By Jinseong Kim

AFC Ann Arbor is excited to add Claire Cahalan to the 2022 USL W League squad. Cahalan is an Ann Arbor native and will link up with fellow Michiganders like Anna Doane, Chloe Ricketts, and Emily Eitzman, among several others.

Cahalan is a well-known name in the Ann Arbor youth soccer community. Having captained the Michigan Hawks Class of 2017 for three years, the midfielder won the U17 and U19 Michigan State Cup championships while with the Hawks. Michigan Hawks is a familiar name to the club, as it is where Eitzman played youth soccer with the Class of 2020 team.

Cahalan committed to the University of Toledo in 2017 and recently finished her college career at the Rockets. During her time in Ohio, Cahalan showed positive progress over the course of seasons. Her first year ended with two assists in 20 appearances, but in her senior year, Cahalan made the jump to the starting XI for all 20 matches and recorded two goals to go along with another pair of two assists. She was selected as Academic All-MAC in 2017 and 2021 and experienced NCAA Tournament action as a freshman.

Cahalan recently graduated from Toledo and she is ready for a fresh challenge. Recalling back her memory from her college career, she explained how it was a dream come true for her, and she would make memories to further enlighten her career.

“My college career was amazing, and I miss it every day. College soccer was a dream of mine since I was four and to be able to live that out and play D1 soccer was absolutely amazing. I learned so much during those four and a half years of my life playing college soccer and those lessons are things that I will take with me everywhere in life.”

After college, Cahalan felt Ann Arbor was the place she should continue her career at. She was expected to join the squad last season before the pandemic ripped the season away. “I am so excited to join AFCAA. Soccer has been such a huge part of my life, and with college soccer ending I knew that I needed to continue playing and AFCAA was the perfect place for me. An old coach of mine, Kevin [Boyd], from Legends FC, told me about AFCAA.”

In discussing her attributes, Cahalan described her as a technical, defensive player. “As a player, I am very technical. I play defensive midfield and I love that position because I can see everything on the field. I am involved in almost every play on the field. I am a hard worker and I play with a lot of passion. I'm a creative player on the ball and off the ball as well.”

She would continue, “As a person I am passionate. I am a firm believer that there are no limits when it comes to what you want to achieve, so dream big. I also believe that loving everyone, no matter who they are, is the most important thing. I think soccer has taught me those two very important things and for that, I am forever grateful.”

Women’s Head Coach Boyzzz Khumalo emphasized the role of a community club for local players who never had the chance or are looking for the next opportunity. “AFC Ann Arbor is a people’s team, a team for local players.”

He added, “The club opens up for high school players looking for college looks, college players who want to stay fit over the summer, and also those who are looking for the next level. Playing for AFC Ann Arbor could be a good thing for them to be seen by professional teams. On the men’s side, those things are already happening.”

Cahalan concluded with an enthusiastic comment. “My goal for the season is to play the sport I love and to help AFCAA win. I am so excited to meet all the women that are playing this summer and I want to build the strongest team that we can for this summer. I have seen all of the women that have been announced to play this summer and they are all so talented and I know that we are going to have a special team this summer!”

AFCAA Family, please give Claire a warm welcome back to her hometown, and look forward to a great summer season with her in the squad.