2018 Awards Announced at Annual Team Banquet

On Wednesday evening, the players, coaches, staff and Main Street Hooligans gathered for a small awards banquet. Players were treated to a dinner on Palio’s rooftop followed by gelato at Iorio’s ahead of the awards ceremony which was held at LIVE.

When players arrived, they were able to choose from over 100 framed photos from the season, all part of the traditional AFC Ann Arbor awards banquet. The MC for the evening was the club’s match broadcaster Michael Kroodsma who helped honor players who had spent three season with the club. Kyle Breitmeyer aka KB9, Alec Lasinski, Matt Braem, Yuri Farkas and Jake Rosen (unable to attend) all received a framed jersey of from one of their seasons with The Mighty Oak.

From there, Coach Rudland announced the award winners who were unable to be with the team that evening which included Mike Novotny who received the Defensive MVP, Marc Ybarra who received the Hometown Hero award and Stanley Okumu the 2018 Team MVP.

For the first time in four years, the club introduced a new award, the Boyzzz Khumalo award. As Chairman Bilal Saeed described, he’s one of the unsung heroes of organization and having an award named after him was their way of showing their appreciation.

It was fitting that the first recipient of the award was Sergio Campbell, a friend of Khumalo’s who joined the team in April of 2018. Campbell, who was unable to play past the last preseason game due to medical reasons, stepped into a role for the club this year that was unexpected for both the organization and himself. After receiving the award, Campbell was quiet and still and his emotions were heavy in the moment. After twenty seconds of silence passed as he gathered his strength, he spoke to the crowd and specifically his teammates about how much he wish he could be on the pitch with them. His genuine and beautiful words stole the night and the night was just beginning.

After Michael Shaikly and Yuri Farkas received Co-Offensive MVP awards, Jack Cawley received the COYMO award (formerly known as the Strength In The Oak award)  to end the awards portion of the evening.

Early front runner for the best dressed competition Yuri Farkas saw some serious competition from Michael Shaikly. But it was late in the competition when the finalists were called to stage and Moco Watson surprised everyone, once again, and won best dressed for the evening.

The evening ended with a special video for the team recapping some of the best moments of the season put together by Bruno Postigo, Creative Director.

Just before the video played, Coach Rudland spoke to everyone about how special this evening was, nonetheless, the past is the past and the focus is on the playoffs. His message was clear and the players and others in attendance agreed wholeheartedly; there is plenty of work left to be done.

 

Award Winners

Team MVP- STANLEY OKUMU

Co-Offensive MVP- Michael Shaikly

Co-Offensive MVP- Yuri Farkas

Defensive MVP- Mike Novotny

Hometown Hero- Marc Ybarra

COYMO* Award- Jack Cawley

Boyzzz Khumalo Award- Sergio Campbell

*formerly the Strength In The Oak Award

Okumu Invited for USL Trial

With the completion of the 2018 regular season, The Mighty Oak finished top of the table in the Great Lakes Conference and top of the nation in goals allowed per game (.333 avg). Center back Stanley Okumu was a huge reason Ann Arbor allowed only 4 goals in 12 matches and the twenty-one year old Kenyan has left an impression on opponents, opposing coaches and scouts alike.

Okumu was the only AFC Ann Arbor player to be on the pitch every minute of the 488 minute streak where they held opponents without a goal. He dazzled fans with his passing ability both creatively in small spaces and especially down the pitch to play over the defenders to his attacking wingers.

He has done so well, that he has been extended the opportunity to join a professional club on trial in the United Soccer League (USL) and Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland knows Stanley is very deserving.

“Pushing players on is always a part of the dialogue when we are recruiting a player who we believe has the capacity to move up levels of the game here in North America. So that was very much apart of the conversation when working with Stanley before he committed to AFC Ann Arbor. We made it very clear that if he did well for us, day in and day out, we would work hard to provide opportunities for him to move up the ladder of football,” said Rudland.

“Anyone who has seen us play can tell he is a cut above the standard NPSL/PDL level player. His pace and athleticism are top shelf and he has soft feet as well, which is a necessity for high level center backs. Most importantly though is his mentality. He trains like an animal every day and goes about his day with winning as the primary focus,” he added.

From the team perspective, with the playoffs around the corner, losing one of your most talented players can be challenging, but for Rudland, it’s expected.

“We know where we stand in the football pyramid. So we take it as our job to identify potential pro prospects, give them a platform to prove themselves, and then open up pathways for them to advance their career. Obviously we had high hopes that Stanley would be of that pedigree, and when he proved that he was, we started working immediately to open up doors for him at the USL level.”

As news develops on Okumu’s professional trial, we’ll be sure to keep you updated. For now, the club is wishing Stanley all the best as he pursues his dream at the next level.

Ann Arbor Awaits Opponent for July 20th Midwest Region Semifinal

With a convincing 9-0 win on Saturday evening to close out the regular season, AFC Ann Arbor secured a bye into the Midwest Region Semifinals. They’ll await the results of the July 14th quarter-final matchups to see who they’ll play and where they’ll play.

Clubs who are interested in hosting will be submitting bids this week. Once the quarterfinals matches are complete the evening of the 14th, the four remaining clubs will vote on the bids deciding a venue for the Semi-finals and Final on July 20th and 21st respectively. Last year, Ann Arbor and Detroit City each received two bids to host at which point a coin-flip decided that DCFC had won the bid. This year, after some lobbying from AFC Ann Arbor, the tie-breaker, if needed, will come down to points per game (PPG), favoring The Mighty Oak.

