Ann Arbor Downs Milwaukee On The Road 4-0

The Mighty Oak traveled to Milwaukee this weekend to begin their 2018 campaign to defend the Great Lakes Conference Championship. The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) opener saw both teams down key men (Milwaukee due to suspensions and Ann Arbor to injuries).

Ann Arbor came out in a 3-5-2 with Okumu, Braem and Stapcinskas towering the backline. After possessing most the early minutes of the match and finding the final third a few times, The Mighty Oak called upon Hunter Morse to make the first save of the season. At the 15’ mark, Morse denied a Torrent attack that saw a cross redirected towards the net but a huge save kept the match scoreless.

JP Rylah (played in 2016 for The Mighty Oak) created many early chances showing his speed, touch and passing ability proving a key component in the Ann Arbor attack.

All in all, AFCAA had at least five quality scoring opportunities in the first half that came up short but the attack proved to be dangerous nonetheless.

The Torrent looked to press The Mighty Oak to begin the second half but Ann Arbor’s backline and midfield Maestro, Marc Ybarra, had other plans and broke up most Milwaukee advances.

It was in the 55’ that JP Rylah flashed up the right wing carrying the ball nearly to the endline before crossing the ball low and fast into Yuri Farkas who calmly poked the opening goal home past Milwaukee’s goalkeeper.

From there, Ann Arbor continued to dominate possession and create quality chances, but three more goals were on the way.

The 74’ minute saw Marc Ybarra (University of Michigan) volley a loose ball off an Ann Arbor corner kick into the back of the net before the keeper could even react. A class goal for Ybarra’s first club goal.

Shortly after in the 85’ minute, another piece of quality came but this time in the form of a chip from KB9. A left footed chip from 20 plus yards looked effortless for Breitmeyer as he continues to add to his total as The Mighty Oak’s all-time leading scorer.

The final goal came from Marlon Freitas, a second year player, getting his first major action for the team. Featuring and scoring in his first match of the season, Freitas will have the opportunity to make an even bigger impact for AFCAA this summer.

It was an all around team effort and grind to earn three tough road points with a combination of returning players and new players made their mark on the match.

“We had some great individual performances on Saturday in Milwaukee. Our key returners were very good on the night; Yuri, Kyle, Frenchy, Jake. It was nice to get JP back in the side after not having him in 2017, he did well in a new role for us. And we had plenty of new men step up in a big way. Marc Ybarra served as the heart beat of our midfield play, we caught a glimpse of Stanley's presence in the back-line and I thought Hunter Morse came up with a huge save for us in the first half to keep the game at nil-nil. This week we expect a number of players to step up. We will have to use a handful of different players between our two matches so it's a prime opportunity for the men to prove what they can accomplish,” said Rudland.

He added, “It feels good to kick off the 2018 campaign. We are still a new group forming and have a lot of unknowns, but to pick up 3 points on the road in the first league match is a good start for our club. The groups mentality and ability to grind was good last night. We still have a ton to work out tactically and personnel wise, but we found solutions throughout the match and displayed a willingness to stay together.”

No other Great Lakes Conference matches were played this weekend, but four matches are slated for the coming one.

Association Football Club Ann Arbor return to action this Wednesday, May 9th at 6PM for first round US Open Cup action. Ann Arbor will host the Ocean City Nor’easters at Eastern Michigan University’s Scicluna Field. The winner will advance to play the Charlotte Independence in North Carolina the following Wednesday (May 16th). Tickets are available and can be purchase online here. Seating is limited so fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on.

The Mighty Oak’s next NPSL match will be their league home opener at Skyline High School, Sunday May 13th, against Detroit City FC at 3PM. Tickets are available and can be purchased here.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs Milwaukee

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The Mighty Oak’s campaign to defend the 2017 Great Lakes Conference Championship kicks off Saturday at Hart Park in Wisconsin. Ann Arbor will begin their National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) schedule exactly as they did in 2017, on the road against the Torrent.

Coach Rudland and team are excited for the 2018 campaign to kickoff.

“It's great to be back at it. Being on the field, training, preparing for matches and working to get better is the fun part of coaching and the best part for the players as well. Last year is last year. We now enter a new chapter with a lot of new faces in the team. Obviously everyone in the league will be gunning for us, but we have a team who is hungry to prove themselves and I sense a desire from every man to perform well day in and day out so we can achieve our club objectives,” said Rudland.

Last year’s opening match proved to be a challenge as the Torrent possesed early and created serious chances missing only the final piece. Ann Arbor battled to steal three points on the road with a 3-1 victory as Dario Suarez (now with Miami FC 2), Kyle Breitmeyer and Yuri Farkas each scored in the league opener.

Farkas and Breitmeyer are two of seven returning players that will dress this weekend with the remaining roster comprised of new faces looking to fill big shoes.

In the backline, Joseph Okumu (Kenyan U23 MNT) and Sergio Campbell (Jamaica MNT) bring a level of experience that will compliment Captain Matthieu “Frenchy” Braem’s style of play quite well. The anchors of the defense will add even more depth when new teammate Jack Cawley arrives from the UK next week.

