into space." The freedom within that role has unlocked her best soccer yet. "Now that I'm a senior, I just have one more go at it," she said. "It's all or nothing for me."
Even when the spotlight finds her, Strohecker keeps her world small. She doesn't track stats or milestones in real time. When Millersville posted about her national lead in goals, it caught her off guard. "I didn't know," she said. "My dad just sent me a screenshot of it, honestly. It's such a dad thing to do."
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Overcoming the Setbacks
Behind the highlight goals is a career shaped by persistence. Chronic ankle injuries have followed Strohecker since high school, sidelining her at times in club and college. "I've had very many," she said. "Ankle injuries are ongoing all the time. It's taken me out of my sport many times, but now I'm just learning to deal with it and try to find ways around it."
The setbacks have never stopped her. This season, she's managing pain the only way she can. "There's not much I can do at this point other than fight through it, ice it, and make sure it's taped really tight before a game," she said. That resilience has become part of her identity. "I learned that nothing comes easy," she said. "You're not just handed anything. You have to work for the things you want in life. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you just have to keep getting back up."
Strohecker's work ethic shows up everywhere—from the gym to extra reps on a local field near her house. Over the summer, she played with PA Classics, driving nearly two hours to Lancaster for practices. "I was hitting the gym five days a week, conditioning five days a week," she said. "It was kind of hard to do things on your own when you don't have anyone at home to do things with, but I did the best I could to make it work."
A Team-First Star
Strohecker's rise has mirrored Millersville's resurgence. Last year's playoff run reignited belief in the program, and she's carried that edge into her final season. "It definitely gave us a lot of motivation for this year—a reason to fight," she said. "We're always the underdogs, everyone looks down on us because we're usually around the fourth or fifth seed, but we can compete with the top teams. We all know that."
That underdog mentality fuels her. "It makes us fight harder as a team," she said. Strohecker embraces her role as a senior leader, not just through goals but through presence. "Someone who takes accountability, someone who sticks up for what is right, guides the team in the right direction," she said. Millersville's team panel—one player from each class—meets regularly to keep everyone connected. Strohecker sees leadership as collective. "It's a whole for our panel," she said.
Her teammates are never far from her mind when the topic turns to records. With 34 career goals, she's closing in on Hall of Famer Kay Liebl's program mark. "It would definitely mean a lot for me," she said. "I wouldn't be here without my teammates, all the support I've had over the years, and all the hard work I've put in. It's not possible without the awesome team I have behind my back."
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Homegrown Roots
Strohecker grew up in Yeagertown, a small town along Route 322 in central Pennsylvania. Life was simple—movies with friends, campfires, and anything outdoors. "There wasn't much to do," she said. "You just kind of have to make your own things up." Family has always been her center. She's the oldest of three, with two younger brothers. "We're very competitive," she said. "We just had a family pickleball tournament before I came back to school."
Soccer entered her life early and never left. "That's been the sport I've played since I was four years old," she said. "My dad started coaching me, and he's learned everything along the way with me just for me to grow." Club soccer took her everywhere—Florida, Virginia, Arizona, Maryland—and her parents made every trip. "They've not missed a single thing for me since I was little," she said. "They're my biggest supporters."
At Millersville, she found a second family. "The friendships, 100%," she said. "Even at practice, we try to make the most of it and have fun. Outside of soccer, you can just text anyone on the team and everyone's down to do whatever."
Looking Ahead
A marketing major, Strohecker is still figuring out her post-graduation path. "I really am not sure what I want to do after school," she said. "It's tough because I can go many different ways with it." What she does know is that she wants to stay close to home, start her career, and keep the people she loves nearby.Â
For now, her focus is on finishing what she started. "One of the biggest goals is to make it into postseason and try to get a PSAC win," she said. "For myself, just keep being consistent and showing up every day."
If the goals keep coming, records will fall—and maybe one day, a Hall of Fame induction will follow. It's not something she dwells on. "I try not to think about it because I don't want to mess with my own head," she said. "I just try to go out there every day and do the best I can for my team."
Given the season she's having, that approach seems to be working just fine.
Aubrey Strohecker didn't know she was leading the nation in goals until her dad texted her a screenshot of a graphic posted on the @VilleMarauders Instagram. That's how quietly—and relentlessly—she's been stacking one of the best seasons in Millersville women's soccer history. With 15 goals through the first two-thirds of the season, the senior forward has scored in nine of 11 games and sits just three goals shy of the program's single-season record. For Strohecker, the surge comes down to confidence, experience, and a mindset built on pressure. "My confidence is huge this year," she said. "Just knowing that I'm a senior and putting together everything I've worked for the past 18 years of my life, I have one last go at it and I'm giving it all I can."
The numbers only tell part of the story. Strohecker's goals have come in bunches—four multi-goal games so far—and often in the moments when Millersville needs them most. She doesn't overcomplicate the process. When the ball finds her near the box, the mission is simple. "Once the ball's on my foot and I'm in a scoring opportunity, the only thing I'm thinking of is hitting the back of the net," she said. "I'm not thinking of anything else."
