AFC Ann Arbor
Full nameAssociation Football Club Ann Arbor
Nickname(s)The Mighty Oak
Founded2014 (2014)
StadiumSaline Hornet Stadium
ManagerRod Asllani
LeagueUSL League Two
20232nd, Great Lakes Division
Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals
WebsiteClub website

AFC Ann Arbor is an American soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a men's team that has played in USL League Two since 2020 and a women's team that has played in USL W League since 2020. The men's team played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2016 to 2019, and the women's team played in the United Women's Soccer during its inaugural 2019 season.

History

AFC Ann Arbor in action against San Marino Soccer in a 2015 friendly at Hollway Field

AFC Ann Arbor was started by a group of Ann Arbor residents with a desire to have a local team.[1] The team had applied to the National Premier Soccer League for the 2015 season but its application was declined. Instead, AFC Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids FC, another team denied by the NPSL, decided to start a league of their own called the Great Lakes Premier League.[2] The new league held its inaugural meetings on January 17, 2015.

Starting with the 2016 season, AFC Ann Arbor played in the National Premier Soccer League as part of the Midwest Region[3] under manager Eric Rudland, formerly of Lansing United.[4] They finished in second place in the Great Lakes West Division in their first NPSL season, advancing to the national playoffs, but ultimately losing to AFC Cleveland on penalty kicks.

The 2017 season brought more success for AFC Ann Arbor as they won their first ever Great Lakes Division Championship and the inaugural Michigan Milk Cup in the process.[5] They again advanced to the NPSL national playoffs defeating the Dayton Dynamo in the second record (having received a bye in the first round) before falling to Detroit City FC 3–2 in extra time in the Midwest regional final.[6]

The 2018 season brought AFC Ann Arbor their second consecutive Great Lakes Division Championship, topping FC Columbus 1–0 for the championship.[7] AFCAA were given a bye to the semi-finals for the NPSL Midwest Regionals. The side hosted the semis and finals at Ann Arbor Huron High School.[8] The club topped Cleveland SC 1–0 in the semi-finals, but fell to Duluth FC in penalty kicks in the final.[9][10] Following the season's conclusion, Joseph Stanley Okumu, a center back that spent the 2018 season with the club, was named TopDrawerSoccer.com NPSL Player of the Year.[11]

In the 2019 season, AFCAA made the playoffs for the fourth time in as many seasons in the NPSL. The postseason match was embroiled in controversy as the match against Rochester Lancers had to be called off in the 69th minute after a series of weather delays. Because Cardinal Stadium does not have lights, the match could not be completed outdoors and contingency plans were rejected by Lancers. After initially looking at a coin flip finish to the match,[12] the match was finished in Erie, PA, where Lancers won in penalties.[13] Ahead of the 2019 season, AFC Ann Arbor announced they would be adding a women's side set to begin play in United Women's Soccer.[14] The side finished sixth in the six-team UWS Midwest winning two matches in their inaugural season.

Ahead of the 2020 season, AFC Ann Arbor announced they would be joining USL League Two with the women's team joining USL W League.[15]

The club suspended operations for the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID pandemic.

Prior to the 2022 season, the club announced that former men's team head coach Eric Rudland would be shifting to the role of club Sporting Director while former assistant coach Rod Asllani would be taking over as head coach of the men's team.[16] The men's team finished third (7-3-4) in the USL2 Great Lakes Division behind Kalamazoo FC and Flint City Bucks,[17] missing the playoffs for the first time in five (non-suspended) seasons.

In the 2023 season, the AFCAA men's team found its way back to the postseason with a 2nd-place finish in the USL2 Great Lakes Division behind Flint City Bucks,[18] where they met first round opponents Thunder Bay Chill.[19] Despite falling behind 3-0 early in the 2nd half of the match, AFC Ann Arbor managed to level the match with 3 goals after the 72nd minute before the end of regulation, eventually losing 5-3 after extra-time periods.

Stadium

From 2015 to 2017, AFCAA's home field was Hollway Field, located at Pioneer High School.

In 2018, the team then moved to Skyline High School.

In 2019, the team signed a three-year agreement to use Concordia University's Cardinal Stadium, located off of Geddes Road in Ann Arbor,[20] but only a single season was played there because the club sat out the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID pandemic.

In 2022, because AAPS was not yet allowing rental of its facilities due to the pandemic,[21] the team played at Saline Hornet Stadium.[22]

In 2023, the team returned to its original home at Hollway Field, located at Pioneer High School.