Regardless of where the playoffs are, you’ll be able to support AFCAA and watch them play as one of the requirements to host is providing a stream to all matches.

The men worked hard all season and are deserving of a bye, but along with that reward comes extra days off. To keep the men sharp, Coach Rudland has organized an inter-squad scrimmage on Saturday, July 14th at 9AM. The training home of AFC Ann Arbor, WideWorld Sports Center, will host the event on their new outdoor turf field. Fans are welcome to attend and admission will be free.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs FC Indiana [NPSL National Game of the Week]

Last Friday, Ann Arbor scored a late stoppage time winner to defeat FC Columbus 1-0. Those three points were enough for The Mighty Oak to secure back to back Great Lakes Conference Championships.

Although the title is locked up, Saturday’s match does have playoff implications for Ann Arbor. They need another three points to retain their position as the second highest points per game average in the region to earn a bye and advance to the Midwest Region Semifinals.

This may be the main reason the league has selected Saturday’s match as the National Game of the Week. The matchup itself pairs the 5th ranked team in the nation, AFC Ann Arbor, against the 98th (out of 98) in FC Indiana. But that same last placed team isn’t giving up on the season yet. Just last week they hung tough with FC Columbus scoring first and hanging even for a good length. Impressive both because of the quality of the opponent as well as the point in the season at which this match was played. The Lions of Indiana no doubt have heart and would love to be spoilers in Ann Arbor Saturday night.

“This is a big game for us. I keep telling the men that. We need 3 points to position ourselves for a playoff bye. We've also talked this season on a few occasions about respecting our opponent. This is a game where we need to do that to the highest degree. Indiana scored first against FC Columbus this past week and played at 1-1 for a spell of the match. Anyone in this league can beat anyone so we need to be sharp,” said Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland.

The Opponent

Saturday is simple. A test of heart for FC Indiana, and a test of mental sharpness for Ann Arbor. FC Indiana is not a team that gives up and knows that they can make their season a memorable one with a huge upset over The Mighty Oak. Ann Arbor will need to do as Rudland suggested and respect their opponent and come out sharp and ready to hammer home these final three points.

Main Street Hooligans

The Mighty Oak don’t boast thousands and thousands of fans or hundreds of hooligans, but our roots have continued to grow and the AFCAA Family continues to extend its branches. A key part of the 2018 campaign has been the increased presence of the Main Street Hooligans, the independent supporter group of AFC Ann Arbor, at every single match. As we plan to lift the 2018 Great Lakes Championship trophy as a family together after the match on Saturday, consider joining in on a ‘COYMO’ chant during the match to show your appreciation for their continued support. The team and even Rudland have noticed their commitment this season.

“The hooligans have been fantastic this season. Their commitment of full support has been the best this season compared to my first two with the club. Hopefully we can give them a great show in our final home match of the regular season,” added Rudland.

 

Ball Kids and Walkout

We have an open call for our future Mighty Oak’s this Saturday. Sign up to be a ball kid or walkout with the players and take part in the final regular season match of the season!

SIGN UP HERE

Tickets

Online (Advance) - Adult $8 / Youth $5 (Ages 4-12) / Kids 1, 2 and 3 are free

At the Gate - Adult $10 / Youth $6 (Ages 4-12) / Kids 1, 2 and 3 are free

Golden Limousine Match Preview: [Milk Cup Final] AFC Ann Arbor vs Lansing United

The revised format of the Michigan Milk Cup in 2018 meant The Mighty Oak had a different path to the finals than last year, as they look for a back to back title for the second time in five days (Friday they clinched the Great Lakes Conference Championship for the second consecutive season).

“With the cup being a separate competition this year, involving more teams, there is a different feel to the competition. Hopefully our men still feel like they have something to prove on Wednesday and recognize the opportunity to claim the championship back to back,” said Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland.

The cup run began with a two-leg bout with Oakland County FC. Traveling to Clawson for OCFC’s home opener, Ann Arbor were able to bring a two goal lead back to Ann Arbor for the May 28th matchup. It was then they sealed the deal with a 2-1 win to give them an aggregate score of 4-1 in the first round of the tournament.

After drawing Kalamazoo in the semi-final blind draw, Ann Arbor prepared to face KZFC for a third time this season, a challenge in itself. But thanks to the ‘Milk Cup Miracle’ in stoppage time via Brandon Katona, Ann Arbor punched their ticket to the finals and a chance at a $5,000 prize.

“We've had the chance to create a player rotation for the matches and it's been great to see guys step into roles and flourish. That was a great moment for Brandon. He was in our team during the early stages of the season and is now working his way back in. The goal for him should provide a huge confidence boost and it was a great moment for our cup run,” added Rudland.  

Team Sheet

Managing league matches (NPSL), in addition to the US Open Cup and Michigan Milk Cup, Rudland has had to be strategic in the selection of his team sheet considering many variables including of course, player fitness and wellness. We’ve seen his ability to recruit, develop talent and consistently win, but even with the additional matches and layers this season, Rudland seems unphased.

