Iwan Webster Joins The Mighty Oak

AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to announce its newest member to the AFCAA Family, center back Iwan Webster. Webster is coming off the conclusion off his sophomore season with the Maryville Saints, located in St. Louis, Missouri. Webster stands 6’3” and follows in the steps of Jack Cawley last season and David Cross the season before in providing a British center back in the squad for The Mighty Oak as Webster hails from Liverpool. A Third Team All-GLVC selection as a freshman, Webster has been a starter for the Saints in both his seasons with the side.

With Maryville, Webster has made 38 career starts with 39 appearances. He scored his first career goal this past season in the 84th minute of a 1-1 game against Drury University to ultimately give his Saints the 2-1 victory. During his freshman season he was part of a side that went 13-4-2 and helped hold ten clean sheets, including one in the NCAA Division II Tournament, only conceding more than one goal three times, two of those games going to overtime. This past season, he helped Maryville get to another tournament with a 10-5-5 record and eight clean sheets over the season, along with a GLVC Conference Tournament victory.

Webster, as evidenced by his collegiate side’s successes, has plenty of attributes that help make him a strong player. “A big strength of mine is my calmness on the ball and range of passing,” Webster said. Expanding on just why that is so vital, he said, “In the modern game, if a central defender can play through lines and control the tempo of the game, his team has a massive advantage, so I pride myself in this.” As a whole, a passion for the game is one of the newest CBs greatest attributes as well. Webster said, “Another strength of mine is my love for defending. Every game, my number one priority is keeping a clean sheet, so general defending is a strong side of my game.” Coming off a season with Cawley and Stanley Okumu both in the back line, both being incredibly smart defenders, it is clear that Webster’s smarts at such a young age will suit him well in the NPSL.

When asked about what he liked about Webster, Eric Rudland responded, “He has great feet to play out of pressure, good size to dominate aerial challenges and is an imposing figure.” He added, reflecting on the team’s composition, “Iwan will bring a lot of quality to our team defense and our ability to play out from the back.” Given the general style of play from The Mighty Oak, and the principles seen in high-level European football with playing the ball out from the back, Webster will surely fit right into the side.

The links to AFCAA came from the collegiate level. Webster said, “Coach [David] Korn (my college head coach) connected me with Coach Rudland, as he had a good relationship with him and knew of his impressive record. Once I had heard about this, I was immediately interested and wanted to find out more.” The trust in his head coach helped lead him over to Ann Arbor. Rudland’s experience coaching in England with Crewe Alexandria appealed to the England native as well. “After speaking to Coach Rudland, hearing of his goals and intentions with the club and where he saw me fitting into it,” Webster would continue, “I knew this was a great opportunity and wanted to be a part of it.”

As a whole, the style change from England to the United States was something Webster, as a player, had to prepare for ahead of the start of his college career. “Comparing the UK and the States, there are big differences. I’d say one of the greatest differences is the physicality,” Webster shared with AFCAA. He explained how athletic ability and faster and stronger players had a higher emphasis on the sport. “Having this explained to me before arriving in the US was really helpful, as it meant I had to continue to work hard on the physical side of my game, and ensure I was in the best shape I could be in,” is what Webster described as his adjustments for the transition. Things have seemed to work out quite well for the center back in his couple of years in the States.

With the season’s training just a week away, Webster is already anticipating the season to come. “I’m really excited to be a part of The Mighty Oak. The team’s successes over the last few years speak for themselves, so the opportunity to be a part of this club was very exciting for me.” He added, “This season, I hope we can win our conference and progress in the postseason opportunities.”

Webster would conclude discussing his own personal thoughts, saying, “Personally, I am grateful for the chance to keep playing over the summer and continue to develop myself as a player and person, with great coaches and players to learn from.” He added, “To play in such a successful and player-focused environment will be a fantastic experience.” With a message to fans telling them to “be excited” for what is going to be a memorable season, the confidence from the newest member of The Mighty Oak is exciting to see.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Sebastian Chalbaud Joins The Mighty Oak for 2019

AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to welcome Sebastian Chalbaud to the squad for the 2019 season. Chalbaud is the brother of Andres Chalbaud, just announced to the side yesterday, and together they become the second set of brothers to play in the same team for The Mighty Oak (first set of brothers to play for the club were Zach and Chase Pagani). This past season saw Chalbaud complete his freshman season at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. Chalbaud is a native of Valencia, Venezuela, but played high school soccer in New Jersey, where he won the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of New Jersey. He will join Ryan Pierson as fellow GPotY winners on the 2019 squad.

Last season with the Hatters, Chalbaud made an instant impact starting in all eighteen games he appeared in over the season. Chalbaud distributed five assists out of center midfield for a Stetson side that advanced all the way to the Atlantic-Sun Conference Tournament finals despite being a six-seed and needing to play one more match than the eventual winners, Lipscomb. For Chalbaud, though, his club collegiate and high school accolades also join international achievements. Chalbaud has been a member of the Venezuelan U-17 National Team and was a featured member of the 2017 South American U-17 Championship. Chalbaud scored the opening goal of the competition in a 1-0 first match win over Argentina and lined up against the likes of Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) and Paulinho (Bayer Leverkusen). He helped Venezuela get into the final stage, just narrowly missing qualification for the U-17 World Cup.

Describing himself as a “complete player” highlights Chalbaud’s confidence in his ability to control the game in many facets. Taking into account his experience on a high level, he said, “Something that have helped me a lot to grow as a player was playing for my national team. Playing at a high level an international tournament gave me a lot of experience and made me become more solid.” When it comes to his game right now and how that impacted him even further, he said, “I always try to be focused and positive because I know what it takes to play at a high level.”