Head coaches

  • United States David Hebestreit (2014–2015)
  • United States Eric Rudland (2015–2021)
  • Albania Rod Asllani (2022–present)

Year-by-year

Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Average Attendance
2015 5 GLPL 3rd of 5 (2–2–4) N/A[A] Ineligible[B]
2016 4 NPSL 2nd of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes West (6–3–3) Regional semifinal Ineligible[B]
2017 4 NPSL 1st of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (12–1–1) Regional Final First round
2018 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes (9–1–2) Regional Final First round
2019 4 NPSL 2nd of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (9–2–3) Regional quarterfinal First round
2020 4 USL2 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 4 USL2 did not play due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 4 USL2 3nd of 6, Central-Great Lakes (7–3–4) did not qualify did not qualify
2023 4 USL2 2nd of 7, Central-Great Lakes (6–1–5) Conference Quarterfinals did not qualify
  1. ^
    A No playoffs were held in the inaugural season of the Great Lakes Premier League.
  2. ^
    B To enter the U.S. Open Cup, a team must have belonged to an affiliated league with at least 4 teams that played a schedule of at least 10 games.[23]

USL W League (2022–)

History

AFC Ann Arbor launched a women's side in October 2018, competing in the United Women's Soccer league,[24] with Andy Pritchard as its first head coach. The team's first player signing was Megan Trapp,[25] and its first goalscorer was former Japan national team player Mami Yamaguchi.[26]

The team suspended play for 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, and AFC Ann Arbor announced the move of its women's side to the USL W League in 2022, with former men's side player Boyzzz Khumalo as its head coach.[27] The team added Chloe Ricketts, a 14-year-old, to the senior squad, where she became the USL W League's youngest goalscorer.[28][29]

Head coaches

Year-by-year

As of matches played May 14, 2023.[33]
Year League Regular season Playoffs Average attendance
2019 UWS 6th of 6 (2–8–0)
Midwest Division		 DNQ
2020 Did not play due to COVID-19
2021
2022 USLW 4th of 8 (6–3–3)
Great Lakes Division		 DNQ
2023 USLW 5th of 6 (4–6–2)
Great Lakes Division		 DNQ

Honors

  • Michigan Milk Cup: 2022[34]

Notable former players

References

  1. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor Club History".
  2. ↑ "NPSL denies Ann Arbor semi-pro soccer club's application; owners plan to establish new league". MLive.com. December 2, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  3. ↑ "A year after being denied, AFC Ann Arbor joined National Premier Soccer League". MLive.com. September 22, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Former Lansing United coach Eric Rudland takes the helm at AFC Ann Arbor". MLive.com. September 17, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Ann Arbor Close Out Regular Season Undefeated at Hollway". AFC Ann Arbor. July 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Late Goal Lifts Detroit Past Ann Arbor in Midwest Region Championship". AFC Ann Arbor. July 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs FC Indiana [NPSL National Game of the Week]". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ann Arbor Wins Bid to Host 2018 NPSL Midwest Region Playoffs". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Ann Arbor Punches Ticket to Midwest Region Final with 1–0 Win Over Cleveland". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Duluth Crowned Champions of the Midwest Region In Intense Penalty Shootout – Duluth FC". www.duluthfc.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Okumu Named 2018 TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Year". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Midwest Region Quarterfinal To Be Decided By Coin Toss". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ O'Connor, Larry. "Rochester defeats AFC Ann Arbor on PKs in NPSL Midwest quarterfinal, advances to semis". Detroit News. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  14. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor Women's Team Set to Compete in United Women's Soccer in 2019". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  15. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor Men's Team Will Begin Play in USL2 in 2020". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Rod Asllani Accounced as New Men's Head Coach".
  17. ↑ "USL2 2022 Standings".
  18. ↑ "USL2 2023 Standings".
  19. ↑ "USL2 2023 Playoff Bracket".
  20. ↑ "AFCAA and Concordia University Reach Multiyear Home Facility Agreement". afcannarbor.com. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  21. ↑ "MSC Podcast feat. Eric Rudland".
  22. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor soccer team changing home venues in 2018". mlive.com. MLive Media Group. February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  23. ↑ "How do you enter the 2016 US Open Cup?".
  24. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor announces women's team for 2019 season". AllAboutAnnArbor. October 25, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Megan Trapp Signs as First AFCAA Women's Player" (Press release). AFC Ann Arbor. February 26, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ Bruckner, Meredith (October 7, 2019). "AFC Ann Arbor men's team will play in USL League Two in 2020". AllAboutAnnArbor. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  27. ↑ "AFC Ann Arbor Joins USL W League for 2022" (Press release). AFC Ann Arbor. November 9, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  28. ↑ Wickliffe, Greg (May 23, 2022). "'Best player in the world': AFC Ann Arbor soccer teen has lofty career goals". MLive Media Group. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  29. ↑ "USL W League Fans' Choice Goal of the Week – Week 1+2". USL W League. May 18, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  30. 1 2 Zuke, Ryan (June 21, 2019). "AFC Ann Arbor player shares special connection with World Cup". MLive Media Group. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Boyzzz Khumalo Named Women's Head Coach" (Press release). AFC Ann Arbor. September 12, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  32. ↑ cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AFCAnnArbor/status/1646542031290871810%7Ctitle=Keving Taylor announcement
  33. ↑ "League standings". USL W League. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  34. ↑ Green, Brandon (July 7, 2022). "AFC Ann Arbor second half explosion dooms Flint City AFC in Michigan Milk Cup Championship". ABC 12 News. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Spirit sign Chloe Ricketts, 15, to 3-year contract". The Athletic. March 3, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  36. ↑ Wickliffe, Greg (April 21, 2022). "Olympic Gold medalist joins AFC Ann Arbor's women's soccer team". Michigan Live.
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