A popular acronym for the word ‘team? is Together, Everyone Accomplishes More. And that’s exactly what the U14 Boys soccer team at the Oxford Select Soccer League have been learning.
The team has concluded it season, going 6-2-2. They scored 21 goals while allowing only five. They finished second place in the eight-team second division of the Michigan Youth Soccer League and will move up a division in the spring.
U14 Head Coach Charlie Stevens said that the 17 boys on his team work very well together, and that’s been the secret to their success.
‘The boys play together as a team,? he said.
What’s really remarkable is that this year half the team were newcomers from different clubs. With new members come growing pains, but things went very well for U14.
?[The team was] willing to come together and work and play together and help each other improve,? Stevens said. ‘It’s been a great thing to see. I was really proud of us being undefeated early in the season.?
The first goal of the season the team allowed was in their fifth game, an Oct. 5 match against a team from the Rochester Soccer Club.
This season, they played Birmingham, Royal Oak, North Macomb Soccer Club, Pato’s Magic Vipers and Royal Oak Renegades.
Several factors go into a successful soccer team: passing, goalkeeping, defense and offense.
Stevens feels that the team excels on both sides of the ball.
‘This is one of the most complete teams we’ve had,? he said. ‘We have a shutdown defense. I’m very proud of how they play defense as a unit and not just individually. On offense, 10 different players have scored.?
That’s unusual, the coach added, noting that often only about one to two players on the team are the primary scorers.
Stevens prefers to use all of his team instead of having players who warm the bench and play only if there’s an injury.
‘I’m proud of each of the boys, and they get to have a fair amount of game time,? he said. ‘They do a great job, and they all contribute.?