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Courtesy Photo | Alex Kim, Rochester Adams Soccer
Rochester Adams senior Salvatore DiNoto (No. 24, far right) turns and rushes towards teammate Logan Lilla to celebrate a goal in a game this season.
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
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ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Alex Rosin watched from the stands as his older brother Luke Rosin made an incredible journey as part of Rochester Adams’ run to the Division 1 state championship two years ago.
The Highlanders only lost one game during that fruitful 2022 season (17-1-6) with a very talented group and Luke Rosin was one of several All-State players on that loaded roster.
Alex Rosin was not one of them who enjoyed district, regional and state crowns following a seven-win postseason run that culminated with a 2-0 victory over Rockford in the D-1 title match.
The younger Rosin, much like several other high-level soccer players walking the hallways at Rochester Adams – a longtime state powerhouse in boys soccer and girls soccer dating back to the 1980s – was busy with his commitment to an MLS Next Academy youth team, the highest level of youth soccer in the United States. Alex Rosin grew up in the Vardar system and has developed into a top-200 recruit nationally over the past few years.
But something was missing from his resume.
“I watched some of those games (in 2002) and I knew I wanted to be a part of that,” Rosin told the Michigan Soccer Network back in September. “The plan was to play for Adams my senior year.”
Courtesy Photo | Alex Kim, Rochester Adams Soccer
Rochester Adams senior Alex Rosin (No. 17, in brown) beats a defender and moves towards the goal in a game this season.
THE PLAN
Alex Rosin approached Rochester Adams boys soccer coach Josh Hickey in his classroom at school last spring. Longtime friends Anthony Piacentini and Logan Lilla, two more high-level Vardar players, joined him for some friendly soccer dialog with Hickey.
The topic was to potentially play their senior year with Rochester Adams, again a program which has previously won seven regional titles and been to the MHSAA Division 1 Final Four seven times with two state championships and two state runner-up showings in its storied history.
Rosin, Piacentini and Lilla eventually opted to spend their senior seasons playing for Adams, and receiving their releases from Vardar coaches to play one season of high school soccer with their classmates and lifelong friends.
“We talked about this and really wanted to do it,” offered Rosin. “We had to have conversations with our clubs. But we all made the choice.”
By late August, Jameson Smith and Salvatore DiNoto came aboard the Adams roster once it was cleared with the Rochester Adams athletics department about joining late after tryouts were already conducted between Aug. 12-16. Smith and Jameson originally opted to stay with their club team but had a change of heart and eventually made the switch.
Smith played with Vardar last year and DiNoto played with the Columbus Crew MLS Next Youth Academy last school year – taking up residency in the Columbus, Ohio, area – and were on the original Vardar Academy roster for the 2024-25 school year before switching over. When they first entered high school, DiNoto and Lilla were with the Michigan Jaguars and played MLS Next there for a couple of years. Rosin, Piacentini and Smith were always a part of the Vardar system.
Today, all five are NCAA Division I recruits with Rosin committing to the University of Notre Dame, DiNoto pledging to Ohio State University, Piacentini opting to play at Western Michigan University, Lilla is headed the University of Detroit-Mercy and Smith is still undecided and weighing his options of playing with some D-I programs, including Oakland University and Western Michigan amongst others.
Courtesy Photo | Alex Kim, Rochester Adams Soccer
Senior center back Anthony Piacentini takes this free kick for Rochester Adams in a home game earlier this season.
The journeys to this point were all different for each of them. But they all had one vision.
“I saw some of the things my (older) brother did (two years ago), so it was a no-brainer for me,” offered Alex Rosin. “I already had my college commitment. But I’m glad my (friends) decided to do this, too.
“I talked to Notre Dame’s assistant coach back in April about what I wanted to do, and they said it would be okay. They gave me their blessing and said I could do want I wanted to do to help create the best version of myself,” offered Rosin. “They felt like there were some parallels with college and high school soccer and were okay with me playing my senior year at Adams.
“One reason why I chose (to play high school this year) is I watched my older brother play high school for Adams. He was a former (MLS Next) player. Just going to every game and experiencing it from the crowd was like something very special and when I got my offer (that I wanted) and accepted it, it was like I was weighing my options (for this year). This was the last chance to experience the same thing my brother Luke did. So again, it was like a no-brainer for me to play (for Adams).”
Piacentini, another highly-regarded recruit, got his blessing from his future coaches at Western Michigan and he opted to join the fold for this one season together playing for the Highlanders.
