Michigan Bucks

7/20/07 -- BUCKS FALL TO LYNX 3-1

PLAYOFF TIMES SET FOR LAKE ORION NEXT FRIDAY

Rochester, MI (July 20, 2007) -- The Michigan Bucks lost their second game of the season last night against the Toronto Lynx 3-1 at Rochester High School. The Bucks came into the game as the Great Lakes Division champions knowing they are hosting the playoffs next weekend at Lake Orion High School on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28. With four of the Bucks superstars training all week with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (Nate Jafta, Steve Clark, Mike Holody and Eric Brunner), second year head coach Dan Fitzgerald emptied the bench to play all of the dedicated Bucks players this year that have not played the minutes they probably deserved. Said a disappointed Fitzgerald after the game, "I gave the opportunity to several quality players to show that they could lead this team to victory for the second time this year, and both times we have came out on the short end of the score. I still believe the players I started tonight are quality players, but what was missing was the continuity of what makes our team so dangerous. Our counter attacking was not as lethal as normal and we had a 15 minute defensive lapse early in the second half that ultimately led to our demise tonight."

The Bucks (10-2-3) jumped out early when Steve Bonnell (Michigan) earned a penalty kick in the eighth minute when he was pulled down running by his defender. Nic Djokic took the PK and slammed it off the crossbar. Lynx goal keeper Chris Baker made his first great save of the evening when he pushed the rebound shot over the bar for a Bucks corner kick. Michigan continued to press the first half, out shooting the Lynx 7-2 and finally put a ball past Baker when Mauro Fuzetti (Michigan) headed a Doug DeMartin cross (Michigan State) into the goal from 16 yards out to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead.

Toronto would carry the play into the second half and scored two goals in 14 minutes when midfielder Murphy Wiredu put a pair of goals past Bucks reserve keeper Mitch Hildenbrandt. The high school keeper from Livonia Stevenson recorded his second start of the season for the Bucks and was charged with both Bucks losses. Although it would be easy to make excuses for the young net minder, Coach Fitzgerald was not having any part of it after the game. "Mitch may be feeling low after tonight’s game thinking he was the losing goal keeper in our only two losses this year, but he did not lose these games for us -- we played poorly defensively for short stretches of the game, and Toronto took advantage of it. Give them credit; they came in here in their last game of the season with no hope of the playoffs and played inspired soccer." When asked about Hildenbrandt’s future with the Bucks, Fitzgerald replied, "this kid is our goal keeper of the future. He has four great years ahead of him with one of the premier PDL clubs in the country. If he is down on himself right now, he better get over it in a hurry, because I might just start him in Columbus on Sunday. That’s how much confidence we have in this young man."

The Bucks game against the Ft. Wayne Fever at Columbus Crew Stadium will have no bearing on the standings or the playoffs, but should bring out the best in the defending PDL champions. "These boys are playing in a stadium they hope and dream to play in as professionals very soon, in front of the highest level coaches in America on Sunday. I don’t think there is much to do to motivate them," said Bucks owner Dan Duggan, who arranged the match and relationship with the Crew last year. "I will make the same prediction I made last year in Laredo at the championship game; the crowd will not be disappointed in the effort. I suspect you will see some incredible attacking, counter attacking and individual effort from both sides. Ft. Wayne will be playing with the same pride that Toronto played with tonight. We will be playing to go into next weekend’s playoffs on a high note. It will be a wide open match on the huge MLS pitch," concluded Duggan.

DISCOUNT PLAYOFF PASS ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

The defending North American Champion Bucks begin defense of their title next Friday night at Lake Orion High School at 8:00 PM. The Bucks first round opponent will be determined this weekend, but the team has already determined that it will offer a 50% discount on playoff passes for ALL three games of the Central Conference Championship Final Four. The first game on Friday, July 27 will be at 5:30 PM and will feature the Chicago Fire Premier against the #1 seed from the Heartland Division. The Bucks will then take on the #2 seed from the Heartland Division at 8:00 PM. The winners of the two Friday games will play the Central Conference Championship game on Saturday, July 28 at 7:30 PM at Lake Orion, with the winner going to represent the Conference in the 63 team Premier Development League (PDL) Final Four. Tickets for Friday’s two matches and Saturday’s championship match are the same as the Bucks regular season tickets; $10 Adult (16 and over) and $5 Youth (under 5 free) each night. HOWEVER, AS A SPECIAL BUCKS PRESALE PLAYOFF DISCOUNT, YOU CAN ORDER PLAYOFF PASSES TO ALL THREE GAMES (FRIDAY AND SATURDAY) FOR ONLY $11 ADULTS AND $6 YOUTH. This 50% discount is only available by visiting the Bucks web site and buying the passes through the secure Pay Pal link. The Playoff Passes must be purchased by Friday at 12:00 noon. Fans buying tickets the day of the game on Friday will also have to buy an additional ticket for Saturday to see the championship match. With the limited seating at the soccer specific facility at Lake Orion, the team expects seating to be sold out and standing room only available for both dates.

To purchase tickets and further information, please visit the Bucks web site at buckssoccer.com.

Toronto Lynx vs. Michigan Bucks
Rochester High School
July 20, 2007

Lineups:

Toronto: 00-Chris Baker, 2-Kayin Jeffers, 5-Alex Rhue Lischke, 6-Rick Titus, 18-Jamie Fairweather (17-Kevin Omokhua '46), 9-Tristan Murray, 11-Chris Deabrew, 13-Mikael McNamara (3-Dane Roberts '73), 22-Murphy Wiredu, 20-Daniel Revivo, 21-Dominic Oppong
Head Coach: Duncan Wilde

Michigan: 1-Mitch Hildenbrandt, 4-Kyle Russell, 5-Adam Brent, 22-Ian Daniel, 15-Santos Perez, 16-Nik Djokic, 17-Piotr Nowak, 18-Doug DeMartin, 20-Mauro Fuzetti (21-Kheli Dube '46), 6-Xavier Balc (7-Ty Shipalane '75), 11-Steve Bonnell (10-Kenny Uzoigwe '75)
Head Coach: Dan Fitzgerald

Scoring Summary:
MIC: Mauro Fuzetti (Doug DeMartin) 24
TOR: Murphy Wiredu 52
TOR: Murphy Wiredu 66
TOR: Dane Roberts (Daniel Revivo) 90

Misconduct Summary:
None

Shots: West Michigan 6, Michigan 22
Saves: West Michigan 8, Michigan 2
Fouls: West Michigan 6, Michigan 10
Offsides: West Michigan 1, Michigan 3
Corners: West Michigan 1, Michigan 5