Eric Rudland is overjoyed at the bringing-in of a player that will surely be a young star in the NPSL Great Lakes, as well as the league as a whole. Saying the club are “ecstatic” to bring in the Venezuelan youth international, Rudland described his likely impact saying, “In our system he will make a big impact both with and without the ball. He has a very bright football career and we are looking forward to him suiting up for us this season.” His ability will be able to be put on full display with The Mighty Oak this season whatever position he may suit up on. With young players, it is rare that you find one so ready for the high level of the NPSL. But it is just as rare within the league to find players with such strong experience on an international stage.

With experience like his, keeping confidence high internally is always important, but not incredibly difficult, for Chalbaud. “As I said before, playing for my national team have helped me a lot. I feel I have got so many positive things from it,” Chalbaud shared with AFC. His early collegiate experiences helped continue to foster a strong sense of self-belief too, as he shared, “Also, being a freshman and being the one who played the most minutes on my team made me get more confidence on the field so I believe that I am prepared to do the same for the upcoming NPSL season.” With a wealth of experience now in his pocket at a Division One level, he is looking forward to bring that too the table with The Mighty Oak all throughout the summer of 2019.

Recent success was a motivator for Chalbaud to link up with The Mighty Oak this upcoming season. “I have heard of AFCAA before because of its success in the NPSL season the previous year, so that really caught my attention and made me attracted to this club,” he noted. As AFCAA set to win three consecutive Great Lakes Conference Championships in the Midwest Region of the NPSL, bringing in players the likes of Chalbaud make the ‘tree’-peat that much more obtainable.

When looking at expectations, given his knowledge of the club’s successes, Chalbaud’s hopes for the club are lofty. “As my first season with AFCAA, I would like to help the team to win the conference tournament and the national tournament,” he said. A hard-working player, Chalbaud wanted the fans to know, “I’m coming with the best intentions to help the team to a successful season.” He would also add, “I want to make all the fans happy and I hope they are supportive of us at every game.” Given the strength in the oak that the AFCAA fans subscribe to, and the togetherness of the Main Street Hooligans, there is surely no doubt that the support Chalbaud hopes for is set to come.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Midfielder Devyn Brough Joins AFC Ann Arbor for Inaugural Campaign

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce the addition of midfielder, Devyn Brough to the inaugural women’s squad. The Commerce Township native not only brings her collegiate experience to The Mighty Oak but having previously played in the United Women’s Soccer national league will prove to be valuable for the first-year side.

Brough started her collegiate career at Auburn University where she was named Academic All-SEC and appeared in 11 games off the bench amassing 73 minutes of play and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament vs. South Alabama, UConn, and Florida. After her freshman year, Brough transferred back to Michigan to continue her collegiate track with Central Michigan University. Her first season with CMU she played six games with one start missing the remainder of the season with an injury. Even with a shorter season Brough scored 2 goals and totaled five shots (3 on goal).   

After hard work and training to get back on the field after her injury, Brough junior year appeared in 14 games making six starts recording one shot on goal her junior year.

A product of the Michigan Jaguars Youth Club, Brough is looking forward to playing for her former coach Barry Scott and a coach she used to play against Andy Pritchard. Brough said, “Andy and Barry are great competitors and work well together.”

Look for Brough to make an immediate impact in the middle of the pitch, helping advance the ball into the final third while creating opportunities for her and her teammates. With previous experience in the UWS, in addition to her tenacity and competitive drive as an elite player, Brough will surely be a name to remember this season.

The midfielder is excited for the inaugural campaign adding, “I’m ready to get at it and show other teams what The Mighty Oak can do!”

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Andres Chalbaud to Join The Mighty Oak in 2019

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce Andres Chalbaud as the newest member of the AFCAA Family ahead of the 2019 season. Chalbaud is currently a Graduate Assistant for the athletic department of his alma mater, the Central Methodist Eagles in Fayette, Missouri. This is his second year as a GA, having graduated from CMU in 2017 after spending two years with the program. Before then, he played for Parkland College in Illinois as a freshman and sophomore. He also spent his youth in Venezuela, playing for local youth club HGV until the age of fifteen.

While not necessarily a ‘local player’ by strict definition, Chalbaud is not stranger to Ann Arbor. “I lived in Ann Arbor in 2012 and fell in love with the city,” he said of his brief stint in the city. Highlighting that as a key reason for his joining with the squad, he also noted his views on Eric Rudland as a driving force behind his decision too. “What attracted me to the club was seeing how coach Eric went out of his way to find out more about my playing history, as well as personal life,” said the midfield man. “That made me realize that when it comes to soccer, Eric is a coach that cares, does research for himself, and goes above and beyond.”

As a collegiate player, Chalbaud was named All-Region both seasons with Parkland College while logging twenty goals over his career. The jump up in competition did not faze the midfielder, as he played in 33 games over his two seasons while notching eight goals and ten assists. Chalbaud was named Heart All-Conference Third Team and helped lead the Eagles to a national ranking for the first time in the program’s history.

Chalbaud is no stranger to even higher levels of competition, though. Chalbaud represented the Chicago Fire’s youth academy for three seasons, even receiving a call-up to the Fire’s U-23 side (a former-PDL club). “I have to say playing for the Chicago Fire academy taught me so much and definitely made me more solid as a player; as well as my experience, and passion and dedication that I have for this sport,” Chalbaud said about his youth experiences with the MLS side.