“Once I got my offer, I wanted to play my last year with my high school and it also gives me a chance to play with my (younger) brother (Samuel), friends from school, playing in front of the school (student body) and I’d never had that chance (before),” said Piacentini, who spent the last several years traveling the country on most weekends throughout the year.
“In club we’re traveling every other weekend, long rides (and) it’s a lot,” continued Piacentini. “We missed a lot (of activities).”
THE D.A. TO MLS NEXT
The U.S. Developmental Academy was first formed in 2007 to give some rising players some more options of playing high-level club soccer and against more quality opponents across the country. The concept was to have the best playing the best for long stretches at a time, which would help out with the U.S. National team’s progress and also help young prospect train for potential college soccer or professional soccer opportunities.
Formed with a few dozen club organizations some 17 years ago, the league has grown exponentially since the debut campaign. Before the 2012-13 school year, the Developmental Academy moved to a longer schedule which spanned some 10-plus months from late August/early September and into May and June the following year with national playoffs and All-Star showcases at the end. The exposure in front of college and pro scouts at games or at ID camps and clinics is unparalleled.
In the MLS Next, teams generally train four days a week but on Fridays through Sundays are committed to traveling to or hosting games at various facilities. Outside of the classroom, players eat, breathe and live soccer for a better part of each school year.
This shift caused many of the nation’s top-rated youth players in each state to have to make a choice before every school year. The choices are to still play at a high-level club and a high school schedule over the course of each school year, or to join or remain in the Developmental Academy system and play solely in that environment each year.
In 2020, U.S Soccer dropped the Developmental Academy system, and it was quickly picked up by Major League Soccer and rebranded as MLS Next Academy that summer. Collectively, it has continued to grow and flourish and today there are 151 clubs involved in the system, 29 MLS Youth academies and 122 privately-owned clubs with MLS Next Academy programs spread out over all 50 states, including one each in the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. In Michigan, there are now four clubs that offer MLS teams from the U-13 to U-19 levels – Vardar, Michigan Jaguars, Michigan Wolves and Midwest United.
The choices and options are plentiful for each soccer player. Even players who do not want to get involved in the MLS Next Academy system can still tryout or get involved in various levels of club soccer both under the USYS (United States Youth Soccer) pyramid or independent leagues from that structure. There are ECNL-Boys, Elite-64, National Academy League, MSPSP-Elite, MSPSP-Premier and others for youth boys soccer players and similar avenues for girls soccer players.
There are over 230 clubs alone in the state of Michigan that offer various levels of club soccer, from beginners and recreational soccer teams and leagues and sometimes all the way up the charts in terms of the levels of club soccer.
Courtesy Photo | Alex Kim, Rochester Adams Soccer
Senior midfielder Logan Lilla attempts to split three defenders in a game this season for Rochester Adams, which has maintained its presence in the Division 1 Top 15 all season.
“There really are a lot of options for these kids,” offered Hickey. “Some of them may not have been around when I played for (Troy) Athens 20 years ago.”
Choices are offered and choices by tens of thousands of players and parents across the state of Michigan are made each year. Choices by the millions are made of those who are involved in youth soccer in the U.S. each year.
And that’s just soccer, not to mention the choices for all of the legions of other youth sports available today.
But, nevertheless, decisions are made everyday about which pathway to take.
“It was kind of hard to make the decision, but this is something that we talked about doing and I decided to do this,” noted Smith, who plays both outside midfielder or a wingback position in club and high school. “This was our last chance to probably play together.”
Piacentini, a center back who also is playing high school soccer for the first time, echoed Smith.
“I’ve played with some of these guys the past few years, but for the most part, (the entire Adams team) had ever really played together or played together for a long time,” he said. “I think we all felt like there was an opportunity here (to help win championships).”
Hickey has seen many great players come and go since he became head coach at Adams back in 2009. Some great players have suited up for Adams over the years and some have opted not to play for the Highlanders. The same scenario plays out all over the state. It’s just part of the soccer landscape in Michigan and in soccer across the U.S.
“Sometimes you get lucky with some of these kids coming back and sometimes you may have them for a year before they join one of those clubs,” noted Hickey. “We’ve had some kids only play one year with us or some that never play for us. And that’s okay, too. Every kid and their families have to make a choice which is best for them. If they want to play for us, then great. We can have that conversation about what we can offer. But ultimately, these kids have to make the choice. And it’s a hard choice. I understand why some of them choose club (soccer). They get to play in front of a lot of college coaches, go to national tournaments and ID camps. I get it.”