University of Michigan standout and Ann Arbor native, Marc Ybarra, is a strong addition to The Mighty Oak’s midfield for 2018. Michigan Soccer Now says, “Ybarra is strong in the tackle and reads the game extremely well.”

"He was a mainstay in Michigan's lineup this past fall as a freshman, which speaks to his ability to step into a new environment, win a job and flourish with good players around him," added Rudland. "We expect him to do the same with us this summer."

Recently signed Azaad (AZ) Liadi, from Saginaw Valley State University, will also be joining the team after a stellar performance as a substitute trialist in Sunday’s friendly against Force FC. AZ not only assisted on the equalizer to Pat Rose but also set up the play that drew the game winning penalty with a beautiful ball to Kyle Breitmeyer before he was brought down in the box.

Although Ann Arbor went unbeaten in the preseason including a thrilling late comeback vs Force FC in the final friendly, Rudland says the men still have plenty of work to do.

“The pre-season matches have all been beneficial for different reasons. Most importantly though we've been able to introduce players into the team while also building up the fitness levels of a handful of players. Tactically we have made progress in both our attacking cohesion and our defense schemes, which are both still a work in progress, but we are in a better spot than we were 4 weeks ago,” said Rudland.

The Opponent

AFC Ann Arbor have only faced the Torrent twice, both times in 2017, but one thing was clear, points are hard earned against Milwaukee. Ann Arbor stole three points on the road and earned a tough 1-1 draw at home vs the Torrent in 2017.

“We have a decent handle on Milwaukee's system and what they have been working towards in pre-season. In regards to an in-depth report on their strengths weaknesses and tendencies a lot of that is still to be determined this early in the season. They have a few important returning players from last year, which we have good notes and thoughts on. So we will compile the information that we have and share it with our players in an effort to make sure that we all (players and staff) have a working document of what to expect,” added Rudland.

Note: Due to a red cards in the last match of 2017, Milwaukee Head Coach Andreas Davies along with Drew Ruggles, Andrew Wiedabach, Isaac Pereyra will all be ineligible to play.

WATCH: The Match will be streamed on Milwaukee Torrent's Facebook Page

Three Matches in Eight Days

NPSL play begins Saturday at Milwaukee followed by the first round US Open Cup match at Eastern Michigan University on Wednesday May 9th, before The Mighty Oak host their official home opener on Sunday May 13th vs Detroit City FC.

With three important matches in a short stretch, managing the lineup will be a challenge for Rudland but nothing he’s unprepared for.

He added, “We always forecast our available players and potential line-ups 3 matches in advance. With 3 critical matches in a week's time it's important look at the fine-line between player rest and rhythm, knowing that players need to be rotated to keep everyone at their maximum playing potential. This time of year that is easy, with new players coming into the team we can create a natural rotation of personnel to achieve the objectives of both competing and staying healthy.”

 

Team Sheet

Jersey No - Player

1 - Joe Smith

2 - Jake Rosen

3 - JP Rylah

4 - Marlon Freitas

7 - Yuri Farkas

8 - Alec Lasinski

9 - Kyle Breitmeyer

11 - Azaad Liadi

12 - Brandon Katona

13 - Kyle Bandyk

14 - Matthieu Braem

15 - Breno Stapcinskas

16 - Joseph Okumu

17 - Sergio Campbell

20 - Marc Ybarra

66 - Hunter Morse

Two Late Goals Secure Victory for AFC Ann Arbor in Saline Showcase

AFC Ann Arbor left it late, but goals from trialist Pat Rose and Kyle Breitmeyer in the final minutes earned The Mighty Oak a hard fought victory over Force FC in the 4th annual Saline Showcase.

Sunday’s match was extremely physical with both sides looking to gain the upper hand in the middle of the park. The back-and-forth nature meant that each side saw just one shot on target in the first half.

In the second half it was the visitors who took the lead. In the 63rd minute, Force FC’s striker pounced on a loose back pass and tucked the ball under Joe Smith’s right arm in the AFC goal to grab a 1-0 advantage. Ann Arbor had been dominating the match in possession and had created more attacking chances over the opening hour, but surprisingly found themselves down a goal with less than 30 minutes remaining.

As the match wore on into the closing moments, it was trialist Pat Rose who found a lifeline for the hosts. In the 88th minute after a great curling cross from the right flank, Rose dove to meet the ball and his header flew past the Force FC keeper into the top right corner to level the match at 1-1.

The referee added on several minutes of stoppage time and as the match ticked past the 90-minute mark, The Mighty Oak capitalized. Audi of Ann Arbor Man of the Match Kyle Breitmeyer connected with a long diagonal ball on the left flank. He took it in his stride and ran at the defender before being cut down in the box by the Force defender. The referee had a clear view and pointed to the spot, giving AFC a late opportunity to win the match.

Breitmeyer stepped up and powered his penalty past the Force FC keeper into the bottom right corner to secure victory for AFC in the dying moments of the match. Force FC pushed late on to trying and find an equalizer but weren’t able to muster any other chances as AFC Ann Arbor ran out 2-1 winners.