In addition to experience with the Fire, Chalbaud also has played on the NPSL level. While still a collegiate player, he spent time with Demize NPSL, based in Springfield, MO. “The NPSL as well as playing for the Chicago Fire academy are both very competitive leagues. [The] majority of the players know what to do with and without the ball, so the competition is very consistent and intense,” Chalbaud said about his experiences. This level of competition has been more than adequate in bracing him for the season to come, as he said, “Having an idea on what kind of competition to expect and knowing how aggressive you have to be, how hard you have to train, and how hard you have to try to be able to succeed at this level is helping me prepare in this upcoming NPSL season.”

Eric Rudland is looking forward to what the newest member to the side is set to bring to the squad. Speaking about Chalbaud, he said, “He is a veteran midfielder with a strong personality and capacity to impact the club. As a central player in the team he has the girt and tenacity to help us win games this season.” Chalbaud described himself as a “complete player”. He expanded that with specifics, saying, “My technical ability, speed, positivity, and my game intelligence are some of my greatest strengths as a player. I am also a team player, and being aware of where my teammates are on the field is very important for me and plays a big role on my strengths as well.” Combined with the fact that he is a veteran of the sport with experience since he was a child in Venezuela at a high level, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Already familiar with the club’s history and expectations, Chalbaud’s own personal objectives have molded to fit the team. The Venezuelan said, “I have been working for this moment, and I know the club has some big expectations this year as they come from back to back Great Lakes Conference Championships (2017, 2018).” Continuing, Chalbaud went into personal goals, which truly suited the team just as much as he, “So, my goal is to help contribute as much as possible to the team, win more championships, and get the best out of this experience.” Chalbaud shared that he made the realization that playing being “mentally and physically prepared” are the two key factors in playing consistently well.

He has a love for the game, stating, “I owe so much to soccer, so I always make sure I am putting in that extra work day in and day out and never ever take anything for granted.” When asked about the fans, he said, “I am excited to meet [them], and I hope they help us with all their support throughout the entire season.” With plenty of knowledge of the sport and the region itself, Andres Chalbaud looks set to play an important role for The Mighty Oak in 2019.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Ann Arbor Native Victoria Norris Joins AFC Ann Arbor

Association Football Club Ann Arbor are proud to add another Ann Arbor native to the inaugural women’s squad, in goalkeeper, Victoria Norris. The Skyline High School graduate has been a fan of the club for a few years now and jumped at the opportunity to join the newly formed women’s team adding, “I have watched the AFC men play the last couple years and have watched them expand and develop as a club and that was something I really wanted to be part of.”

In addition to her familiarity with the club, Norris is also quite familiar with the staff having been at the same youth club that Sporting Director Eric Rudland has worked at (first at Ann Arbor Arsenal and later Northville Rush) while also playing for Women’s Head Assistant Coach, Barry Scott. After finishing her youth career up with the Michigan Hawks (u18), Norris went on to play for the Michigan Women’s Club team.

It was after she graduated from college in 2017, when her playing days had finally ended, that she realized the void it would leave not being able to play anymore. “I helped coach the Women's Club Soccer Team this past fall after I graduated and it really made me miss playing again. My world revolved around soccer my entire life until I graduated at Michigan and when I was finished playing, I felt a void in my life. When I saw that AFC was forming a women's team, I knew I had to play.”

Her experience and style of play will definitely give her the opportunity to be a leader within the team and Norris is ready for that opportunity. But it’s not just her vocal ability from the back and her past experiences that will benefit the team, it’s also her drive to compete and win at a high level, adding, “I am most excited to play at a high level of soccer this summer. I know a few girls on the team going into it and what their soccer abilities are and I know we can accomplish big things this first year.”

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Alex Alexis Set to Join AFC Ann Arbor

AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to announce its newest addition for the 2019 roster, winger Alex Alexis. Alexis is a Haitian youth national who calls Miramar, Florida, his home. He spent his first two years on the collegiate level at Eastern Florida State College, before making the Division One jump to Florida Atlantic of C-USA for the 2018 season. Alexis played in all fifteen games last season for the Owls and started thirteen of those. He finished the season with a pair of goals, including an overtime winner against South Carolina in the 93rd minute, and ended up with the third-most shots on target on the team with nine. Only two other Owls started more games than Alexis in his first year with the university.

Alexis has spent time with the U-14 National Side for Haiti in 2011, and also spent some time at South Kent prep school in Connecticut. When asked why he has made the move from a school career in Florida up to Michigan for the summer, he said, “This is another experience for me to challenge myself and work towards getting to the next level. The fans, the winning culture, and teammates who have different backgrounds such as mine (coming from different countries/states) helped me to make the decision of taking advantage of this opportunity.” The Mighty Oak take pride in their multi-national representation, with seven countries represented last season, already seven represented this season now counting Alexis, and colleges located in four different states have all been represented as well.

Fitting into AFCAA, Eric Rudland sees Alexis as a man who can make a difference in attack on the wing. “He is a dynamic and pacey winger who will be a dangerous weapon for us going forward,” said the head coach. “He can play as a true winger or inverted, which will provide us with tactical flexibility from game to game as we look to set the team up for success.” The option of either side gives added versatility for The Mighty Oak as they may look at multiple ways to set the side up, especially in early stages of the season.

Talking about his own abilities, Alexis said, “One of my greatest strengths is my speed and my ability to control the ball and create for myself and my teammates in front of the goal. I am a hard worker on the field and I always give 100%.” Adding to that, and something that should be music to supporters’ ears, is Alexis stating, “I try to be the extension of my coach through leadership to my teammates.” With how essential the wide players are to this AFC side, players who work hard on the pitch at all times are valued dearly.