Â
Finding Her Stride
Strohecker's scoring run didn't appear overnight. It's the product of years spent learning the college game, battling through injuries, and embracing the mental side of her position. Early nerves still creep in on game days—"I always get pregame nerves until I get the first touch on the field," she said—but they fade quickly into focus. "It actually turns into excitement once I step onto the field," she said.
That senior composure has made her lethal in front of goal. Head coach Matt Procopio keeps the message simple: go get a goal. Strohecker has taken it to heart. "He's always telling me to be hungry, make runs over the top, check in, create opportunities," she said. "He always wants me to get into space." The freedom within that role has unlocked her best soccer yet. "Now that I'm a senior, I just have one more go at it," she said. "It's all or nothing for me."
Even when the spotlight finds her, Strohecker keeps her world small. She doesn't track stats or milestones in real time. When Millersville posted about her national lead in goals, it caught her off guard. "I didn't know," she said. "My dad just sent me a screenshot of it, honestly. It's such a dad thing to do."
Â
WSOC: Millersville extending their lead 2-0 at the start of the second half with another goal by Aubrey Strohecker, her 10th of the season. https://t.co/Z0BnlJltVs
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) September 12, 2026
Overcoming the Setbacks
Behind the highlight goals is a career shaped by persistence. Chronic ankle injuries have followed Strohecker since high school, sidelining her at times in club and college. "I've had very many," she said. "Ankle injuries are ongoing all the time. It's taken me out of my sport many times, but now I'm just learning to deal with it and try to find ways around it."
The setbacks have never stopped her. This season, she's managing pain the only way she can. "There's not much I can do at this point other than fight through it, ice it, and make sure it's taped really tight before a game," she said. That resilience has become part of her identity. "I learned that nothing comes easy," she said. "You're not just handed anything. You have to work for the things you want in life. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you just have to keep getting back up."
Strohecker's work ethic shows up everywhere—from the gym to extra reps on a local field near her house. Over the summer, she played with PA Classics, driving nearly two hours to Lancaster for practices. "I was hitting the gym five days a week, conditioning five days a week," she said. "It was kind of hard to do things on your own when you don't have anyone at home to do things with, but I did the best I could to make it work."
A Team-First Star
Strohecker's rise has mirrored Millersville's resurgence. Last year's playoff run reignited belief in the program, and she's carried that edge into her final season. "It definitely gave us a lot of motivation for this year—a reason to fight," she said. "We're always the underdogs, everyone looks down on us because we're usually around the fourth or fifth seed, but we can compete with the top teams. We all know that."
That underdog mentality fuels her. "It makes us fight harder as a team," she said. Strohecker embraces her role as a senior leader, not just through goals but through presence. "Someone who takes accountability, someone who sticks up for what is right, guides the team in the right direction," she said. Millersville's team panel—one player from each class—meets regularly to keep everyone connected. Strohecker sees leadership as collective. "It's a whole for our panel," she said.
Her teammates are never far from her mind when the topic turns to records. With 34 career goals, she's closing in on Hall of Famer Kay Liebl's program mark. "It would definitely mean a lot for me," she said. "I wouldn't be here without my teammates, all the support I've had over the years, and all the hard work I've put in. It's not possible without the awesome team I have behind my back."
Â
WSOC: Aubrey Strohecker gets the first goal for senior day https://t.co/uKDxxK3sjH
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) September 26, 2026
Homegrown Roots
Strohecker grew up in Yeagertown, a small town along Route 322 in central Pennsylvania. Life was simple—movies with friends, campfires, and anything outdoors. "There wasn't much to do," she said. "You just kind of have to make your own things up." Family has always been her center. She's the oldest of three, with two younger brothers. "We're very competitive," she said. "We just had a family pickleball tournament before I came back to school."
Soccer entered her life early and never left. "That's been the sport I've played since I was four years old," she said. "My dad started coaching me, and he's learned everything along the way with me just for me to grow." Club soccer took her everywhere—Florida, Virginia, Arizona, Maryland—and her parents made every trip. "They've not missed a single thing for me since I was little," she said. "They're my biggest supporters."
At Millersville, she found a second family. "The friendships, 100%," she said. "Even at practice, we try to make the most of it and have fun. Outside of soccer, you can just text anyone on the team and everyone's down to do whatever."
Looking Ahead
A marketing major, Strohecker is still figuring out her post-graduation path. "I really am not sure what I want to do after school," she said. "It's tough because I can go many different ways with it." What she does know is that she wants to stay close to home, start her career, and keep the people she loves nearby.Â
For now, her focus is on finishing what she started. "One of the biggest goals is to make it into postseason and try to get a PSAC win," she said. "For myself, just keep being consistent and showing up every day."
If the goals keep coming, records will fall—and maybe one day, a Hall of Fame induction will follow. It's not something she dwells on. "I try not to think about it because I don't want to mess with my own head," she said. "I just try to go out there every day and do the best I can for my team."
Given the season she's having, that approach seems to be working just fine.
Players Mentioned
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