By Ryan Makuch
AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce the signing of Lance McGrane ahead of the 2022 men’s campaign. The goalkeeper from Kingston, Pennsylvania, is coming off his freshman season at Michigan State University.
As a freshman in East Lansing, McGrane made seven appearances for the Big Ten team, racking up over 500 minutes of action in the net. He made 15 saves over the course of the season, including a pair in arguably his biggest match to date – minding the net in the 4-3 MSU victory over eventual NCAA National Semifinalists Notre Dame. McGrane also minded the net in a 1-0 clean sheet victory over Ohio State, the Spartans' lone shutout of Big Ten play and an active game for McGrane who made six saves.
“I’m very excited; I know I’m coming into a high-quality environment that I know I can add to,” said McGrane about the upcoming summer. “Hearing what AFC Ann Arbor is about, I know it’s going to be a summer of hard work and improvements and I’m all for it.” In talking about expectations, McGrane would say, “My expectations are to grow as much as I possibly can as a player and person, and more importantly help AFC Ann Arbor in any way I can in my time here.”
The name ‘McGrane’ is certainly familiar to fans of The Mighty Oak, and there is indeed family ties here and not just coincidence. Lance is the younger brother of Ian McGrane, a member of the 2019 men’s team and one of that side’s standouts, earning national buzz and helping AFCAA to what was their fourth consecutive trip to the NPSL playoffs.
It only makes sense that younger brother conferred with older about joining AFCAA. “Of course, [Ian] loved it here and grew so much as a player which got him to the next level, so he had nothing but praise for the club,” said Lance about the thoughts of his brother. “He basically told me it’s a club that brings in a lot of talent but more than that they demand hard work and dedication to the sport.”
Lance is now blazing his own trail, and that is aided by starring at one of the highest-level soccer programs in the state at Michigan State. The AFCAA/MSU ties run deep and are prominent in net, with AFCAA alum Hunter Morse having just completed his fifth season as a Spartan, and Nick Barry serving as Volunteer Assistant Coach within the program.
On how he landed in East Lansing, McGrane said, “I was originally not looking at MSU and other high-quality soccer programs simply because I didn’t feel I had the right exposure to have a chance at these places. However, my athletic director at my high school helped me tremendously and sent out emails to top-level programs. Thankfully the staff at MSU reached back out and instantly there was a connection.”
Moving is never easy, but Lance has found quick comfort in his new environment. “The decision in the end was easier than it would seem. I had a certain feeling when talking with [the Michigan State men’s soccer coaching staff] that I just never got with other programs and without a doubt I made the right choice,” he would say. “Living in Michigan is pretty close to the same as Pennsylvania, maybe just a little colder but other than that it feels the same and it definitely helps when you leave your actual family to come into a brand new one that treats you just the same.”
AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to welcome Lance McGrane into the side ahead of the 2022 league campaign and look forward to welcoming him, and the rest of the men and women donning the blue of The Mighty Oak, to Ann Arbor this summer.
About AFC Ann Arbor
Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014, and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!