“My collegiate season at Florida Atlantic has helped me prepare for the NPSL season because I played in a tough conference against teams that have made me better each game,” said Alexis, in regards to preparation for this NPSL season to come. Before joining FAU, at Eastern Florida State, he scored eleven goals with thirteen assists over his 31-game career as a freshman and sophomore. The jump to D1 soccer can provide trouble to players at times, but the pacey winger has been able to adjust to play within one of the tougher soccer conferences in the mid-majors.

Looking ahead to the season and what excites him the most, Alexis said, “I can’t wait to be a part of the AFCAA community and I’m excited to help my teammates and give the fans what they want this season by winning the championship.” Top to bottom, it is generally held by those within the organization that championships are the fuel for the season. With Alexis already on board with that mentality, it is a positive sign that the winger should have no difficulty embedding himself well within The Mighty Oak’s philosophy. “I hope to be the best at my role as a new addition to the team when it comes to winning games, and being a go-to person/player for my coaching staff and teammates,” was the hope of Alexis for the season ahead. “I am looking forward to building new relationships, becoming a stronger player, and working towards my goal of playing professionally.” With the recent track record of AFC Ann Arbor, the soon-to-be senior is set to join the right team to help and make that goal a reality.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Caroline Fleming Joins The Mighty Oak for Inaugural Women's Season

AFCAA is proud to announce our newest member, Caroline Fleming. Fleming spent four years dominating the pitch at Grosse Ile High School. She lettered in soccer all four years, was a member of four Huron League and District title teams, was named first team all-league, all area and all-district all for four years was named all-region from 2014-2016 in addition to her All-State honorable mention in 2015 and 2016.

Fleming went on to Adrian College to continue her soccer career where she has excelled on and off the field. Her freshman year she was fifth on the team in scoring with six points and she finished her sophomore season with 10 goals and 9 assists, including 3 game-winning goals and tied the school record for assists in a game with 3 during one game. Currently a junior, Fleming is coming off her best season as a student-athlete for the Bulldogs. She led the women’s team in assists (9) and points (31). She was also tied for the team lead in goals with 11. The end of the 2018 season came with her favorite moment of her soccer career thus far, adding, “Winning the MIAA tournament championship with my Adrian College Soccer team for the first time in school history this past fall.” Their win over Hope College in the conference title game saw the Bulldogs first NCAA tournament in program history. Fleming was named First Team-All District for the second time in her three-year career.

During her career at Adrian College, Fleming was named Female Student-Athlete of the Year at the Adrian College Exhibits Excellence in Sports, an award program similar to ESPN’s Espy awards. Nominated by her coaches, the award was well-deserved. When asked about receiving the award Fleming said, “That was an awesome experience and it felt really rewarding to be recognized by my school and fellow athletes for the work I have put in. I would say it helped me grow my confidence even more on the field which has stepped up my game since then.”

When looking at the 2019 summer, she turned to AFCAA. “I love Ann Arbor and the club has established itself on the Men's side and I would love to help bring that to the Women's side. I can't wait to help establish the women's side of the program and experience the atmosphere of the AFC games!”

Looking forward to her season with the AFCAA, she says, “I am a pretty creative and quick player and I think it will help my career with the Mighty Oak to generate some opportunities offensively.”

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

AFC Ann Arbor Adds Local Defender Julia Crowe

Association Football Club Ann Arbor are pleased to announce the addition of Ann Arbor native, Julia Crowe. As the defender looks forward to her first season with AFCAA Crowe is “most excited to just play in my hometown again, with its name on my jersey.”

Crowe’s soccer career started at a young age. After quickly picking up the sport Crowe says it was actually assistant coach Barry Scott that convinced her and her parents to try club soccer when she was in 3rd grade. This lead to her playing five seasons for the Michigan Jaguars. She helped the team to two State Cup Championships and two Premier MRL Championships while also competing at nationals in 2015.

Crowe went on to be a four-year letter winner at Pioneer High School, leading Pioneer to the district championship in 2013 and back to the district finals in 2014. Her nine goals and five assists as a senior garnered second-team All-State honors along with first-team all-region, all county and all conference honors.

At the collegiate level, Crowe played with the Akron Zips for her freshman year before transferring to Michigan State University where she is currently a junior. A backline warrior, Crowe has had multiple 90-minute appearances for the Spartans proving her reliability and toughness.

In the past she has bounced around summer teams just trying to stay in shape and on her game. “But AFC is not just an opportunity to stay in one space, it’s an opportunity to play for my hometown again. I haven’t been able to play for Ann Arbor since high school and I am very excited to do it again.” Crowe is also excited to play for both of her former coaches again.

Self described as a tough player, Crowe plays outside back and likes to include herself in the offense as well. “I hope that this will help the Mighty Oak during their inaugural season!”

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Bautista Pedezert Joins AFC Ann Arbor for 2019

AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to announce the signing of midfielder Bautista Pedezert for the 2019 campaign. Coming off his senior season with the Niagara Purple Eagles, Pedezert, better known as ‘Bauti’, was a four-year starter for the MAAC side. Niagara marks the second New York college that will be represented within this iteration of The Mighty Oak (Stony Brook being the other) and continues to highlight the lengths the AFC Ann Arbor staff are willing to go in order to find quality talent for the team.