When asked about the lineup for Wednesday, Rudland commented, “We will for sure have some changes based on our player rotation, player availability and injury status. We are also looking to play one or two players in a different position as we explore positional options for a few of our players heading into the playoffs. As we've done in our previous cup matches, we want to put out a balanced team regarding experience and youth and we want to make sure everyone is eager to prove themselves.”

“The United Dairy Industry of Michigan's support of local soccer has been massive. They've displayed a commitment to all levels of soccer from grassroots, to the women's game and the men's game. The soccer community is tight-knit and UDIM's loyalty has been well received across the state,” said Rudland in regards to the continued support of Milk Means More.

The team sheet for Wednesday’s Milk Cup Final will be released Tuesday afternoon.

The Opponent

Rudland has built a reputation for winning, even since he brought home a Midwest Region title, with his former club, Lansing United. Since taking the helm for AFC in 2016, Rudland has won two Great Lakes Conference Championships and has continued his winning ways.

Lansing departed the NPSL in the offseason to join the Premier Development League (PDL), a move doubters were surely questioning. Lansing United has quickly proven they can compete in the PDL and continue to earn impressive results, currently sitting in second of their division with three matches remaining.

In their semi-final match, The Hoops found themselves down a goal late before DeJuan Jones leveled the score in the 88th minute. Jones has the skill set to give the Ann Arbor backline one of their best challenges of the season.

“What's exciting for the players is playing against a team that we haven't faced yet this year after going home & home with all of the teams in our league and playing Kalamazoo for a 3rd time in the Milk Cup. For us as a staff this is a great opportunity to look at new match ups and prepare for a one-off match, which is virtually the same type of preparations we will have in the NPSL playoffs,” about facing Lansing United in the final.

Tickets

Tickets purchased in advance are $10 for adults and $5 for youth here. Prices increase at the gate to $12 and $7 respectively. 

Stream

Can't make the match on Wednesday? Stream it online at AFC Ann Arbor's YouTube channel. 
 

Novotny Pursues Professional Career Abroad

The goalkeeping injuries for AFC Ann Arbor to start the season were such a bad spell of luck it almost seems unbelievable looking back. First, TJ Tomasso suffered a preseason hand injury before backup and assumed fill-in for Tomasso, Nick Barry had his hand injured in the April 22nd friendly vs Saginaw Valley State University. Hunter Morse, a freshmen backup keeper at Michigan State University, stepped in and played the first league match on the road at Milwaukee for The Mighty Oak before he was sidelined for a few weeks.

As it seemed like a streak of bad luck at the time, it can easily be called fate now, as Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland made a call he didn’t expect to make this entire season. He reached out to a keeper he connected with at his Midwest Pro Soccer Combine event in December, Mike Novotny.

“Not everything always goes to plan but I feel that everything happens for a reason. Eric called me with the opportunity to play for AFC Ann Arbor. He told me a little about their problem with injuries. It kind of felt like a sign to me. I respected Eric as a coach already from the combine and being able to play for this team with the high level of players that are there along with getting that professional level training from Eric, Shuk and all the other coaches, just made my decision that much easier to come out,” said Novotny about the situation.

Needless to say, Novotny made his presence felt with Ann Arbor this season, beginning his first four league matches with clean sheets and finishing with six total before playing in his last match on June 22nd. The Eastern Illinois grad will now chase his dream to become a professional as he heads overseas to showcase his talents for professional scouts and coaches.

“The goal of the program is to give the players opportunities to go on trials and sign contracts in Europe for players who have fallen through the cracks of the American soccer system. In 30 days we'll play about 9 games against top division, second division professional teams in Sweden and Denmark. During that time you have the opportunity to go on these trials with the hopes of signing a contract,” added Novotny.

Although Nick Barry’s timely return and massive performance in Tuesday’s Milk Cup semifinal win lessens the blow, Novotny will be missed by his teammates, coaching staff and fans, as he surely made his mark on the club. Novotny now shares the record for most clean sheets in a season with TJ Tomasso (6) and was also a part of the impressive team record of holding opponents scoreless for 488 consecutive minutes.

“My goal coming into Ann Arbor was two things: how can I help this team to be as successful if not more than last year and how can I improve myself to be a more well-rounded keeper,” said a humble Novotny.

“The biggest things I could take away from this experience in Ann Arbor were the relationships I built with the players and the coaches. It's the dream when all you have to worry about is soccer in life and I hope to continue to live this dream for many years to come,” he added.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs FC Columbus

The Mighty Oak may have dropped their first league match of the season last Friday, but Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland has his men ready for Friday’s contest against third place FC Columbus, a match with major postseason implications.

“Tactically we move forward with our system and the way we want to play. It’s all about our response as men, how we prepare and how we approach the match. We need to refine some decision making in the final third and continue to work with individual players in certain situations, but aside from that we want to keep the ball, defend with 11 players and do what we’ve done well all season,” said Rudland.

Three points this Friday will be the result that clarifies it all with the opportunity of locking up a postseason berth as well as securing the Great Lakes Conference Championship for the second year in a row. The Mighty Oak have been in control of their own destiny all season and will have one more opportunity to decide their fate. If they drop points on Friday with a draw or loss, AFC can surely still make the playoffs as their final match is against FC Indiana who have  a -46 goal differential on the season, but they’ll need some other results to go their way to ensure a first place finish.

