By Ryan Makuch
AFC Ann Arbor are thrilled to announce the signing of Tatiana Mason ahead of the 2022 USL W League season. Mason patrolled the wing for The Mighty Oak in 2019, and quickly became a fan favorite for her skills and trademark red scrunchie on the pitch, and her status as hometown hero off-the-pitch.
After being set to return for 2020 prior to the season’s cancellation, Mason, like many other dedicated athletes, had to set out on her own path and train on her own during the COVID pandemic, which she discussed in November 2020 with AFCAA.
Mason joins Jenna Smith as the two returning league goalscorers from the 2019 season. A fixture amongst most lineups, whether a back five as a wide-midfield/wing-back player, or in attack as an out-and-out winger, Mason’s consistent performances made her a stalwart for The Mighty Oak, and she ended the season as a top-five minutes-getter in the UWS.
On returning to her hometown club, Mason said, “I’m very excited to be back playing for AFCAA,” adding that there’s, “nothing quite like playing for the city you grew up in.” She would also say, “Playing in the USL will be a good experience for the club. There are some great teams in the league that’ll make for some competitive and exciting games.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve last worn the AFCAA crest,” said Mason, discussing her past times wearing the blues and white of The Mighty Oak. “Last time I was on the pitch for Ann Arbor was after my freshman year of college. Looking back on it, I was so young and had very little experience. I now have four years of college soccer under my belt. I’ve developed a lot as a player and a leader and look forward to competing with a great group of women this summer!”
Aside from her 2019 summer campaign, Mason has starred in Muncie, Indiana, on the campus of Ball State. Since her time with AFC Ann Arbor, Mason helped anchor a Cardinals side that made the shortened Spring 2021 season’s MAC Championship Final, scoring four goals and logging two assists over the season.
She would add to her excellent goal-scoring record in red with two more as a senior, and propelling herself into the Ball State record books, as her 14 goals with Ball State are good enough for sixth-most in program history. Her 13 career assists are also the fourth-most in program history, and Mason currently is one of just three players to log seven assists in one season for BSU, doing so in 2019, immediately following her AFCAA campaign.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to return to the club this summer,” Mason would add. In discussing how she would approach being a part of the side this season, she would say, “Being familiar with the club, staff, and fans I look forward to stepping into some leadership roles. As I watch the roster announcements it’s fun to see familiar faces and exciting to see the new talent that Boyzzz and the rest of the staff are bringing in.”
“Tatiana is someone I’ve known for a while now,” said new Women’s Head Coach Boyzzz Khumalo. He discussed what is currently in place at AFCAA, saying, “I think what we’re creating here right now is a great pathway for women’s players who want to go to the next level. You have players like [Mason] who are thinking about the next level, and it’s a good thing for us and it’s a good thing for the young girls who follow in their footsteps.”
Khumalo also hailed Mason’s professionalism, saying, “Just talking to these players you can tell that they’re very professional and ready for that next step.”
Mason also had a message for AFCAA supporters.
“We have a wealth of knowledge and leadership with the coaching staff and some of the best fan support in the entire league (shoutout Main Street Hooligans!). With that, we are set up to have a great season. I have high expectations for this summer. Winning games and making it into the postseason is well within our reach.”
We’d like to officially welcome back Tatiana Mason to the squad ahead of the 2022 USL W League season.
About AFC Ann Arbor
Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!