During his four seasons in purple, Pedezert would start in all 64 matches he appeared in. Out of the midfield, he netted seven goals and chipped in five assists, including a pair of goals and an assist in his senior season. In each of his four seasons, he would finish within the top-three at least of shots taken on the team. One of the highlights of his collegiate career includes the winning goal, and only goal, of a 1-0 overtime thriller against Quinnipiac as a sophomore. In addition to his collegiate exploits, Pedezert also spent his summers with fellow NPSL Midwest club FC Buffalo, who play in the East Conference of the region. “Bauti is a proven player in our league,” says Eric Rudland. “He has been with FC Buffalo the past two summers and has shown that he can make a positive impact at our level.”

Talking about his strengths, Pedezert is modest. “I don’t normally like to name my own strengths I rather the coaches tell me them, but I can say I will run all game,” he would note. Continuing, he would add, “Defensively I will give all my effort and won’t stop until the ball is won back, and offensively l can say I love to keep the ball and play simple.” While the Argentinian-born, Florida-native may be coy when discussing himself, Rudland is effusive with his praise. Of the newest signee, Rudland said about his game, “He is a great two-way player in the midfield and has a high range of technical proficiency. He will be a player that will fit nicely into our midfield system and style of play.” Given the consistent strength of the midfield in seasons past, and the strength it already seems set to possess this season with James Vaughan, Jake Rufe, and Henry Ramirez already announced, fit is key with the club.

Much of college has been, like for many players at that level, a learning process. “I think in these last 4 years I was able to grow and mature a huge amount,” the midfielder shared in the wake of his final season. “I’ve definitely learned how to be a leader and organize the team on the field.” The level of opposition that playing at a Division One school has also helped to make for a better player. He would share his thoughts on a season full of tough opposing teams, saying, “I’ve had the chance to play against some of the top schools week in and week out. Although the results didn’t go our way, playing against top players is always a good way to improve, and I think this opportunity will help me for the NPSL season because most teams have these [types] of players.” Given the experience at all levels of play, the transition that may occasionally befuddle some players would not seem set to be the case with Pedezert.

Expectations always tend to vary from player-to-player, but as a whole, most hope for individual improvement and team success. Despite this, some may not enjoy the everyday grind of practice, but on par with the players consistently brought in by Rudland and the AFCAA staff, Pedezert included it in what excites him most. He also noted, “I’m expecting…[to play] with some of the top players in this league.” He also knows it will not be the easiest road all summer, as he states, “I know it’s going to be extremely competitive and I couldn’t be more excited. I expect to keep getting better as a player and get the best results as a team.” The embracing of the challenge is a key attribute to any player, and Pedezert is no exception. Looking at the season ahead, Bauti said, “I’m extremely ready to play and give it my all for them and this team.” Going from New York to Ann Arbor is a transition that has been successful before, the hope is that lightning will once again strike in the same place.

Tito Schwabe Returns as Director of Player Personnel

While the on-pitch coaches have been settled for the men’s side of The Mighty Oak, there is a key member of the staff that may go unnoticed by fans of the club, but not by the staff. AFC Ann Arbor will welcome back Marionito, or simply ‘Tito’, Schwabe for his second year with the club as the Director of Player Personnel. With the position, as Eric Rudland highlights, “Tito will bridge a lot of the conversations between the players and staff and look to make sure that the experience we are providing players is second to none both on and off the field.”

Tito’s story with the club starts back approximately a year ago in the spring of 2018 as a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University. To graduate with a Master’s of Science in Sport Management, Tito said, “One of the requirements…was to obtain an internship.” That was when he received an email that AFCAA were looking and interested. He served as the Director of Soccer Operations, which included things like picking up players from the airport upon first arrival, assisting athletic trainers, providing foam rollers and ice for recovery, and simply being around the players. “When I joined AFC in Spring of 2018, I would never have guessed how much that season expand my view of the potential and opportunities at the professional level,” Tito described. This new position, while meaning more responsible, simply serves as an expansion on a job those around the club already know Tito in.

Rudland notes similarly when discussing Tito’s return to the staff, “In his new role this season, Tito will be able to build off of the relationships he started to cultivate last season with the players and the technical staff.” As a familiar face, like the entire coaching staff for the 2019 season, this helps to allow returning players to settle into familiar surroundings as quickly as they may have before. Additionally, with an already established structure, this also can help ease those newcomers into place that little bit quicker.

While perhaps the role is known, who is the person behind the role? Tito has been described as a “servant leader” by Rudland, who says he, “…is always putting others before himself and looks for paths to go out of his way to make sure that everyone else is being looked out for.” Tito, himself, has never played collegiately or semi-professionally. “The only experience I can compare is when I was 16 years old playing with the North Texas ODP State Team in Monterrey, Mexico,” he says when discussing his own playing career. No matter of his own experience level, he has been around many levels of sport itself. His coaching career started about ten years ago at Coppell High School in a suburb near Dallas, Texas, as a volunteer assistant coach. Now, most recently, Tito has accepted the job as Women’s JV Head Coach at Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, while also serving as an assistant to the varsity squad. He is set to receive his USSF ‘D’ License by May of this year and intends to pursue a United Soccer Coaches Master’s Degree in Soccer Coaching.

In addition to the job aspect of coaching, Tito is involved in multiple other projects. This past summer, Tito describes, “I was introduced to MOVE Fitness and Wellness during one of the recovery days where the team came in for a recovery session. I have been in constant communication with MOVE and will be taking Instructor Courses this year in hopes to gain certifications and experiences in order to better assess and implement recovery plans for various sports injuries.” Thinking ahead for the club, he adds, “These certifications will help tremendously in my interactions with AFCAA players as they encounter injuries and assist in the recovery process mentally as well as physically in conjunction with the athletic trainers.” Perfectly encapsulating his personality, even with an impressive and exciting opportunity for himself, he is thinking about the greater good as a whole.

