Ann Arbor AFC's James Vaughn (6) heads the ball in a 2-1 loss to Oakland County FC at Pioneer High School's Hollway Field on Friday, April 29, 2016. Allison Farrand | The Ann Arbor News

By Ryan Zuke | rzuke1@mlive.com

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AFC Ann Arbor opened its third season with a 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Torrent last Saturday, May 6. The Mighty Oak finished 6-3-3 last season in its first year in the National Premier Soccer League. It was one of 16 teams out of nearly 100 in the league to make the playoffs, where it lost in a shootout to eventual champion AFC Cleveland.

The team has its home opener at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 14, against Kalamazoo FC at Pioneer High School’s Hollway Field. Here is what you should know for the game and the Mighty Oak’s season.

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AFC Ann Arbor defeated Kalamazoo FC 2-1 Hollway Field, Friday, May 13, 2016, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Junfu Han | The Ann Arbor News)

Home opener info

AFC Ann Arbor’s average attendance rose from 1,200 per game in 2015 to 1,500 per game last season. With the home opener coming on Mother’s Day, the team has several free giveaways and special events planned. The first 100 moms will receive a free rose, while all moms will be entered in a raffle for a wine package, a massage gift card and a gift card to Grizzly Peak in downtown Ann Arbor.

The first 200 fans also will receive a free cowbell from Michigan Milk Cup. There will be face painting along with soccer instruction and a skills challenge for kids beginning one hour before the game until halftime.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth if purchased online until Saturday night. At the gate, tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for youth. Parking is free.

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Ann Arbor AFC's Dario Suarez (7) in a 2-1 loss to Oakland County FC at Pioneer High School's Hollway Field on Friday, April 29, 2016. Allison Farrand | The Ann Arbor News

Players to watch

The Mighty Oak return its top scorer from last year in Dario Suarez. The Cuba native scored seven goals, which was tied for the Great Lakes Division lead. Suarez also was the team’s MVP.

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AFC Ann Arbor Kyle Breitmeyer celebrates after scoring in the first half against San Marino at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor on Friday, May 1, 2015. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News

Players to watch

Kyle Breitmeyer was the team’s leading scorer in 2015, when the Mighty Oak finished with three wins, three draws and two losses. He recorded eight goals and four assists before spending last season with Toledo United.

“Ann Arbor is a little closer to home than Toledo and this is where you want to be right now,” Breitmeyer said. “This is a great program, a winning program

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Grand Rapids FC's Scott Doney (11) and AFC Ann Arbor's Matt Braem (12) fight for a header as their teams battle for the Great Lakes West conference title at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids on Friday, July 8, 2016. Grand Rapids FC won 3-1. (Allison Farrand | MLive.com)

Players to watch

AFC Ann Arbor also returns its top defender from last season in Matthieu Braem. The France native was named the team’s defensive Player of the Year in 2016.

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Ann Arbor goal keeper TJ Tomasso saves a shot during AFC Ann Arbor's last game of the year against RWB Adria Chicago at Pioneer High School Saturday, July 25 in Ann Arbor.Dominic Valente | The Ann Arbor News

Players to watch

Goalkeeper T.J. Tomasso was the AFC Ann Arbor team MVP in 2015 before playing last season for Toledo United in the Premier League of America. The 33-year-old also has experience playing for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.

Tomasso played at Southern Methodist University from 2001 to 2004.

“He is unbelievable,” Mighty Oak teammate Kyle Breitmeyer said. “You have all the confidence in the world when T.J. is back there.”

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AFC Ann Arbor player Tristan Jacob fist pumps a fan after the team fell to San Marino, 2-1, at Hollway Field at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor on Friday, May 1, 2015. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News

University of Michigan connection

The Mighty Oak have four Michigan players on the team – three of which were on the 2016 roster as well. Kevin Taylor is a Michigan alumnus and returns to AFC Ann Arbor for his second season, as does Wolverines senior midfielder Tristan Jacob (Pioneer HS graduate). Sophomore midfielder Ryan Kobakof also returns and is expected to have a bigger role for the Mighty Oak this season.

Michigan freshman forward Jack Hallahan is new to the team after scoring four goals for the Wolverines in his first collegiate campaign.

“It is huge,” AFC Ann Arbor head coach Eric Rudland said of his relationship with Michigan. “We’ve been trying to strengthen the relationship we have with coach Chaka Daley. We want them to be successful in the fall and they want us to be successful in the spring and summer. If we can continue to build on that synergy, it will be mutually beneficial.”

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Skyline High School junior Alec Lasinski pushes the ball upfield against Bloomfield Hills in the division one state final on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Troy Mich. Skyline defeated Bloomfield, 1-0, for the state championship. Patrick Record | The Ann Arbor News.

Local connections

Tristan Jacob is not the only Ann Arbor native on the team. Alec Lasinski is a Skyline graduate who also was named Michigan’s 2013 Mr. Soccer. Nils “Baba” Valdmanis is a first-year player for AFC Ann Arbor and is a Dexter graduate, while Chase and Zach Pagani are both Pioneer graduates.

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Ann Arbor Forward Dario Suarez #7 kicks the ball downfield during a playoff match between AFC Ann Arbor and AFC Cleveland Royals at Houseman Field on Friday, July 22, 2016 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Tom Brenner | MLive.com)

International flavor

AFC Ann Arbor features players from eight different countries outside of the U.S.: Cuba, France, Brazil, Zimbabwe, England, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and Scotland.

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Ann Arbor AFC head coach Eric Rudland during halftime of a 2-1 loss to Oakland County FC at Pioneer High School's Hollway Field on Friday, April 29, 2016. Allison Farrand | The Ann Arbor News

Coach

Eric Rudland enters his second season as AFC Ann Arbor head coach. He spent the previous two years with Lansing United and also has coaching stops with Crewe Alexandra FC in England, the Michigan Bucks and Spring Arbor University.

Rudland has lived in Dexter the past three years and lived in Ann Arbor the previous 10 years.

“Not only coaching in the community but being in the community day in and day out is pretty special,” he said. “My family can come out to games, which is another great aspect.”

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AFC Ann Arbor fan Brian Hinz, 24, cheers on his team during their 2-1 victory over San Marino on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Hollway Field in Ann Arbor. Katy Kildee | MLive.com

Other home games

The Mighty Oak have six other home games this season: May 21 vs Detroit City FC;

May 29 vs Grand Rapids FC; June 16 vs Milwaukee Torrent; June 24 vs FC Indiana; July 1 vs Lansing United and July 17 vs Michigan Stars FC.