As always, to Rudland it comes down to preparation and mentality. FC Columbus are coming off a big 2-1 win against Grand Rapids FC in Columbus last Sunday, playing 70+ minutes with only ten men after Ezra Armstrong was shown red card for violent conduct according to the league’s official match report. The infraction also means Armstrong, the starting left back, will be suspended for Friday’s match in Ann Arbor.

“We need to be good everyday this week in training and enter the match with a clear understanding of how to break them down and how to neutralize their strengths. We have to be good going forward, we have to patient and pick the right moments. Without the ball we need solid individual & small group defending,” said Rudland.

In addition to suspensions, this part of the season can always be tricky for managers as they’re dealing with many moving parts including player departures, injuries and potentially card accumulations. Rudland shed some light on what to expect in regards to Friday’s line up.

“I’m sure every team in the league is juggling player availability to some degree and we are no different. Our GK Mike Novotny is no longer with us. He’s left for a trial in Europe. He was fantastic for us and we think he has a bright future in the game. With that said, we feel really good about our other available options. Stanley Okumu is still nursing a groin issue so he may or may not be available. And we have to take into consideration our mid-week Milk Cup match. We had a number if men play heavy minutes so we need to look at ground covered and see where players are at physically going into Friday,” he added.

The match is set for 7PM at Skyline High School and the first 100 fans will receive a FREE seat cushion courtesy of St. Joseph Mercy Health System while Probility Physical Therapy will be providing free injury assessments.

Tickets for Friday’s match are available here. To stream the match, click here.

The Opponent

FC Columbus is the new kid on the block having joined the league and Great Lakes Conference this season. The unknown of FC Columbus has definitely caught clubs by surprise and as they currently sit, have the second highest max possible points in the table.

At their home field, they did well to get numbers behind the ball to try and slow down Ann Arbor’s press as much as possible, but The Mighty Oak held on in the end, winning 2-1 while bringing back a crucial three points to Ann Arbor. FC Columbus were successful in spoiling Ann Arbor’s streak of keeping opponents scoreless which finally ended after 488 minutes. Being the first, and only one of three, Great Lakes Conference teams to score on AFC shows the talent this side has.

They’re also dangerous on the counter which is especially impressive seeing how many they’ll have behind the ball defensively at times. They’re able to break and counter extremely quickly and have one of the top strikers in the region in Dimani Camara.

“They have a good system in place. They’re athletic and have found ways to be dangerous going forward. Their midfield has a good balance and the front 3 have caused problems for opponents In every match,” added Coach Rudland.
 

Team sheet will be released Friday morning.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor at Kalamazoo FC (Milk Cup Semi-final)

The Michigan Milk Cup defending Champions, AFC Ann Arbor, will travel to Kalamazoo on Tuesday for the 2018 semi-final match and their third match against KZFC this season. The winner will advance to the Milk Cup Finals to take on Lansing United of the Premier Development League on July 4th.

Tuesday’s match comes ahead of arguably the biggest match of the season this Friday when Ann Arbor hosts FC Columbus and a win for The Mighty Oak will secure the 2018 Great Lakes Conference Championship. But advancing to the finals of the Milk Cup is important to the club and Coach Rudland has his men ready.

“It's always hard to play a team three times in one season, especially having just played one another last weekend. Kalamazoo did a good job maximizing their potential this Saturday in Detroit and we have to respect the fact that they've been very good at home this season. They may make some small tweaks or changes for Tuesday but for the most part at this point of the seasons teams have found their identity and are who they are. So for us it's just about focusing on executing our match plan in an effort to advance,” said Rudland.

A midweek match ahead of a conference clinching league matchup means tapping into the depth of the roster once again.

“The team on Tuesday will feature changes from our group last Friday in Grand Rapids. We have some players who have been knocking on the door in training and deserve a run, so Tuesday is a great opportunity for them. We want to blend in a few of our veteran players as well to make sure the team has good balance in terms of positional play and experience,” added Rudland.

Tickets for Tuesday’s match can be purchased here. Follow along for updates on Twitter. No plans to stream the match have been confirmed at this time.

The Opponent

Kalamazoo FC is coming off a solid road performance earning a tough point against hosts Detroit City this past weekend. The 1-1 draw showed that Kalamazoo will play hard to earn every result regardless of the implication of the match.

Knowing their NPSL postseason hopes are dead, the opportunity to continue their cup run will be the extra motivation Kalamazoo will need to see if they can earn their first win over AFC Ann Arbor in club history.

AFC traveled to Kalamazoo for a league match back in May that ended in a 0-0 draw, but Ann Arbor weren’t short of chances in the scoreless match.

“When I look back at our last visit to Kalamazoo it wasn't a matter of creating chances because we did a good job of that. We carried play for spells of the match and were good at getting to goal. Their GK on the day was very good and we squandered some chances that we wished we could have had back. So taking our chances is really the focus,” commented Rudland.

Note: Former AFC Ann Arbor player Dumisani Munyangay (2016 team) is know playing his second season with KZFC and had one of the best scoring chances for his side in the last meeting between the clubs 10 days ago.

Team Sheet will be released Tuesday morning.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

The Cup

In the event the after 90 minutes (plus stoppage time) the score remains tied, the teams will play two-additional 15 minute halves of extra time. If at the end of that extra time (120 minutes) the score remains tied, the winner will be decided from penalty kicks following FIFA rules (5 kick method).

