AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce the return of Tatiana Mason to the club’s women’s side ahead of the 2020 season. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Mason played her high school soccer at Ann Arbor Skyline and has completed her sophomore season at Ball State University. She was a vital member to the inaugural AFCAA women’s side providing pace and brilliant delivery in attack as a winger.
On returning to the club, she says, “I am so excited to have the opportunity to play with AFC Ann Arbor again this summer!” Mason also added how she looked forward to build off the inaugural season and grow as a team. A constant fixture in last season’s team, she ended the year in the top five of minutes-played in UWS competition – allowing her to gain valuable experience ahead of the 2020 season.
At the collegiate level, Mason has been a star for Ball State. Making thirty starts and forty appearances over her two seasons, Mason earned the MAC Freshman of the Year Award in 2018, to go with All-MAC Second Team honors, with a six-goal, three-assist, season. She followed that up after a summer with The Mighty Oak with two goals and seven assists and earning a spot on the Academic All-MAC Team through her work in the classroom. Her Cardinals won 29 games over the two seasons she has been with the team and finished first in goals and points in her freshman season and first in assists and second in points as a sophomore.
While she spends her collegiate seasons in Indiana, Mason is still Ann Arbor through-and-through. “Being from Ann Arbor and being able to represent the city I grew up in is an incredible experience,” Mason told AFCAA. She would continue to add, “The magnitude of the support from the community is something I’ve never seen before. It really feels like home.” Noting the support of the community, Mason also highlighted how she entering the community and helping out within it. She explained, “I especially love being able to give back to my city through the beautiful game as well as through the many volunteer opportunities that AFC provides for its players.”
The addition of Boyzzz Khumalo to the staff as head coach also has Mason excited for the season. “He has so much experience and knowledge of the game,” Mason said of the newly installed head coach. “I can’t wait to learn as much as I can from him.” Khumalo also looks forward to having a key player from the 2019 as his disposal for the summer. Khumalo highlighted her technical ability on the wing as a great weapon to have in the side. He also highlighted her being from Ann Arbor as something positive as a stellar representative of the community. The mutual excitement is clear in Khumalo and Mason working together.
Mason talked about the adjustments that are needed in an inaugural season for a club, saying, “The inaugural season is always somewhat challenging because both the players and the coaches are adapting to a new team and a new environment.” While she acknowledged the growing pains that come with the implementation of a new club, she also said, “I think our potential this year is through the roof.”
Mason, in looking ahead to goals for the season, has high hopes for the sides. “With the quality of players coming back and the continued support from the community I know we can be a dominant team in the UWS and make a deep run in the post season.” With the addition of the returning Mason for 2020, dreams of a postseason run and making noise in the UWS Midwest are that much more obtainable.