AFC Ann Arbor’s Jordan Montoya was closing in on the net, sprinting ahead of defenders in the closing minutes of extra time past the 90th minute.
His thoughts? To score and put away a game against Grand Rapids FC in a marquee matchup of the Great Lakes Conference Division standings in the National Premier Soccer League.
Montoya kept his eyes up, peering towards the right corner of his offensive zone. His teammate Andres Chalbaud controlled the ball deep in the zone before sending a cross pass towards the net. GRFC goalkeeper Joe White was forced to defend Chalbaud and left the net wide open.
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Montoya slid to the ground as he kicked it into the back of the net. At that moment, he and his team began to celebrate. Why?
They realized that had just passed the boys in blue in the standings. With the 2-0 victory, AFC Ann Arbor (7-1-3, 24 points) jumped to the second place of the division, leaving GRFC (7-3-1, 22 points) in the third slot.
Looking out at the field with his hands on his knees, Montoya was asked about what it meant to take down GRFC on the road at Houseman Field. With sweat dripping off his chin, Montoya gave a smile.
“This had a lot to do with pride,” Montoya said. “It’s who we stand for in AFC and being able to beat them in their home turf means a lot.”
On June 2, GRFC defeated AFC Ann Arbor 2-0 on the road. However, with where the standings currently sit heading into the closing portion of the 2019 campaign, this win meant a lot to Sunday’s winners.