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor at Grand Rapids FC

Association Football Club Ann Arbor is competing in only it’s third season in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). In the first two seasons, The Mighty Oak finished second in 2016 and first in 2017 in the Great Lakes Conference, arguably one of the most talent loaded regions in the country.

Now, three quarters through their third regular season, Coach Rudland has his side exactly in the position he had hoped they would be, in control of their own destiny. With just three regular season matches to go, Ann Arbor can secure the 2018 Great Lakes Conference Championship with two wins. A win on Friday night will also guarantee AFC a third consecutive postseason berth.

The two clubs have strong ties as both were founding members of the former Great Lakes Premier League in the 2015 season before jointly leaving to join the NPSL for the 2016 campaign. Grand Rapids finished first and Ann Arbor second in just the first season that these two teams competed in the Great Lakes Conference. Houseman Field had always been an obstacle for The Mighty Oak until last year’s 2-1 thanks to Yuri Farkas’s game winner which secured the 2017 conference title for Ann Arbor. The two sides find themselves in a familiar situation with Ann Arbor sitting atop the table with Grand Rapids close behind.

“I think we were in the same position late in the 2016 season, sitting as the top two teams in the league during our inaugural campaigns So from day one both teams have shown they can compete and position themselves for postseason play. Last year we won the league at Houseman when we visited, so we are looking forward to heading over there again,” said Coach Rudland.

“We're definitely not hanging our hats on our previous results or looking past the next match. We are well aware that everything is about the next match and focusing on the process of preparation. Our objective has been to control our own season and in order to remain in that position we need to be prepared for Friday's test,” he added.

One of the reasons Rudland and his side continue to find success is the mentality and work ethic of the players, and of course the depth of the roster.

“The collective mentality of our group has been very professional. Guys put in an honest day's work every time they train. Sometimes you get a mixed bag of mentalities with summer teams, but our men have bought into our approach and the way we go about our business. To see guys still fighting to get into the 11 and the 18 keeps our staff sharp and creates a competitive environment for the players,” said Rudland.
 

The Opponent

Grand Rapids has won four of their last five matches to bring them up to the second spot in the table while gaining some serious momentum heading into the final stretch of Great Lakes Conference play.

There are a few things to keep an eye out for come Friday night.

We’re all familiar with Grand Rapids not-so-secret, secret play aka the long throw in. Even when teams are prepared to defend against this, GRFC have found ways to capitalize especially when on their home pitch. Keep an eye out for this tactic and be sure to take note on The Mighty Oak’s approach to defending the long throw.

Their attackers are athletic and dangerous. Last Sunday’s 2-0 win over Detroit City FC came from goals by Scott Doney and Morris Kamara, both of whom have proven to be a handful for a number of NPSL defenders. Ann Arbor will need to be extra alert when GRFC looks to counter utilizing Doney’s height and strength in addition to Kamara’s speed.

Add in the final ingredient of beating the first place team and you’ll realize just how big this match is for Grand Rapids Football Club. Expect a battle come Friday night at Houseman.

Team Sheet will be released Friday afternoon.

Ann Arbor Cruise to 4-0 Win Over Kalamazoo FC

After a crucial 1-0 win last Sunday against rival Detroit City FC, AFC Ann Arbor played one of its most complete games of the season against Kalamazoo FC to earn three more points, stay unbeaten in NPSL play, and remain atop the Great Lakes Conference.

From the kickoff The Mighty Oak were poised and confident, knowing how crucial this game was for the standings going forward. AFC Ann Arbor’s possession of the ball and movement off the ball created havoc for Kalamazoo FC.

The final ten minutes of the first half proved to be one of AFC’s best sequences all season. AZ Liadi opened the scoring at the 32nd minute, after stealing the ball from a Kalamazoo Midfielder. AZ proceeded to cut through the heart of Kalamazoo’s defense and rip a shot from the top of the eighteen.

Two minutes later The Mighty Oak were on the attack again after the defense warded off a press from Kalamazoo. This time, Man of the Match, Michael Shaikly rocked a shot upper-ninety after receiving a center ball from Chris Odhiambo to give AFC a 2-0 advantage.

In the 41st minute a service from Breno Stapcinskas from the back found its way to Serge Gamwanya who found himself looking at a 3 on 1 situation for the Mighty Oak. Gamwanya advanced the ball before passing it to a streaking Jordan Montoya who finished with a beautiful one-timer at the edge of the box to give The Mighty Oak a 3-0 lead.

The Mighty Oak unsatisfied with the margin continued to press in the waning minutes before halftime and once again they were rewarded for their efforts. The duo of Shaikly and Odhiambo struck again, as Shaikly tallied his second goal off a quick shot in the box, and Odhiambo was once again the man with an assist.

AFC Ann Arbor came out in the second half with a 4-0 lead and Kalamazoo had no answers. The Mighty Oak played the second half as a complete unit, possessing most of the play in the final third. Although AFC AA didn’t score in the second half

AFC’s defense warded off every chance Kalamazoo had, the midfield dictated possession, and the forwards took smart opportunities on net.

The win tonight marks the sixth clean sheet for The Mighty Oak in NPSL play this season and improves their overall record to 7-0-2 in the Great Lakes Conference.