Rochester Adams has had dozens of students that grew up playing in the MLS Next or Developmental Academy systems or ECNL (Elite Club National League) or Girls Academy club teams in girls soccer where schedules are often 9-11 months long and there is no time to commit to the high school program. Hundreds of high schools in the state lose players or gain players back from those circles each school year. It’s now engraved in the soccer ecosystem – all of the options out there and choices to be made.
But it all boils down to what is best for each individual player.
“These are good kids. They come from good families and they have the opportunity to go play with some high-level clubs,” added Hickey. “But when some of them came to me last spring, I talked to them about it. I told them what we have to offer. I think some of them already knew about the large crowds that come watch us play (in the state tournament). Two years ago, we had some really large crowds in games against Troy or at the state semifinals or state finals. They don’t usually see that in club (sports).”
THAT ONE VISION
To say that Rochester Adams is loaded this season is an understatement. The Highlanders have spent the entire 2024 season ranked well inside the top-10 of the Division 1 rankings by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association and they currently have 17 seniors on their entire roster – all hungry to add chapters to Adams’ storied lore.
There has been a bevy of All-State and future collegiate players of various levels that have donned the Adams jersey since its debut varsity boys soccer campaign back in 1981. The 1999 state championship team and the 2001 state runner-up squads both had numerous future NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA players on those rosters. Adams even produced two Mr. Soccer winners from those teams – Ricky Strong in 1999 and Simon Omekanda in 2002 – and many of those former Adams greats enjoyed great college careers and amateur and professional careers after high school.
The five former MLS Next Academy players are not the only current Adams standouts that are being courted by NCAA Division I programs. Senior goalkeeper Reid Dennis is in conversations with several D-I schools. Senior midfielder/marking back Anthony Page, the only third-year starter for the Highlanders and only player that saw the field in Adams’ state championship win in 2022 over Rockford, is also on the radar of some D-I and D-II programs in Michigan.
Courtesy Photo | Alex Kim, Rochester Adams Soccer
Senior midfielder Jameson Smith is set to pass the ball to a teammate in a game this season. Smith is one of the five former MLS Next Academy players that joined the Rochester Adams roster this season.
There are also some non-seniors being watched by college coaches from the various levels of the college pyramid. To put things short, the Highlanders are also a high-level high school team and a melting pot of various clubs in the Detroit area – Vardar, Michigan Jaguars, Liverpool International Academy, Michigan Wolves and Michigan Stars amongst others.
Rosin, DiNoto, Lilla, Piacentini and Jameson have bought in for a 2.5-month joyful period with the same goal, same vision in mind for Rochester Adams – one to create a lasting memory up on the gymnasium walls and trophy cases at Adams. Stories that can be shared for a lifetime.
“We do want to win the state championship,” said Piacentini. “Most of us have not played together on the same team (since late elementary school or middle school). We’ve all had our commitments with our club teams.”
But here they all are, helping Rochester Adams make another deep postseason run. The Highlanders are in the Division 1 Final Four for the eighth time in program history, joining Saline, Byron Center and Oxford which have all put together storybook-type seasons over the past couple of months.
All five of these players will be on different paths after the 2024 prep season comes to a close on Nov. 2. Some will graduate from high school early, some will head back to an MLS Next Academy club and some will be in limbo. All five should find their way onto NCAA Division I college rosters by next August as well.
Collectively, players should also rake in some postseason awards for All-League, All-District, All-Region and All-State, as postseason teams are being selected all over Michigan in late October and early November. The Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association will unveil all of its 2024 All-State teams and players at the tail-end of the week following the Nov. 2 state championships. There will be hundreds of quality prep players who will be honored.
But, in particular, five young men at Rochester Adams all have one vision and opted to play for Adams this fall for a reason. That vision, that reason, that dream could soon be realized.
“We won’t get another chance at this, to win a state championship,” smiled Rosin, almost predicting the future. “This is our last shot.”
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
Courtesy Photo | Alex Kim, Rochester Adams Soccer
Rochester Adams senior Alex Rosin strikes a pose with the MHSAA Division 1 regional championship trophy the Highlanders captured back on Oct. 24. The Highlanders captured their eighth in school history with a 1-0 victory over Romeo.
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An asterisk * denotes the season came in the old Michigan Suburban Coaches Association state tournament prior to the MHSAA state being contested.
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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