44 | DECEMBER 19 • 2019 

sports HIGHlights

brought to you in partnership with 

NMLS#2289

quick hits
BY STEVE STEIN 

Josh Nodler scored the game-

winning goal for the Michigan State 

University hockey team in a 3-0 

victory over Michigan on Nov. 16.

The freshman from Oak Park 

redirected a shot from the point into 

the far corner of the net at 1:59 of 

the first period to give the Spartans 

the only goal they would need.

The victory gave MSU a two-game sweep of a weekend series 

against the Wolverines. It was the Spartans’
 first sweep of U-M 

since 2009.

A sellout crowd of 6,552 watched the Nov. 16 game at MSU’
s 

Munn Ice Arena.

From England to Idaho 
to Israel to Oak Park

FJA freshman’
s love for soccer has kept 
him grounded on world travels.

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
B

en Taylor-Abt is wise beyond his 
years.
Perhaps it’
s because he’
s a world 
traveler. Born in London, England, in 
2005, he’
s lived with his family in Boise, 
Idaho, from 2008-11, Israel from 2011-16 
and now Oak Park.
Perhaps it’
s because of his love for 
soccer, which he has played at the club 
level including the Berkley-based South 
Oakland Soccer Club and this fall with the 
Frankel Jewish Academy team.
“Soccer is more than a sport. It’
s a way 
to connect with others,” said Taylor-Abt, a 
14-year-old FJA freshman.
“Each person on the team is important. 
That’
s why I’
d recommend the sport to 
other Jewish kids. Soccer is for everyone. 
Race, religion and ethnicity aren’
t import-
ant. Soccer culture is known as the univer-
sal language.”
Taylor-Abt had a solid rookie high 
school season with FJA, which finished 

6-6. The only freshman on the 
team was named to the Catholic 
League All-League team.
“Ben was a center attacking 
midfielder,” said first-year FJA 
coach Cobi Clark. “Our attack 
ran through him, which is a lot 
of responsibility for a freshman. When we 
scored, it usually was because of a key pass 
from Ben. He was one of the most skilled 
players on our team.”
Taylor-Abt said center midfield is his 
favorite position in soccer because he has 
the job of setting up teammates for goals.
“It’
s all about the team effort in soccer. 
Passing the ball helps ensure that our team 
is working as a unit,” he said.
Taylor-Abt started his soccer career as a 
defender.
“But as my understanding of the game 
improved, I moved to midfield,” he said. 
“Playing midfield has allowed me to use 
more creativity in my game.”

Playing for FJA this fall both with and 
against older players was a blessing and 
challenge for Taylor-Abt, who is 5-foot-8 
and weighs about 130 pounds.
“Being on the team with older players 
allowed me to get to know Frankel stu-
dents I wouldn’
t necessarily have gotten to 
know,” he said. “Playing against older play-
ers has motivated me to work harder at my 
game, to make myself a better player.”
That improvement needs to continue 
for Taylor-Abt to reach his ultimate soccer 
goal of playing the sport in college.
“I don’
t know what the future holds,” he 
said. “But as long as I’
m able to play soc-
cer, I’
ll continue to play. I love soccer. It’
s a 
passion.”

Detroit teen athletes and 

artists will be heading west in 

August to participate in the JCC 

Maccabi Games & ArtsFest in 

San Diego, Calf., hosted by the 

Lawrence Family JCC.

 The San Diego Jewish World 

reported the Lawrence Family 

JCC received a $100,000 

donation from the Jewish 

Federation of San Diego to help 

host the Maccabi Games.

 Also, the San Diego 

Federation will sponsor 

delegations from the Sha’
arv 

Hanegev Municipality,

the Federation’
s partnership

the Federation’
s partnership region in Israel, St. Petersburg, 

Russia, and Sofia, Bulgaria, and provide in-kind staff and 

marketing support.

 About 2,000 athletes and artists are expected in San 

Diego from Aug. 2-7 for the Maccabi Games & ArtsFest. Pace 

University in Westchester County, N.Y., will be a Maccabi Games 

host from Aug. 9-14.

 An information meeting for prospective Detroit teen athletes 

and artists for the 2020 JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest will be 

held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, in Handleman Hall in the JCC of 

Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield.

 For more information, go to maccabidetroit.com.

CONTRIBUTED

Ben Taylor-Abt 
shows off his 
kicking skills 
this summer at 
a soccer camp.

ABI TAYLOR-ABT