Head Coach Eric Rudland was happy with the mentality of the men to come from behind and get a victory in the final preseason match of 2018.

“To go down a goal and then come back late, I thought for our group that speaks well just from a mentality standpoint.” He said. “[It was a] good goal from Pat Rose to get us going and then obviously Kyle drawing the penalty kick at the end was great for us as a group.”

AFC Ann Arbor will be looking to build on the momentum following this win as they kick off their NPSL campaign next Saturday, May 5th, at 7:00 pm EST (6:00 pm CST) when they head to Milwaukee to take on the Milwaukee Torrent. The next home match for The Mighty Oak will be on Wednesday May 9th, at Eastern Michigan University's Scicluna Field for the U.S. Open Cup First Round Matchup against the Ocean City Nor'easters. 

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs Force FC

To no one’s surprise, Kyle Breitmeyer came ready to play in last Saturday’s season opener friendly at Huron High School. The third-year member of The Mighty Oak opened up the scoring in the 11th minute before securing his bracy with a second half goal to put Ann Arbor up to 2-0. The match however ended in a 2-2 draw as SVSU notched 2 late goals after most of the starters were subbed off.

As expected in preseason, Coach Rudland was pleased with some of the performance but sees each early friendly as a stepping stone to prepare for league play which begins May 5th on the road at Milwaukee.

“I felt like we dictated play well in the first 60 minutes. Our possession oriented attack was very good at times and we did a good job of finding penetrating passes. With that said, we lacked creating dangerous ideas & execution in the final 1/3. For how much possession we had in the first 60 we should have created more opportunities to score," added Rudland.

With Force FC traveling to town for Sunday’s 4th Annual Saline Showcase, the last preseason friendly, Coach Rudland will stay the course and take the next step in the team building process saying, “We want to take the next step physically. The hope is that we can get our main guys to 70-75 minutes. We have been working to build up the fitness levels from match to match with the hopes of preparing the men to for for 90 minutes next weekend in Milwaukee. Also, We want to progress our defending schemes to pick good pressing moments & recover the back quickly. And we are hoping to make progress in the cohesion of our attack.”

This marks the first meeting between the two sides, and with both clubs competing in the Michigan Milk Cup, there is the possibility they meet again later in the summer. But Sunday’s contest will be the first chance for many to see what Force FC are about.

“Honestly we don’t know much about their personnel or who they will be suiting up for the match. At this point in the team building process we are more concerned with ourselves & the way we want to play, the manner in which we want to build our players up physically & tactical. So we are very much just looking inward in preparation for Sunday on what we need to improve in,” said Rudland in response to what fans can expect from the opponent.

THE OPPONENT

Force FC is a men’s amateur team based in Bloomfield Hills that began competing in the early to mid 2000s but began operating the youth side of things in 1995.

Head Coach, Ryan Tadajewski was a player himself for the club starting back in 2007. Now, alongside assistant coaches Matt Mandarino and Jon Evans, the club will continue it’s pursuit to be the most competitive amateur side in Michigan.

Just as The Mighty Oak did, Force FC opened up their season last Saturday as they took on Livonia City FC, another Michigan Milk Cup participant.

Lead by Colin Helmrich and Mike Leone, Tadajewski expects to use a similar line up after earning a 2-1 result in their season opening friendly, along with a few new faces.

In terms of style of play, he added, “Fans can expect a fast style of play from Force FC. It will be a hard fought game from the first minute all the way to the 90th! We hope to make this an entertaining game where this can hopefully continue as a constant friendly for years to come.”

 

MATCH DAY EXPERIENCE

With the match being held in Saline, the Main Street Hooligans along with other fans will plan on gathering at Stony Lake Brewing Co. beginning at 3PM.

The rest of the day will be centered around the Saline soccer community. At halftime, select Saline High School players along with Saline FC players will be recognized for their achievements in the game. All Saline FC players who wear their jersey will also receive free admission to Sunday’s match.

TEAM SHEET

“We are very much just looking inward in preparation for Sunday on what we need to improve in,” said Rudland.
 

Jersey No - Player

1 - Joe Smith

2 - -Kenny Vasquez

3 - Trialist (Ludvick Asigo)

4 - Liam Travers

6 - Jordan Montoya

8 - Marlon Frietas

TICKET INFO

Online Tickets- Adults $8 / Youth $5 (Ages 4-12) *Available until Noon on Sunday

At the Gate- Adults $10 / Youth $6  *Kids 1,2 and 3 are FREE

Memberships (Season Tickets)

Flex Plans

9 - Kyle Breitmeyer

10 - Drew Ducker

11 - Danny Dragoi

12 - Leonardo Abonizio

13 - Trialist (Pat Rose)

14 - Matthieu "Frenchie" Braem

15 - Breno Stapcinskas

16 - Andre Morris

17 - Sergio Campbell

18 - Trialist (Marco Bernardini)

20 - Marc Ybarra

22 - Leigh Rumbold

66 - Hunter Morse

AFC Ann Arbor Partners with Titan GPS

AFC Ann Arbor has created a unique partnership with one of the up and coming brands in the sport science and data analytics space, Titan GPS. Titan GPS offers unparalleled data accuracy and tracking precision in real time. Along with GPS Stats, Titan has integrated a synchronized HD Video and Player Readiness component to their system, blending a science, technology & emotional based holistic approach to tracking player performance.