As one would imagine, Tito has an unfathomable number of stories when it comes to player interactions. His first interaction with the squad brought about a comical moment, even. He described it for AFC, “At the New Kit reveal at WideWorld my first interaction with the players I approached Brandon Katona and he said, ‘Hi my name is Brandon are you one of the new players on the team?’ I laughed and said ‘No I am the new intern.’ He replied, ‘Well you look young enough to be on the team.’”

Tito also describes Stanley Okumu’s particularity for ice after practice, “While I would get the ice in the bags he would hover over and say, ‘A little more, a little more.’” The fondness the entire AFCAA family is no surprise, and Tito has many more stories to share. We are pleased to welcome Tito back, and to announce he will be appearing on Welcome to Tree Town, the official AFC Ann Arbor podcast, next week.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Devin Mendez Joins The Mighty Oak

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to welcome Devin Mendez in for the 2019 NPSL season. Mendez joins soon-to-be club and collegiate teammate Ryan Pierson as the second member of the University of Detroit roster on this season’s side. Mendez spent the 2017 season on the sidelines as a redshirt but featured prominently with the Titans as a redshirt freshman last season. Interestingly enough, he will be the second UDM goalkeeper (past or present) involved with The Mighty Oak on any level this season – women’s goalkeeping coach Jim Grewe played for the Titans from 1997-2000.

Wearing the number one shirt on a collegiate level, Mendez described his season as a “baptism of fire”. He started the majority of games in net, making fourteen starts in fifteen appearances. Indeed, the redshirt freshman netminder was tested on a frequent basis as he saw 201 shots and was forced into making 54 saves. He saw one shot for nearly every seven minutes spent in net, and averaged 3.64 saves per appearance. Despite the lack of team success for the Horizon League side, Mendez acknowledges that it has made him a better player, saying, “I believe that I learned a lot from my mistakes and have become much better from them. I hope that my new mentality on getting better every day and winning will help me succeed in the NPSL season.”

In addition to his collegiate experience with Detroit, Mendez was a standout in high school. A native of Tecumseh, Michigan, and attendee of Tecumseh High School, Mendez was an All-State goalkeeper as a senior who also set single-season records for shutouts, saves, and fewest goals allowed. With Tecumseh just a forty-five-minute drive down US-12, the newest member to the AFCAA Family has a connection to the town itself. As he stated, “Ann Arbor has always been a second home to me so I am very excited to finally wear the AFC crest.” With an already established understanding and love for the city, it should make it that much easier for Mendez to mesh well over the summer season.

When discussing his game itself in net, Mendez responded, “Some of my greatest strengths as a goalkeeper are my shot stopping ability and strength.” This should come as no surprise, considering his workload in terms of making saves both at the high school and collegiate level, but it follows the trend of AFC goalkeepers who are exceptional shot stoppers. Fans will be well familiar with Mike Novotny, now with the USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic, and TJ Tomasso, a former MLS goalkeeper in his own right, along with other keepers such as Nick Barry, who performed brilliantly in net after Novotny’s exit to play professional in Sweden. Each different keeper had their own style, but all were superb in making timely saves. With Jeff Shuk the man coaching Mendez this summer, the hope will surely be that when in net, he will follow the mark that the goalies before him had set.

On a more personal level, Mendez responded to the question of what drew him to AFC as a club by saying, “I was attracted to the club because of their amazing fan base and previous record. I am very excited to play in front of the people of Ann Arbor and give them my all on the field.” It is no surprise, by now, that players want to play within a winning culture that head coach Eric Rudland has helped foster in front of a supportive fanbase.

“I am expecting to come into a team that is focused on winning the title,” Mendez said, when speaking about goals. He continued, saying, “So, I believe this season is going to be a great learning experience for me, and hopefully I can help them to continue their winning ways.” Excitement is certainly in the air for all involved with the club, and with the addition of Mendez, the hope is that when called upon, he will be able to provide a spark to deliver in net.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

AFC Ann Arbor Welcomes Lukas von Lienen to the Club

Photo Credit: Ashley Huss (WMU Athletics)

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce the newest member to the 2019 squad, goalkeeper Lukas von Lienen. The first keeper to be announced for the club, von Lienen joins the likes of T.J. Tomasso and Mike Novotny as players set to suit up at the position for AFCAA, which has a rich history of the spot. Coming off his freshman season at Western Michigan, von Lienen is a native German who spent time at the high-club ranks before making the move over to WMU where he won the starting job at one of the MAC’s premier schools.

As the starting keeper, von Lienen appeared in sixteen games, starting fifteen of them. The Broncos were 8-3-3 with him in net, and the German held a MAC-low 1.00 goals-against-average while making fifty saves over the course of the season. His save percentage of 75.8% is the highest since 2015 – Toronto FC goalkeeper’s Drew Shepherd’s sophomore season – of any Bronco spending at least fifteen games in net. He recorded three shutouts on the season, two of those being full-game efforts, and had a season-high of eight saves in his final outing against Akron.

To go with his high level of collegiate production is his impressive youth level exploits. He spent some important developmental years with the Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen’s youth ranks. When talking about his strengths as a player, he highlights those years in the German side’s academy as a formative experience. “Learning the European way of soccer at one of the best youth academies in Germany, the focus on goalkeepers was to play out with their feet and have a precise and fast distribution,” von Lienen noted. With how much the modern game has changed, and given how AFCAA remain at the forefront of it in the NPSL, this is crucial for the side as Eric Rudland also notes. Rudland said, “Lukas is a very technical goal keeper with a solid body of high-level experience back in Germany. He has good intuition and great distribution.” He added to that, saying, “His ability to play out for the back will fit our style of play and be a great asset to the team.”

