44 | DECEMBER 19 • 2019

sports HIGHlights

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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