“This is a big step for our club,” commented AFC Ann Arbor Sporting Director, Eric Rudland. “Titan GPS will not only enhance the player experience, their product will enable us to care for our athletes on a deeper level and push us forward competitively on the training and match pitch. Titan’s product is the epitome of useful information and this partnership further proves our club’s aim to provide a first class football experience.”

"We are thrilled to be the providers of advanced performance data for AFC Ann Arbor athletes and coaching staff through the Titan GPS system," said Stéphane Smith, Integrated Bionics Inc CEO.  

"Partnering with an organization committed to player excellence such as AFC Ann Arbor is a tremendous opportunity for us as a company. Driving innovation to improve athlete health and performance is our mission and relationships with forward thinking clubs like AFC Ann Arbor enable us to really push GPS sports technology in new and exciting directions," he added.

Through this unique partnership AFC Ann Arbor will have access to Titan GPS sensors throughout the entirety of the 2018 NPSL Season. The data compiled by Titan GPS will be used by AFC Ann Arbor’s Technical Staff to maintain appropriate fitness levels and monitor player performance. Furthermore, player data will be shared on a weekly basis with all of the college coaches, agents and affiliates who have players with AFC Ann Arbor for the 2018 season. This will allow the aforementioned to stay in tune with their player’s progress throughout the course of the season.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 by local soccer fanatic, Jamey Amrine, with the goal of creating a community based club that would promote the game on a larger scale. After partnering with 8 local entrepreneurs and community members in early 2015 to form the AFC Ann Arbor Board of Directors, the club competed in the Great Lakes Premier League during its inaugural campaign. The ownership group has expanded to 15, with 2 former professional athletes in that group including Knox Cameron (Columbus Crew) and Shane Battier (Miami Heat). After a successful first year, the club made two major moves in the off-season hiring Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, as well as joining the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). In the club's inaugural NPSL season, they finished second in the Great Lakes west conference, and were one of sixteen teams (out of 90 + teams) to secure a playoff berth. 2017 was monumental year as the club won it's first playoff game, first conference championship and broke 12 club records. The club’s fourth season kicks off in May as The Mighty Oak look to continue their winning ways in 2018.

About Titan GPS

Integrated Bionics, Inc, was founded in 2013 by former NASA engineers and medical professionals to bring advanced instrumentation and human performance analysis to elite sporting teams internationally.  Integrated Bionic's latest sensing platform, Titan GPS, delivers the most accurate position, velocity, acceleration tracking system in the industry. Coupled with latest in sports science and machine learning technology, Titan is enabling coaches to quantity athlete workload in unprecedented accuracy and simplicity, and efficiently use captured data to adapt training to better prepare athletes for the physical demands of competition.  Integrated Bionics looks forward to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible with athlete tracking and performance analysis.

The Mighty Oak Draw 2-2 in Season Opener Friendly

Kyle Breitmeyer’s 2 goal performance wasn’t enough to see off Saginaw Valley State University Saturday evening as the visitors came from behind to earn a tough 2-2 draw at Huron High School. The 2018 season-opening friendly match kicked off at 7:00 pm and from the beginning it was AFC Ann Arbor with the majority of attacking opportunities.

11 minutes in, forward Kyle Breitmeyer took advantage of an attempted Saginaw clearance. Hector Morales did well to block the ball, which fell kindly for Breitmeyer. KB9 held off the approaching Cardinal defender and clipped the ball over the keeper to the back post to give AFC the lead. Though the goal came early on, it was the only real action of the first half, as both teams seemed content to sit back and feel out their opponent.

AFC Ann Arbor started the second half extremely well. Breitmeyer doubled the advantage just 2 minutes into the half and again he had his presence of mind to thank. He capitalized on a loose pass and took off running. He drove the ball past three Cardinal defenders before slamming a shot across the keeper and into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0 for AFC.

"It was a great night for Kyle. He took his chances well, and he has been a big piece of our pre-season so far. He has been training well & tonight was a good display of the work he has put in so far this pre-season," said Coach Eric Rudland. 

With many substitutions coming into the match in the second half, it was no surprise that the dynamic of the match changed. In the 56th minute and Just after the majority of the subs had come came into the match, the Cardinals grabbed a goal back.  Following a break down in play, the Cardinal attack swept down the left flank and the rolled ball across the box was eventually lifted past Joe Smith in The Mighty Oak goal.

With over half-an hour remaining, the sides both knew there was plenty of time left for this match to change. AFC shifted into a more defensive mode and looked to hit Saginaw on the counter attack. Breitmeyer came close to his hat trick, dragging his shot just wide after doing well to settle the ball in the opposition box.  

In the end though, Saginaw Valley bided their time and struck back at the death as the match rolled into stoppage time. A sweeping ball found the feet of Saginaw’s left winger and after controlling well he poked the ball past Smith to even proceedings at 2-2. The referee added several more minutes on, and The Mighty Oak earned a late corner, but in the end, the match finished all square at 2-2.

