Lake Orion, MI (July 28, 2007) -- The 2006 North American Champion Michigan Bucks continued their recent domination over Great Lakes Division rival Chicago Fire Premier when the won their second consecutive Premier Development League (PDL) Central Conference title with a convincing 3-0 win to advance to the league semi-finals next Saturday at Lake Orion High School (7:30 kick off).  The Bucks and Fire Premier played their regular season home and home schedule, with the Bucks taking both matches (4-0 home, 2-1 away) before facing off for the third time with the Conference Championship in sight.  The tables were turned from last year when Chicago beat the Bucks in both regular season matches, but were dethroned by the Bucks 4-1 in Des Moines.  Bucks second year coach Dan Fitzgerald did everything possible to insure that a repeat scenario did not take place.  “We know the talent of Chicago and our familiarity of their system really helped us tonight.  They are a side that will kill you with the counter attack and they preyed on this all night.  Our defense was prepared and committed to staying within the game plan.”

The first half was dominated by the Bucks offense as they controlled the flow of play, but could not penetrate the compact Fire defense.  Although the defending champs had the better chances, the teams went into halftime scoreless.  With the Bucks playing into the wind in the second half, it only took twelve minutes (57th minute) for the team to jump start the standing room only crowd when player of the game Alex Morisset (Utica/University of Michigan) blew through the center of midfield and slipped a pass to Bucks forward Khelli Dube (Coastal Carolina).  Dube broke in from the left sideline and blasted a laser into the side netting past Fire goalkeeper Pat Sperry (University of Michigan) for a 1-0 lead.  Both teams battled evenly until the 74th minute when Morisset lunged through a tackle at midfield and tipped an on going ball to speedy midfielder Ty Shipalane (Lindsey Wilson).  With half the field in front of him, Ship carved through two defenders, slipped to his right from the penalty spot and slid a low shot to Sperry’s left that was destined for the back of the net.  With the 2-0 lead, the Bucks continued to keep the ball and control the game for the last fifteen minutes, when classic Bucks lightning struck in the 80th minute.  Bucks leading scorer, All-Central Conference forward and PDL candidate for player of the year forward Kenny Uzoigwe scored what may be the PDL goal of the year when he played a pass from Nate Jafta to himself at the penalty spot and elevated his 6’3 inch frame skyward, blasting a Pele style bicycle kick into the top part of the goal to put the game out of reach.  Uzoigwe’s 16th goal of the season electrified the diehard fans, most of which witnessed the two Conference semi-finals on Friday and the deciding match on Saturday.  Uzoigwe launched a bicycle kick earlier in the second half, only to have his first time strike go wide of the target.  “I have spent the past two years with this club and the last three weeks doing soccer camps with many of these young fans.  I really wanted to do something special tonight for them,” said the 29 year old phenom from Toledo.  “Tonight was the first bicycle kick I attempted this year, but when I hit that first one well enough, I decided if the opportunity presented itself, I had to give it a go.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice for the team, and other times for the fans.  I love the young kids in this community and that goal was for all of them.  I have never had a goal celebration when I was mobbed by ball boys before.”

The Bucks next opponent, the Brooklyn Knights will be making its first appearance in the Final Four, while the Bucks will be joining the big dance for the fifth time in twelve seasons.  In the other semi-final, the Fresno Fuego will be traveling to Laredo to take on last year’s runner up Heat to determine who will play in the 2007 North American Championship game on Saturday, August 11.  The championship game will be telecast live on Fox Soccer Channel and the venue will be determined by the United Soccer League (USL) in the next week.   Tickets for Saturday’s North American Semi Final at Lake Orion High School are $10 Adults and $5 Youth (under 5 free).  Presale ticket information will be available on the Bucks web site on Monday, as well as discount ticket info.  The Bucks are expecting another standing room only crowd, which will be essential in persuading the USL to grant the Bucks the opportunity to host the PDL Championship game on August 11.  The Bucks won last year’s title in front of over 7,000 fans in Laredo, Texas last August.

For more information, visit the team web site at buckssoccer.com.

Chicago Fire Premier vs. Michigan Bucks
Lake Orion High School
July 28th, 2007

Scoring Summary:
MICH -- Khelli Dube (Alex Morisset) -- 57th minute
MICH -- Ty Shipalane (Alex Morisset) -- 74th minute
MICH -- Kenny Uzoigwe (Nate Jafta) -- 80th minute
 
Lineups:

Chicago: 0-Pat Sperry, 35-Drew Ratner, 43-Daniel Zwering, 48-Matthew Witt, 41-Geoff Fallon, 36-Steve Bode, 37-Vincent Mikwanazi (46-Nikola Katic '22), 59-Michael Stephens, 45-Neil Hlavaty, 30-David Roth (31-Strider Elass '67), 56-Marcus McCarthy (40-Braden Fleak '46)
Subs not used: 00-Joe Zimka, 47-Brian Usinger, 44-Ryan Handbury, 33-Luis Mojica
Head Coach: Tony Glavin