HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — Enclosed by 5,900 bellowing fanatics, multicolored smoke bombs, beating drums and rhythmic chants that echoed through the residential streets on which Keyworth Stadium resides, Detroit City FC goalkeeper Owen Finnerty still found time to communicate with his higher power.



As Friday’s match against rival AFC Ann Arbor was set to begin, Le Rouge’s keeper sprinted toward his net and first went to the goalpost on his left side, placing his Gatorade water bottle inches from the goal line, parallel with the net. The orange nozzle faced forward, as it always does. He stared at it as he walked toward the 6-yard box, making sure his source of hydration was in the precise location he likes it. When he was content with that, Finnerty turned his head, dropped to one knee and put his palms inward. His chin dipped into his chest as his eyes slowly closed, blocking out any white noise that would fuzzy up his call to the heavens.



“I just ask...