As expected in an early season friendly, Coach Rudland was pleased with the effort but saw much room for improvement adding, "Tonight was a good training exercise for the men. I felt like we dictated play well in the first 60min. Our possession oriented attack was very good at times and we did a good job of finding penetrating passes. With that said, we lacked creating dangerous ideas & execution in the final 1/3. For how much possession we had in the first 60min we should have created more opportunities to score."

The final thought from Coach summed it up, saying "We’re only two weeks into training so there’s still plenty to get accomplished."

Coach Rudland and The Mighty Oak will be working hard this week to prepare for the final friendly match of the preseason next Sunday, April 29th @ Saline High School at 5:00PM against Force FC, before NPSL league play kicks off at 7:00PM (6PM CST) on Saturday, May 5th against the Milwaukee Torrent.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs Saginaw Valley State University

Third year right back Jake Rosen has never been shy about his pride for The Mighty Oak. But Saturday’s matchup sees his collegiate side match-up against a club he’s actually played more matches for, AFC Ann Arbor. Unfortunately, Rosen will miss Saturday’s contest due to injury but will nonetheless be tuned in to watch his two clubs go head to head in the 2018 season opener friendly.

With Ann Arbor’s opening match at Skyline High School last week being cancelled, this weekend’s match will serve as a platform for Coach Rudland to test certain trialists and introduce different schematics as he continues to prepare for NPSL Great Lakes Conference play and the U.S. Open Cup.

“We have a handful of players, currently not signed with us, who have been very committed to our pre-season training environment and are deserving of an opportunity in a real match. So Saturday presents our staff a realistic final observation of the impact the trialists can make in our system vs a live opponent,” said Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland.

Rudland’s approach with players who have already signed with the club for 2018 is a little different adding, “The plan going into the match is to get our signed players up to 60min. We are methodically building their bodies and fitness levels so they can reach 90 min by our final pre-season match.”

Tomorrow’s season opener will of course feature some familiar faces and names you’ll want to remember as well.

“Matt Braem will be leading us on the pitch tomorrow night. He was our club captain in 2017 and has been with us for 2 seasons. I couldn't think of a better man to be leading us into our 2018 campaign. I think Sergio Campbell will play a big role in the back-line. He has shown well in training and his pedigree & playing history bode well for anchoring our defensive unit. Also, returning up top are two of our most dangerous attackers from 2017 with Yuri Farkas and Kyle Breitmeyer. Jordan Montoya, a new signee, will play in the front line as well, so we are looking forward to seeing how he partners with our returners. We obviously have a lot to still iron out and are waiting for a number of our players to come into the team, but having an opportunity to get these mentioned players a run, at this point in the team building process, is critical,” said Rudland.

Also joining The Mighty Oak tomorrow night will be fan favorite Hector Morales. As he continues his preparations for opportunities elsewhere, Morales has been training with the team to stay fit and sharp. Morales joined the club two-years ago and has left his mark on the fans, coaching staff and front office, most notably for his role in a late match 3-2 comeback over Lansing United in 2016. For the fans, it’ll be a special treat to see one of AFCAA Family’s most heroic names.

Ann Arbor native Kenny Vasquez who was invited for an extended trial after a standout performance at the February open tryout was added to the official roster, dropping the trialist tag before his name. Vasquez, a Pioneer High school graduate who played at Concordia University Ann Arbor, will be a great addition to The Mighty Oak.

The Opponent

The Cardinals will be closing out their spring season with Saturday’s match and are coming off an impressive 2-2 draw on the road against Bowling Green State University.

Coach Wagstaff took to Twitter after the match to offer his lads praise saying, “Very happy with the men tonight after a 2-2 draw with BGSU. Tough test for us on the road but we showed some good courage going up 2-0 only to be pegged back to 2-2 late on.”

Coach Rudland has this to say about the opponent, “Anytime a high level college program will entertain playing us is exciting. SVSU is a nationally recognized program that has produced great results and players over the course of the last 10 years. We know that they are at the tail end of their spring season, so they will be sharp on the ball, physically fit and have a good understanding of their tactics. With us being on the front end of our team building process it will provide a great early test to see where we are. We are looking forward to Jake Rosen returning with us and the new addition of Shakes joining our club.”

Match Day Experience

With this being a traveling friendly to host Huron High School, fans can expect a little different experience Saturday night, but have no doubt, plenty of supporters will be gathering at HOMES Brewery ahead of the match.

There will be no food trucks as Huron Girls Varsity program will be running the concessions and collecting 100% of the proceeds. Make sure to stop by for a snack and tip generously if you can.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will also be benefiting the visiting side, SVSU, as part of The Mighty Oak’s ongoing efforts to support local soccer organizations.

All Liverpool FC International Academy of Michigan players wearing their jersey get in free as well as all participants in the Ann Arbor Invitational. 

