AFC Ann Arbor is thrilled to announce the signing of Amanda Minissale, the newest member of the AFCAA inaugural women's team. Minissale is a Novi, Michigan native who has finished her collegiate career as a senior at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU).
Coming off her final season with SVSU, Minissale, the defender appeared in 20 games for the Cardinals, starting in 17 of them. She tallied 4 goals and 4 assists and totaled 12 shots with 8 of those shots on goal. After just the first game of the 2018 season, Minissale was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) defensive player of the week stating “...Amanda Minissale helped lead the Cardinals to a 2-0 road record over regional foes Ohio Dominican and Alderson Broaddus. She helped keep a clean sheet for the Cards in the 8-0 over ABU, also contributing a goal and assist in the victory.”
The 2018 season for Minissale and the Cardinals ended with a postseason run playing in the GLIAC Tournament. Minissale said, “my favorite moment in my soccer career was making the tournament with my collegiate team and winning a pk shootout to advance in the GLIAC Tournament.” The team went on to advance to the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Minissale is no stranger to club play outside the collegiate level. In 2018 she played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League for the AAFC Lumberjills of Michigan. This summer could have her competing against her former team as both The Mighty Oak and the Lumberjills are entered into the 2019 Inaugural Women’s Milk Cup. If both teams advance from the first round, they would play against each other in the second round.
When deciding to play for AFCAA Minissale was “strongly encouraged by former coaches to give it a try.” She said she’s “most excited to get back on the field after ending my collegiate career as a senior and for the chance to play with old friends again. Many players I haven’t played with in awhile were playing so I was excited to get back on the field with them.” Minissale will bring a tactical style of play with a ton of communication to her new team. “I communicate a ton which helps myself and my teammates be more proactive than reactive. I have a great service from many different areas of the field and I enjoy getting assists because of it.”
About AFC Ann Arbor
Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.