Don’t look now but there’s another talented team coming out of the Michigan Wolves’ camp.

The U14 Boys squad, coached by Dave Hicklin, defeated Midwest Regional League Premier Division rivals Vardar West and Crew Juniors by 5-0 and 4-1 respectively to take an early lead in the league.

Hicklin said the team is similar to older Wolves’ teams in its tendency to try and string passes together.

“They’re a good team,” he said. “They play possession. We keep the ball. We have some good athletes and some very good soccer players.”

Hicklin said the age group features a wide range of physical sizes and shapes among players, which makes it imperative that clubs and coaches emphasize teamwork and passing.

“At this club we teach the game,” Hicklin said. “Just because a kid is big and strong and quick doesn’t mean we’re going to knock balls over the top just for him to run under. At some point players need to learn the game. We’ve got a boy 6-2 and another at 4-11. They are different physically but they all need to learn the technical part, how to read the game and the importance of keeping possession. We do a good job at younger ages doing the technical stuff. At 13 and 14 we start swinging training more to the tactical side and emphasizing speed of play.”

Among standouts on the group are U14 Boys National Team players Miguel Polley, a creative central midfielder who has trained some with the Wolves U16 Academy team, and striker Ali Jawad, a lightning-fast goalscorer.

Other top players include prolific goalscorer Chris Sullivant, midfield ballwinner Ben Holbrook, goalkeeper Andrew Shepherd and central defensive pairing Connor Shennan and Jake Genrich.

The team resumes it MRL season on April 18 in Northwestern Indiana.

The roster is as follows:

Zach Bakos
Michael Camilleri
Rickie Carter
Troy Dolmetsch
Jake Genrich
Luke Hazen
Ben Holbrook
Alec Huismann
Ali Jawad
Kevin Pachuta
Charlie Peters
Miguel Polley
Andrew Prince
Josh Robison
Connor Shennan
Andrew Shepherd
Chris Sullivant