Team Sheet

“Tactics wise we want to play our brand and our system. Hopefully our fans are accustomed to us keeping the ball and creating goal scoring chances, so we want to see how our attacking partnerships look. Without the ball we want to recover possession as quickly as possible. So we will be looking for immediate reactions to regain the ball, hopefully high up the pitch. We haven't had enough time, or enough of our players in yet, to fine tune everything, so we expect there to be problems identified throughout the match that we will need to focus on next week in training,” said Rudland.

Jersey No - Player

2 - Kenny Vasquez

TICKET INFO

Online Tickets- Adults $8 / Youth $5 (Ages 4-12) *Available until Noon on Sunday

At the Gate- Adults $10 / Youth $6  *Kids 1,2 and 3 are FREE

Memberships (Season Tickets)

Flex Plans

3 - Trialist (Ludvick Asigo)

4 - Brandon Katona

5 - Trialist (Gustavo)

6 - Jordan Montoya

7 - Yuri Farkas

8 - Marlon Frietas

9 - Kyle Breitmeyer

10 - Hector Morales

11 - Trialist (Danny Dragoi

12 - Leonardo Abonizio

14 - Matthieu Braem

15 - Breno Stapcinskas

16 - Trialist (Pat Rose)

17 - Sergio Campbell

18 - Trialist (Marco Bernardini)

19 - Trialist (Andrew Hill)

34 - Nick Barry

66 - Joe Smith

[Updated] AFC Ann Arbor vs Carpathia FC: MATCH CANCELLED

Unfortunately, today's match vs Carpathia FC has been canceled due to weather. After match officials walked the pitch with AFC Ann Arbor Head Coach & Sporting Director, the decision was made to cancel today's match in the best interest of everyone's safety. 

The new season opener will be held next Saturday, April 21st at Huron High School's Riverbank Stadium at 7PM. 

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs Carpathia FC

The Mighty Oak open up the 2018 season this Sunday at Skyline High School vs Carpathia FC at 5PM.

The two sides are meeting for a preseason friendly for the second consecutive year. Last year, Ann Arbor defeated Carpathia 2-0 in the preseason friendly.

With most of the collegiate players due to arrive in late April and early May, these early contests serve as an opportunity for Coach Rudland and his staff to evaluate pending trialists.

“For Sunday we have a blended roster that we will be fielding. We have a handful of players who are signed with us for the 2018 season, the majority of which are our non-college based players who have joined us for early pre-season. Also, we have a number of trialists who have been with us for a week of training and will have the opportunity to show what they can do in a match environment. This is our first step as a group in 2018. The expectation of the match is to start building up our fitness levels and keep the group healthy. We are not ultra-concerned with the result as our primary objective. We are primarily concerned with our mentality, willingness to press, remain unified and stay healthy. We're also curious to see who emerges from our group as an impactful player,” said Coach Rudland.

“The pre-season friendly provides us a great opportunity to build up the match fitness of our signed players, while providing a realistic platform for tiralists to prove themselves in front of our fans vs a real opponent. For the trialists if they perform well, we'd like to continue to build them into our plans for the following week of training and our next pre-season friendly on the 21st,” he added.

 

Ticket Info

Online Tickets- Adults $8 / Youth $5 (Ages 4-12) *Available until Noon on Sunday

At the Gate- Adults $10 / Youth $6  *Kids 1,2 and 3 are FREE

Memberships (Season Tickets)

Flex Plans

Match Day Experience

Pre-match: Join AFC Ann Arbor supporters at HOMES Brewery for prematch festivities just 2 miles from Skyline HS. HOMES, a 2018 USA Today Top Ten Best New Brewery, also serves up some of the best bibimbap, one of many must-try items from their asian street food menu. The fast-casual dining experience and spacious outdoor seating area makes HOMES the perfect place for prematch festivities.

Post-match: For the kids, visit our official post match youth HQ, Revel & Roll and be sure to check your ticket back for exclusive discounts and offers. If you're looking to be downtown after the match, be sure to stop by Grizzly Peak, The Official Brewery of AFC Ann Arbor. 

Food Trucks: Cosa Sabrosa, Jamerican Grill, Ray’s Red Hots

Audi Post Match Autographs

The Move to Skyline

Sunday will also be the beginning of a new chapter for the club as they play their first match at the 2018 home venue, Skyline High School.

“The move to Skyline is exciting. It will be beneficial to play a pre-season match there so we can get acclimated to the surface, spacing and environment. From a football standpoint we are looking forward to a larger pitch and nicer surface compared to Pioneer. Also, I think the set-up at Skyline is very conducive for our fanbase. It's an intimate setting with great sight lines. We are looking forward to making it our own for 2019,” added Coach Rudland.

About the Opponent

Carpathia FC is a historic Michigan amateur club based out of Sterling Heights. Founded in 1952 as the Carpathia Kickers, the club has won a National Amateur Championship amongst a number of other titles throughout the decades.

At the Carpathia Club, the Donauschwaben and German cultural heritage continues through language, dance, song and sport. Established in 1913 as the Carpathia Chor (Carpathia Singing Society), the club has grown to become one of the largest Donauschwaben/German American clubs in the United States. The most important part of the club is its members – their friendships and families are the foundation of the club. With members providing this solid foundation, the keystone for the Carpathia Club is its strong Untergruppen network. These groups promote important aspects of the Donauschwaben culture and offer their own unique activities for every age and interest.