Next, AFC Ann Arbor will travel to Housemann Field Friday, June 22 at 7:30pm, to take on Grand Rapids FC in a critical match up between the top two teams in the conference.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs Kalamazoo FC

Two-thirds into the regular season AFC Ann Arbor have managed to earn twenty out of twenty-four possible points, remain unbeaten while conceding only two goals and to break more than five club records to date. It’s been a great start but Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland hasn’t lost an ounce of focus on what his side set out to accomplish.

“The effort and mentality of the men so far has been solid. We don’t take anything for granted and we know that there’s plenty of work still to be done on the training page and in our remaining matches. We want to continually evolve & grow as a group, so we know that process is still in full swing,” said Rudland.

The Mighty Oak are coming off four matches in nine days playing back to back league matches each of the past two weekends. Those four matches equal one-third of the twelve match Great Lakes Conference regular season schedule and were against some of the toughest opponents, making it the most crucial stretch in the season for AFC. The challenge proved to be tough but Ann Arbor prevailed earning ten of twelve points beginning with a convincing 2-0 win over Grand Rapids FC before capping it off with a massive 1-0 road victory against Detroit City FC this past Sunday.

In each of the first thirds of the season, Ann Arbor left points on the table earning draws at Kalamazoo and vs Milwaukee. This Friday, The Mighty Oak will host KZFC at Skyline High School with a bit of a chip on their shoulder after being held scoreless in Kalamazoo. With a convincing result, AFC hopes to make it clear they’re the better of the two sides.

With no more double-match weekends the rest of the way, the men will be fighting for their spot in the lineup as the rotation now adjusts to match the scheduling.

“We told the group before first session this week that we’re in a normal rhythm of one match per week, so our objective is to pick the top 11 and the top 18. We don’t need to think about a player rotation or resting players. We can just focus on managing the workload throughout the week to make sure that our top players are fully fit and at maximum capacity for each match from here on out,” added Rudland.

There’s no doubt Ann Arbor has proven itself as one of the best teams in the NPSL, and much of that credit goes to the man at the helm, Eric Rudland. The club is now competing in its third season in the league and to date, Rudland’s record is a staggering 25-6-6 (includes postseason). His ability to recruit talent across the globe while mixing in the top local players has proven to be a formula hard to duplicate for other clubs.

“Eric is the driving force behind all of our success on the pitch,” said Chairman, Bilal Saeed.

“He’s proven his ability to recruit, develop and manage players and of course earn results. But the most valuable thing he brings to the club is the culture he’s helped build by bringing in guys who understand our commitment to the community and building a family atmosphere within and beyond the club,” added Saeed.

Rudland is known to talk about how “this is a players game” and the ability to earn results lies completely on them once the whistle is blown. He’s not the type to take credit for what his team has went out and earned, but it is without a doubt his blueprint and strategy that have made The Mighty Oak the team to beat in the Great Lakes Conference.

 

The Opponent

Drawing in their first meeting of the season meant different things to each club. For Kalamazoo, it was proof they could hold strong defensively and stay organized against the pressing Ann Arbor side. Although they were unable to get three points, it was the first point Kalamazoo had ever earned against AFC, so it meant more to them than it would to most teams. For Ann Arbor, it was points left on the table with a copious quantity of chances that came up short.

Kalamazoo desperately needs three points to have any real playoff chances and win at Ann Arbor would be the perfect fuel to get some momentum into the final stretch of their season. They’ll put up a huge fight and will be well coached and ready to make adjustments as needed but if Ann Arbor execute their usual game plan and can finish their chances they should be too much for Kalamazoo to handle.

Note: These two sides will meet again outside of league competition in the Michigan Milk Cup Semi-finals on June 26th at Mayor's Riverfront Park in Kalamazoo. 

Tickets

Adults- $8 online // $10 at the gate

Youth- (Ages 4-12) $5 online // $6 at the gate (Kids 1, 2 and 3 get in free; Kids under 13 dressed as their favorite soccer star or superhero will receive free admission to Friday's match.)

Main Street Hooligans

The “COYYYYYYYYYYMOOO” chants are something you’ll definitely notice at every AFC Ann Arbor match this season (home and away). The Main Street Hooligans, the independent supporter group of The Mighty Oak, have been a staple in the stands at every match and continue to make their presence felt each match, more this year than ever before.

“At the end of the day our support is what helps draw energy and passion during matches. Our players really do feel a sense of connection that drives us to perform. To see the Main Street Hooligans coming out in numbers at home and making trips to support us on the road has been phenomenal. We know the sense of pride our supporters have and they’ve made a big impact in our season so far,” said Rudland.

Give them a follow on social media and sing along at matches and show your pride for AFC!

Main Street Hooligans Social Media: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook

TEAM SHEET FOR FRIDAY JUNE 15TH VS KALAMAZOO FC

 

Ann Arbor Downs Detroit for Second Time This Season

The Mighty Oak best Detroit City FC again, 1-0 to sweep their rival in regular season play for the second year in a row. Chris Odhiambo scored the lone goal in the 54th minute to help Ann Arbor bring back three points from Hamtramck.

“This is a good result for us and keeps us in control of our own destiny. We still have a lot of important matches coming up but we are still in a position to achieve our objectives,” said Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland.

Association Football Club Ann Arbor came into Keyworth Stadium atop the Great Lakes Conference with 17 points; Detroit City FC was sitting in third with 10 points. Both teams knew this was a pivotal game.

