My City May 2023

MYSPORTS

FLINT CITY AFC READY TO THRILL! BY MARK SPEZIA

D uring high school, Rachel Phillpotts honed her soccer talent on the turf at refurbished Atwood Sta dium. There, the Linden native was part of powerful Powers Catholic teams and concluded her prep career in unforget table fashion, playing an integral role on the Chargers' dominant 2017 team which captured a Division 3 state cham pionship and finished 26-1-2. After being named to the All-State Dream Team, Phillpotts took those talents to the University of Wiscon sin-Milwaukee, helping the Panthers to four Horizon League titles and four NCAA Tournament berths. Along the way, she was named the Horizon League's Defensive Player of the Year and to the all-conference first team three times. Phillpotts spent most

summers back in Michigan, further sharpening her skills with pre-profes sional teams like Lansing United and, for the past two years, Detroit City FC. This spring, Phillpotts returns to the scene of her high school triumphs, join ing Flint City AFC for its second season and first under a new coaching staff led by Michele Krzisnik. The allure of play ing at Atwood again in front of family, friends and the club's ardent supporters was too strong for Phillpotts to resist. "I’m excited about the opportunity to play competitive soccer closer to home," says Phillpotts, one of the team’s five

Flint-area players. "Atwood was my home in high school and it'll be fun to play back on the same turf again. I am also looking forward to playing with competitive, high-level athletes to create a winning environment." High-level talent, indeed. Of the 30 players on this season's roster, 12 have earned some type of college all-conference honor and all but one has played, is playing or will play at the NCAA Division 1 level, meaning Flint City AFC should have little trouble bettering last season's 2-9-1 USL W League record.

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