While these German experiences were key in his development, the importance of the American game has not been lost on von Lienen at all. “The diversity between the European and American style of soccer helped me to become a more balanced goalkeeper in distribution and shot stopping,” von Lienen responded, when asked about what has helped to make him so solid in net. He also cites the seasonal experience as a whole being key for his betterment. The keeper said, “My first season with Western was a lot about competing for your starting spot. Going up against our Fifth Year Senior Eli [Elijah Hughes, fellow WMU keeper] was very tough and I could never rest, always trying to do extra work.” He added, “This and the high expectations from our coaches, which always pushed us to the limit, helped me to develop a strong mindset and character.”

With a strong mental mindset already in place it is clear that von Lienen understandings the level he will be at over the summer. He spoke about these nerves and the importance of keeping cool, as he noted, “Playing with [AFCAA], we will probably have some close games and it’s very important to keep a clear mind under high pressure.” The sport of football being as mental as it is, it will be crucial to have someone levelheaded in net, and von Lienen certainly makes sure that he is that person. In Ann Arbor, as Rudland notes, he will be surrounded by the right people to continue to spur him on, as he says, “Coach [Jeff] Shuk will do a great job of pushing Lukas to help him continue to refine his game.”

The summer will not just be about soccer for von Lienen. When assessing what made The Mighty Oak such a great fit, von Lienen had multiple things he would take into account. “It was definitely the great level of success the team has accomplished in the last years, but also the closeness to a great flying school, where I can get my Private Pilot license simultaneously in summer, to move forward on my bachelor of Aviation Flight Science.” The community and city of Ann Arbor in itself has been able to serve as a key draw for the keeper, and with brains being so important in not just the goalkeeper’s position, but the game itself, it is abundantly clear that von Lienen is one smart person.

The fans of AFCAA already have a reputation that von Lienen knows about. The keeper would state, “I heard a lot about the great fans of Ann Arbor, and I am very excited to meet you all and celebrate a lot of wins together.” When it comes to the experience as a whole, von Lienen says, “The ambition is to win the championship at the end of the season, but also have a lot of fun and enjoy the city of Ann Arbor.” Between the sport, the city, and obtaining a pilot’s license, it is clear that the addition of von Lienen will be welcome for both player and club.

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Amanda Minissale Joins Inaugural Women's Squad

AFC Ann Arbor is thrilled to announce the signing of Amanda Minissale, the newest member of the AFCAA inaugural women's team. Minissale is a Novi, Michigan native who has finished her collegiate career as a senior at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU).

Coming off her final season with SVSU, Minissale, the defender appeared in 20 games for the Cardinals, starting in 17 of them. She tallied 4 goals and 4 assists and totaled 12 shots with 8 of those shots on goal. After just the first game of the 2018 season, Minissale was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) defensive player of the week stating “...Amanda Minissale helped lead the Cardinals to a 2-0 road record over regional foes Ohio Dominican and Alderson Broaddus. She helped keep a clean sheet for the Cards in the 8-0 over ABU, also contributing a goal and assist in the victory.”

The 2018 season for Minissale and the Cardinals ended with a postseason run playing in the GLIAC Tournament. Minissale said, “my favorite moment in my soccer career was making the tournament with my collegiate team and winning a pk shootout to advance in the GLIAC Tournament.” The team went on to advance to the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Minissale is no stranger to club play outside the collegiate level. In 2018 she played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League for the AAFC Lumberjills of Michigan. This summer could have her competing against her former team as both The Mighty Oak and the Lumberjills are entered into the 2019 Inaugural Women’s Milk Cup. If both teams advance from the first round, they would play against each other in the second round.

When deciding to play for AFCAA Minissale was “strongly encouraged by former coaches to give it a try.” She said she’s “most excited to get back on the field after ending my collegiate career as a senior and for the chance to play with old friends again. Many players I haven’t played with in awhile were playing so I was excited to get back on the field with them.” Minissale will bring a tactical style of play with a ton of communication to her new team. “I communicate a ton which helps myself and my teammates be more proactive than reactive. I have a great service from many different areas of the field and I enjoy getting assists because of it.”

About AFC Ann Arbor

Founded in 2014, Association Football Club Ann Arbor launched it’s men’s semi-pro team in 2015 and has competed in the NPSL since 2016. Led by Head Coach & Sporting Director, Eric Rudland, the team has found great success winning back to back Great Lakes Championships (‘17 & ‘18) and earning US Open Cup bids three straight years (2017-2019). In October 2018, the club announced the launch of the women’s side, who will be skippered by Andy “Pritch” Pritchard in their inaugural season of the United Women’s Soccer national league. Owned and operated by a group of local soccer fans and entrepreneurs, AFC Ann Arbor has become a fixture in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Bryce Nicholson the Latest Addition to The Mighty Oak

AFC Ann Arbor are pleased to announce new signing Bryce Nicholson to The Mighty Oak for the 2019 season. Nicholson has finished his sophomore season with the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils and has spent both seasons with the side as a starter in defense. He helped lead LTU to their first ever appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, and all throughout their run winning the 2018 WHAC Tournament to secure a spot in the national tournament. His performance over the season earned him a spot on the NAIA All-Mideast Regional Team as voted on by United Soccer Coaches at the end of the season.