Smoke filled the first few minutes of the game as Detroit City came out in full force to support their squad. AFC undeterred by the atmosphere came out with high energy that lasted for the full ninety minutes. There was a definite big game feel in the stadium as both teams flashed moments of danger throughout the first half, the majority of which coming from the Mighty Oak.

In the 24th minute Michael Shaikly was fouled at midfield, Captain Jack Cawley took the free kick with little hesitation, as he saw Detroit City’s keeper off his line. Cawley’s shot was on target and narrowly saved.

Azzad Liadi (AZ), The Mighty Oak Man of the Match, was all over the pitch from start to finish. AFC Ann Arbor’s offensive push came through AZ, who was relentless on the ball. At the 40th minute AZ sent a corner into the box that was met by the head of Joseph Okumu. The header took an unfortunate deflection right to the keeper's hands and the game remained scoreless. The teams went into halftime knotted at zero.

That Mighty Oak defense, which has dominated all season long, continued to make their presence known into the second half, warding off every chance Detroit City had.

The defense was rewarded in the 54th minute when Serge Gamwanya was able to put together a nice one-two sequence with AZ near midfield to open up a path down City’s sideline. AZ made the run and crossed the ball into the box where Chris Odhiambo was able to get just enough of a touch on the ball to beat Detroit City’s keeper near post. The goal was Odhiambo’s first with the team and couldn’t have come at a better time, giving The Mighty Oak a 1-0 lead.

Following the goal tensions ran high between both teams with players from each side being cautioned by the referee. In the 62nd minute Novotny was able to punch away a dangerous corner in the box.

In the last ten minutes of play, AFC continued its attack with a decent attempt from Gamwanya that was just over the top bar. Not a minute later Odhiambo looked to add to his first goal with a beautiful touch in the box. However, he was unable to get solid contact with the ball.

Detroit had a chance to tie the game in the 82nd minute with a cross that bounced around in the box. Fortunately for AFC the Detroit striker was unable to get a centering touch on the ball as it bounced off his chest and out of bounds.

The win tonight earns AFC Ann Arbor three more points to help keep AFC atop the table and marked the fifth clean sheet for The Mighty Oak in NPSL play this season. AFC Ann Arbor’s overall record improves to 6-0-2 in the Great Lakes Conference. Next, AFC Ann Arbor will host Kalamazoo FC at Skyline High School Friday, June 15 at 7pm.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor at Detroit City FC

The memory of the 2017 Midwest Region Final is something Ann Arbor supporters will never forget. The heartbreaking game winner by Detroit City’s Tyrone Mondi came in stoppage time in dramatic fashion. Mainly because of the part we all remember the most: playing with only 10 men, down 2-0 and fighting and clawing back to level things up late in the match.

When that chapter had closed and the 2018 campaign had begun, only seven players from that roster would return, starting a new chapter in the southeast Michigan rivalry (Ann Arbor leads the all time series 3-1-2). The two sides met in Ann Arbor back on May 13th and spent all 90 minutes of regulation deadlocked at zero; until Alec Lasinski drew a foul on the left wing about thirty yards out, which set up Jake Rosen’s beauty of a ball into the box finding the leaping Martieon Watson to score the game-winning goal in stoppage time.

It was an electric atmosphere after that goal and a thrilling way to end the first NPSL match at the new home venue, Skyline High School. But the work was just beginning for AFC as it was only their second league match of the season.

Now, through seven matches in Great Lakes play, The Mighty Oak remain unbeaten (5-0-2) and atop the conference table with 17 points.

With only five NPSL regular season matches remaining, each point becomes crucial to secure first place and ensure a berth to the postseason. Take away the history between these two clubs and tomorrow’s match remains just as important because of the implications it will have on who makes the playoffs.

“I think it’s become clear that the Great Lakes is competitive this year, there’s a lot a parity and everyone across the league has dropped points. We’re still in a position where we control our own destiny, and we want to keep it that way, so that makes tomorrow’s match important,” said Rudland.

When it comes to controlling their own destiny, Rudland knows they need to improve on finishing and capitalizing on the numerous chances being created. In both draws this season, Ann Arbor has not lacked scoring chances but couldn’t find the go-ahead in either match.

“If we’re not creating chances, that comes down to our system and our approach,  and if that’s the case we need to change things tactically . I don’t think that’s the case because we are creating chances, we’re just not capitalizing on them. I think we saw that in the Kalamazoo game a few weeks back and obviously again last night vs Milwaukee. We’re talking with our finishers about focusing on the next play, staying positive and paying attention to the details so our quality can increase in front of goal. We still feel really good about all of our men and I believe that our attacking players will continue to create & capitalize for us,” added Rudland.

The Opponent

Ben Pirmann on tonight’s 1-1 draw in Columbus. #DCTID pic.twitter.com/caYV8oakcD

— Detroit City FC (@DetroitCityFC) June 9, 2018

In similar fashion to Ann Arbor, Detroit is coming off a Friday night 1-1 draw, and both teams feel as if points were left on the table. Coach Ben Pirmann expressed his concerns about starting off sluggishly and knows that if his team can bring 90 minutes of intensity and passion to the pitch that they’ll be a tough side to defeat.

Both sides have seen changes to personnel since the first meeting and are playing the second part of a two match weekend.

“I know our team has changed a bit since we saw  One another back in early May, and it looks like they have changed as well. So we have to take different personnel into consideration and look to create the right match ups,” said Rudland.

