Rochester, Rochester Hills

New-look Highlanders

By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Rochester Adams senior Justin Kane works to keep the ball in play during an Aug. 24 game against Royal Oak High.

Adams boys soccer team boasts work ethic, aims to find their rhythm

ROCHESTER HILLS — Boys soccer at Rochester Adams is embracing a new identity in 2010.

After a thrilling run to the 2009 Division 1 state semifinals — where the Highlanders lost 1-0 to Birmingham Brother Rice — the squad returned to the pitch this season with 12 new players on the varsity roster.

Needless to say, this is a completely different Adams soccer team.

“We have a new team. We lost 12 people from last year’s team,” coach Josh Hickey said. “We’re just trying to get in sync with each other.”

Just seven players returned from the state semifinalist squad, including senior captains Alex Czirmer, Matt Szilard and Cameron Casey.

Hickey said what defines the Highlanders this season is their work ethic.

“They do have talent. They’re on some high-level club teams,” he said. “It’s a lot of work ethic that got the guys their last year, and they’re coming back with that same mentality.”

Despite the new faces, Hickey sees similarities between this and last year’s teams.

“Last year, there were a lot of guys who weren’t considered superstars,” he said.

“Nobody knew them and nobody talked about them, but they were all good players, and we have much of the same this year. It’s just a matter of can they come together like last year’s team did?”

While last year’s squad had strong team camaraderie, Hickey said this team is working to find its rhythm.

“It’s just a matter of putting them in the right spots,” Hickey said of his players. “We have talent in all positions of the field … we just have to find the right combination on the field rather than just individually in those positions.”

“Last year, we had a lot of team chemistry going,” Czirmer said. “Right now, we’re not clicking because we lost a lot of key players, so the momentum (from last year) isn’t there.”

Although the season just began, the Highlanders are determined to compete.

“They’re more focused even though things are not clicking like they were at then end of last year. The guys expect it to be, and want it to be, so they are putting in a lot of effort to make it happen,” Hickey said.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107.