Team Sheet for April 15th vs Carpathia FC

Jersey No. -  Player

1 - Nick Barry

2 - Kenny Vasquez

3 - Trialist (Ludvick Asigo)

4 - Brandon Katona

5 - Trialist (Jacob Kanuth)

6 - Jordan Montoya

7 - Yuri Farkas

8 - Leigh Rumbold

9 - Kyle Breitmeyer

10 - Leonardo Abonizio

11 - Trialist (Danny Dragoi

12 - Trialist (Drew Ducker)

14 - Matthieu Braem

15 - Breno Stapcinskas

16 - Andre Morris

17 - Sergio Campbell

18 - Trialist (Marco Bernardini)

19 - Trialist (Andrew Hill)

20 - Trialist (Pat Rose)

 

AFC Ann Arbor to Stream 2018 Home Matches

Association Football Club Ann Arbor will be streaming all 11 home matches this season, beginning with Sunday’s friendly match, thanks to support in partnership with Saint Joseph Mercy Health System.

The stream will be free and accessible via AFC Ann Arbor’s YouTube channel.

Michael Kroodsma, a 2-year member of the AFCAA Media Team will be the lead broadcaster calling the first match this Sunday from Skyline High School. Subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

The Mighty Oak are entering their 4th season (3rd in the NPSL) with league play set to begin May 5th on the road at Milwaukee before returning home the following week to host Detroit City on May 13th at Skyline High School.

For more information on memberships and tickets click here.

The Mighty Oak Host Nor'Easters in Open Cup First Round

The 105th edition of the US Open Cup will come to Washtenaw County on May 9th when AFC Arbor hosts Ocean City Nor’easters (New Jersey) at Eastern Michigan University’s Scicluna Field. Kickoff is set for 6PM in Ypsilanti.

The draw came as a bit of a surprise to the club but Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland is looking forward to May 9th adding, “In anticipation of the draw I don’t think anyone, including myself, tagged us vs Ocean City. But the draw for us is fantastic. Ocean City is one of the top amateur teams on the East Coast and it will give us a rare chance to play a team from outside of our region early in the season.”

The Mighty Oak qualified for the US Open Cup for the second year in a row, after losing a hard fought match to the Michigan Bucks in the first round last season in the club’s first cup appearance.

“For us to have the opportunity to play in the US Open Cup for second consecutive season is a massive step for our organization,” added Coach Rudland.

Although May will prove to be a battle with having so many matches in such a short span at the beginning of the month, Rudland and team are prepared and optimistic for the challenge that lies ahead.

“Having the good fortune of hosting, and playing at a Scicluna Field, makes the first round even more important for our club,” said Rudland.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for youth (ages 4-12) and can be purchased here. Premium and general members will receive tickets at half the price and have been emailed all of the details. Any member who did not receive an email can reach out to the club at info@afcannarbor.com.

Venue Change: June 1st Match vs GRFC Moves to EMU's Scicluna Field

Earlier this year, The Mighty Oak announced a move to Skyline High School for 2018 as Pioneer High School (AFCAA’s home for seasons 1-3) is set to be returfed this spring/summer.

With Skyline High School now set to host the district soccer tournament the weekend of June 1st, Association Football Club Ann Arbor were forced to explore other options for the NPSL contest vs Grand Rapids Football Club.

The match, originally scheduled for 7PM will now kick off at 6PM at EMU’s Scicluna Field on Friday June 1st. The club will be donating a portion of ticket sales back to the EMU Women’s Soccer Program as part of their ongoing efforts to support local teams with financial support.

Seating is very limited and the one and only grandstand (which seats about 250) will be reserved for AFCAA members only. All other fans are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on as there will be plenty of space to set up around the field. Tickets are expected to sell out in advance for this match due to the limited capacity. Tickets purchased online in advance are only $8 for adults and $5 for youth. 

Scicluna Field has served as training pitches for traveling international clubs such as Real Madrid and AS Roma while participating in the International Champions Cup in Ann Arbor and Detroit, respectively.

This marks the first NPSL contest to be held at EMU and the first match for The Mighty Oak in Ypsilanti.

“These types of scheduling and venue challenges are common in lower tier soccer but I’m quite thrilled we are able to play at EMU. I graduated from there, I live in Ypsi and I’ve always supported the work that Coach Hall has done with the Women’s Soccer Program at EMU. We’re definitely looking forward to playing Grand Rapids at Scicluna Field on June 1st,” added Bilal Saeed, Chairman for AFC Ann Arbor.

For ticket information for the June 1st contest, click here.

The Thundering Oak

This summer, The Mighty Oak will feature three players that will spend their fall on the campus of Marshall University.

Right winger JP Rylah from the 2016 team returns to Ann Arbor after a successful season at American International College. It was enough to catch the eye of Marshall University Head Coach, Chris Grassie. Rylah will join the Thundering Herd this fall before playing a key role in Ann Arbor attacking piece this season.