Coach Eric Rudland delivered high praise for the new member of the AFCAA Family as he called him “one of the top defenders in the WHAC” over the 2018 season. Nicholson had a knack for finding the net, scoring three goals and assisting three more over 21 appearances, eighteen of those being starts. The success he has found over 2018 is, as Nicholson notes, going to help him over the summer, as he says, “This year was our first year we won the WHAC title and our team learned what it’s going to take to compete at the higher level. I know what it’s going to take to compete for a starting spot and compete in the NPSL.”

As a total package of a player, much of the 6’3” defender’s ability comes not just from physical ability, but smarts on the pitch. “I think what has made me such a solid player is how I read the game,” he tells AFC. “I’ve learned over the years from my past coaches on how to read the game and play simple as possible. My main strengths are communication and my vision.” Rudland agrees with this assessment, as he says, “He has other intangibles like his leadership and work rate which will fit nicely into our team culture as well.” Given the leadership The Mighty Oak have had in the past from its center backs from the likes of Jack Cawley, among a plethora of others, it is clear that the Jenison native is a perfect fit in the squad.

For the newest member of the club, AFC is not a foreign side to him. “I went to a few games last year and I really enjoyed the atmosphere that was created by the players and the fans,” he said. As for his knowledge of the coaching staff, he put trust in his coaching staff on the collegiate level, “I did not know of Eric beforehand, but my coach spoke very highly of him so I knew I’d be in good hands.” With the interest by Rudland in Nicholson as a player, combined with the trust of the player in those who have already helped him develop, it certainly seems to be yet another stellar match between club and player. The cultural fit continues to remain a key point in identifying potential players.

Given that this will be his first season with the club, and considering his status as a high-level collegiate player, Nicholson is looking at development on a personal level for this season. The defender said, “I’m hoping to grow as a person and as a player while under a fantastic coaching staff and playing with high level players.” With returning players like Stephen Turnbull and Matthieu Braem joining him in the line of defense, plus multiple newcomers yet to be announced as well, Nicholson will be surrounded by plenty of top-level athletes to grow in both categories.

Nicholson is also looking forward to not just personal levels, but, as he put it, “I’m also very excited to experience a great atmosphere that has been put in place by the team and the fans.” He continued on, telling AFCAA fans, “I want the fans of AFCAA to know that I am going to give my everything on and off the pitch to bring them another winning season.” Between the positive attitude, and the on-the-field ability, once again an outstanding in-state player will be joining the club’s ranks.

Brady Walker Joins AFC Ann Arbor for First Season with Club

AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce the signing of Brady Walker, the newest member of the AFCAA Family, for the 2019 season. Walker is a Hartland, Michigan, native, who has just completed his freshman season with Saginaw Valley State. He will be the third confirmed member of the Cardinals’ 2018 side that made a run to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen – joining Jake Rosen (now graduated) and Ryan Pierson (now with Detroit Mercy) on the squad. The addition of another Michigan native continues to highlight coach Eric Rudland’s dedication in finding both top-tier local and international talent for the club.

Walker is coming off a freshman campaign that saw him contribute valuable minutes to SVSU in his first collegiate season. After starting just once in the first nine games, despite playing in all of them, he quickly became a nailed-on starter with nine starts in the final eleven games, playing in all eleven of them. He scored three goals for the team, two of them as a sub, but offers plenty more than just goals as a player. “My freshman season at SVSU was a big learning curve playing against people up to six years older than me,” Walker said of the collegiate season. He noted, “It was a big adjustment to the much higher speed of play and I grew a lot as a player.”

As a player, Rudland says on his newest signing, “Brady is another local player we are really excited about. He is versatile to play in a few different positions and is coming off a solid freshman campaign at SVSU.” That versatility makes him valuable to any team, and it is incredibly diverse when it comes to positions played. When discussing his first season at the collegiate level, Walker discussed this as one of his greatest strengths, saying, “I played a number of positions this past season with SVSU ranging from outside back, to winger.” One thing AFCAA as a whole has been able to do is supplement multiple players with one player, and Walker’s ability will allow him to do just that.

When it comes to technical aspects of the sport, Walker has something else in mind when it comes to strong aspects of his game, saying, “Another strength I have is my creativity. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been very creative on the ball and it has helped me grow as a soccer player.” His creativity, plus the already mentioned versatility, allows him to do a job in a plethora of spots for The Mighty Oak this upcoming season, especially on the wing, where he is already familiar as a result of his collegiate season.

As a player from the state of Michigan, AFCAA as a club is nothing new to the newest member of The Mighty Oak. “I have been to multiple games before and the atmosphere was amazing, the fans, and the support for the team was crazy,” he said. “It was always a blast when I watched, and it really attracted me to the club.” The support of the fans, combined with a resounding stamp of approval from his teammates, helped sell him on the club. He expanded upon that as well, saying, “I know a few of the previous AFCAA players and they all told me about how brilliant the training atmosphere is and every player is willing to give their all to get better.” The positive atmosphere is a key draw for players into the AFCAA Family. With the continued addition of players like Walker, that will only continue in years to come.

“AFCAA is a great team with some amazing fans,” Walker said of the club’s supporters. It is no secret how integral the support and love the fans, like the Main Street Hooligans, show to plays is in continuing to attract top level players at a collegiate or semi-professional level. “I’m excited to represent AFCAA and further my soccer skills,” he added. “I’m hoping to contribute to another successful season and be part of the AFCAA tradition.” With already such an established tradition and culture of success, a player like Walker, who has been successful even already despite his young collegiate career, is essential to building the character of the 2019 season. He rounding his statements out by telling the fans of the club, “I’m extremely excited to represent AFCAA and have no doubt that we will be able to succeed again this season.” With the season just a couple months off in the distance, the anticipation for fans and players alike only continues to grow.