Team Sheet for Sunday, June 10th at Detroit City FC

AFC Ann Arbor Remains Unbeaten, Top of Great Lakes Conference

The second matchup this season between AFC Ann Arbor and the Milwaukee Torrent finished in a 1-1 draw, after a late stoppage goal from the Torrent. The draw extends Ann Arbor's NPSL home unbeaten streak to ten matches (last NPSL home defeat was in July 2016) and keeps them atop the Great Lakes Conference with seventeen points. 

The Mighty Oak came out in a 4-3-3 formation looking to use Laskinski, Breitmeyer and Montoya up top to force pressure and force Torrent mistakes. Both teams played a physical, possession heavy first half, with limited goal scoring chances.

Jordan Montoya had two decent chances, his first from distance and second off a cross. Both opportunities were handled by the torrent defense and goalie.

Ann Arbor's best chances on goal in the first half came in the 40’ and 41’ minute. Lasinski broke through Milwaukee’s back line but was met by the Torrents keeper who pressed off his goal line to make the save. Midfielder Ciao had has chance to put AFC on the board with a bouncing ball inside the eighteen. His shot was wide of the goal. Both teams headed into halftime tied.

Although the second half started much like the first with slow play and a focus on possession, as the game wore on, AFC found more opportunities and dictated play for much of the second half.

In the 54th minute Turnbull beat his man and made a run down the far sideline to set up a cross to a streaking Breitmeyer who found himself alone in the box. Unfortunately KB9 could not handle the bounce on the ball and his shot missed inches wide.

A few minutes later Turnbull had another cross that sailed over the box to a waiting Lasinski who was able to head the ball to the top of the six where AZ was waiting. Once again though The Mighty Oak could not get the ball in the back of the net as AZ’s shot was wide of the goal.

The Mighty Oak had another opportunity in the 70th minute after a foul was committed at the top of the Torrents box. The subsequent free kick lacked pace and was gathered by the keeper.

Continued pressure by AFC AA started to wear on the Torrents backline and in the 85th minute The Mighty Oak had another free kick just outside of the eighteen. Serge Gamwanya took the free kick looking to beat the keeper on the back post. His shot found itself over the wall and one hopped in the box before beating the outstretched hands of the Torrents keeper to give The Mighty Oak a 1-0 lead.

Just when it looked like AFC Ann Arbor would come away with three points, in the third minute into stoppage, a cross from the far side of the field from Milwaukee found itself on the foot of a Torrent player. After an initial blocked shot/cross the ball was shot in to tie the game at one apiece.

After the game Head coach Eric Rudland thought The Mighty Oak, “did create some scoring chances and got better as the game went on with the changes we made and the guys we brought on. It helped us change the match, but at the end of the day when you create chances you have to be able to put them away.”

Despite the result the draw improved The Mighty Oak’s record to 6-2-0, still having yet to lose in NPSL play. Next, Association Football Club Ann Arbor will travel to Keyworth Stadium this Sunday, June 10; to seek a regular season series sweep of their rival, Detroit City FC and remain atop the Great Lakes Conference Table.

Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs Milwaukee Torrent

With one less team in the Great Lakes Conference this season, The Mighty Oak will play a total of twelve league matches (compared to fourteen last year), which means they’ve reached the halfway point of the 2018 campaign.

It’s been an impressive start to say the least as the club has set multiple club records along the way earning a 5-0-1 overall record and a possible 16 of 18 points. AFC Ann Arbor started the season with 488 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal when FC Columbus barely snuck one past Mike Novotny this past Sunday.

This team has shown their depth and strength but the second half of the season will provide a new set of challenges as they’ll have to face opponents a second go-around. Teams will make adjustments based on their first contest as well as what they’ve seen potentially work for other clubs. Add in the fact that the first place team always has a target on their back and you realize the mental toughness The Mighty Oak will need to show to stay focused and determined during the second half of Great Lakes play.

“Obviously from a results standpoint we are in a good spot, however we aren't taking anything for granted. Our staff and players all have a clear understanding of how much work will be required to push through the second half of the season. From a football standpoint we still have a lot of progress to make as a unit both with and without the ball. We are trying to make progress day in and day out on the training pitch so we can stay in a position to achieve our objectives,” said Head Coach & Sporting Director Eric Rudland.

Last season, Ann Arbor lost only and drew only once in matter of fourteen regular season matches, and that draw was at home against Milwaukee. The Torrent are a talented side and will be looking to steal points from the table toppers come Friday evening.

“Milwaukee have been competitive in every match this season, so we expect them to come into us with their strongest side and put a lot of energy into the match. Every match presents different situations both tactically and personnel wise, so we are planning on their shape and the players in their team to be different from back in the beginning of May,” added Coach Rudland.

The Opponent

Milwaukee is known to have its ups and downs as they often time have to adjust their lineup due to suspensions and red cards. Midfielder Drew Ruggles who was out for the first meeting between the two sides due to a red card suspension from 2017 will be in the lineup for Milwaukee come Friday, and the Torrent are a different team with him on the pitch.

As the Torrent aim to steal three road points on Friday from The Mighty Oak, they’ll aim to play a physical match and do whatever they can to throw AFCAA off of their game plan.

CLICK HERE FOR TEAM SHEET VS MILWAUKEE TORRENT