Rylah will also have a chance to gel with the top two standouts from Marshall’s 2017 Men’s Soccer Team, Lewis Knight and Carlos Diaz-Salcedo. Both Knight and Diaz-Salcedo are coming off stellar seasons earning them All-Second Team Conference USA honors. Impressive for a freshman and sophomore, respectively.

Knight is coming off one of the top performances in the country by a freshman. Leading his team with 9 goals and 21 assists on the season, he finished the regular season ranked in the top 50 in the country in goals, goals per game and points.

Diaz-Salcedo was huge for the Herd in his sophomore campaign. He played a key role in Marshall’s defense but showed his ability to create scoring chances for his teammates as he tied for top honors in assists.

If the name Chris Grassie rings a bell, you’re remember him from his time at the University of Charleston, a program that saw many players represent The Mighty Oak over the past two seasons. One of those players, Rafael Simaoes, is now a grad assistant under Grassie (who was his former coach at UC) giving the club even stronger ties to the Thundering Herd.

With the history between Rudland and Grassie working together and arguably his three best players spending their summer in Ann Arbor, the Thundering Herd will surely have deep roots with The Mighty Oak.

HOMES Becomes Official Prematch Brewery for 2018 Season

Association Football Club Ann Arbor have partnered with HOMES Brewery for the 2018 season. HOMES will serve as the Official Prematch Brewery offering supporters a gathering spot close the Skyline High School, The Mighty Oak’s new home venue.

HOMES, a 2018 USA Today Top Ten Best New Brewery, also serves up some of the best bibimbap, one of many must-try items from their asian street food menu. The fast-casual dining experience and spacious outdoor seating area makes HOMES the perfect place for prematch festivities.

HOMES Owner and Founder, Tommy Kennedy, knew this would be a great fit and is a massive supporter of the beautiful game himself, adding “We love Ann Arbor and soccer, so we’re thrilled to be a hub for the AFC community.”

Supporters are encouraged to begin gathering at HOMES, two hours prior to each match which is located just two miles away from Skyline High School.

“HOMES is one of the top breweries in the country so we’re lucky to be partnering with them this season. With a menu that’s as delicious as their drink options, this is going to be the perfect prematch gathering spot for our supporters,” added Bilal Saeed, AFC Ann Arbor Chairman.

The first match of the season is a friendly set for Sunday, April 15th at 5PM vs Carpathia FC. Tickets are twenty percent off when purchased online in advance. Click here for tickets. 
 

Kit Unveiling Set for April 7th at WideWorld Sports Center

The Mighty Oak announced a new multi-year partnership with Capelli Sport earlier this year and will be unveiling the first two AFC Ann Arbor Capelli uniforms, Saturday, April 7th at WideWorld Sports Center at 6PM.

WideWorld Sports Center will be supporting AFC Ann Arbor as a community partner in 2018 and have been supportive of the club from day one.

"We are very excited to join The Mighty Oak as partners this spring. AFC Ann Arbor have provided this area with the highest level of soccer over the past three years. WideWorld Sports Center is committed to providing soccer opportunities for youth and adults year round in Ann Arbor and we are happy to join the other community partners in this year's 2018 NPSL Campaign," said Zach Artinian, Operations Manager at WideWorld Sports Center.

The new kits won’t be introduced from our own players but instead a couple of lucky supporters. 2018 Members have been invited to win the chance to wear the club’s new kits for the first time and exhibit them at the community event.

In addition the new kits being revealed for the first time, fans of all ages will get a chance to come and kick the ball around with AFC Ann Arbor players.

The event, set to run from 6 to 8pm,  will have a short formal program ending around 6:30PM at which time supporters will be invited to play with AFC. So bring your boots (no cleats allowed; indoor shoes only) and come ready to kick it with The Mighty Oak.

About WideWorld Sports Center

WideWorld Sports Center offers adult indoor soccer leagues year-round. Whether you're a beginner looking for a fun, noncompetitive atmosphere to play or a more experienced player looking for a fast-paced game, WWSC has leagues to fit your experience level and busy schedule. As WideWorld is a multi-sport facility (Football, Lacrosse, Field Hockey), WWSC is Ann Arbor's premier venue for youth soccer. WideWorld offers youth clinics as early as 18 months all the way to high school soccer leagues!

About Capelli Sport

In seven years of operation, Capelli Sport has become the official outfitter for a number of internationally recognized sporting organizations and clubs including, but not limited to, MSV Duisburg of Germany’s 2. Bundesliga, Penn FC of the United Soccer League, Fútbol Consultants Moravia of the Liga De Ascenso in Costa Rica, Montego Bay United FC of Jamaica’s National Premier League, and Inter Allies FC of the Ghana Premier League. Additionally, Capelli Sport outfits Panachaiki FC of the Second Division in Greece, and Deportes Temuco of the Primera División and San Luis De Quillota of the Primera División B in Chile. For more information on Capelli Sport, current partners, and how to join the team today, visit Capelli Sport, follow them on Twitter (@capellisport) and Instagram (CapelliSport), or visit the Capelli Sport Facebook page.