Canton, MI  (May 27, 2007) -- The 2006 North American Champion Michigan Bucks continued their dominance in the Great Lakes Division in the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) by scorching the Chicago Fire Premier Saturday, 4-0.  The US Open Cup match was played as part of the 25th Annual Canton Cup Memorial Day Tournament and did not disappoint the huge crowd, despite Mother Nature’s attempt to ruin the party.  According to Canton Cup officials, their were over 1,400 tournament participants and die hard Bucks fans that braved the weather to see two of the top PDL clubs in the nation do battle.  The Bucks came out attacking in the first half, but had a difficult time breaking through a solid Chicago defense, but managed to take the game to the Fire and out shot them 12-0.  It looked like the Bucks would finally get on the scoreboard when forward Khelli Dube (Coastal Carolina) was fouled in the penalty box by goal keeper Matt Pyzdrowski.  The tall netminder atoned for his mistake by snuffing Dube’s PK to keep the game scoreless into halftime.

The Bucks continued to work hard, keeping the pressure on Chicago the entire second half, and their persistence paid off in the 62nd minute when midfielder Ty Shipalane (Lindsey Wilson) produced the play of the game.  Ship started his run from the touch line about 40 yards from goal, beat two defenders and curled a ridiculous bomb into the top corner of the goal to get the Canton party started.  Dube decided to join the celebration as well when he took a pass from Shipalane and converted his team leading third goal of the season just three minutes later.  The 2-0 lead looked comfortable for the division leading Bucks (3-0-0), but there was more gas to add to the Fire (2-1-2).  PDL player of the week Nate Jafta was closely marked throughout the match, but as usual, found a way to put his mark on the match.  Jafta scored the Bucks third goal from an impossible angle, after taking a pass from college teammate Shipalane in the 77th minute.  Jafta wasn’t finished just yet and fed a nice ball to newcomer Eric Brunner (Ohio State), who scored his first goal as a Buck from short range.  Goal keeper Steve Clark (Oakland) was not called upon often during the match, but did all he needed to do to secure his third consecutive shutout and keep a clean sheet for the season.  “I didn’t graduate from Harvard,” said an elated Bucks head coach Dan Fitzgerald, “but if you don’t ever give up a goal, you won’t lose a game.  The stifling defense we play will never get acknowledged in the press, but it is the catalyst for what drives this offense.”  The Bucks finish Open Cup qualifying on Monday, when they play their annual Memorial Day match against the Indiana Invaders.  This game has become a tradition over the years and as usual will have significant bearing on the Cup representative.  The Bucks will advance to a record setting 7th US Open Cup appearance with a win or a tie, while the Invaders must upset the defending North American champs if they want their first ever trip to the nation’s oldest tournament.  “Indiana is a solid club across the board, with a couple of offensive weapons.  If everyone is disciplined enough to fulfill their assignments on Monday, we should have a good result,” said Bucks assistant coach Brett Jacobs.  “A 3-0 start is nice, but that is what we expect each year with the Bucks.  We haven’t accomplished anything this season until we record the fourth consecutive shutout.  This is a very special team, but they need to rise up to the challenge that awaits them Monday night in South Bend.”

Following the holiday match on Monday, the Bucks return home on Wednesday night to take on their MLS affiliate Columbus Crew at Berkley’s Hurley Field at 7:30.  Tickets for the game are $15 at the gate but only $10 presale when you buy tickets on line at the Bucks web site or at one of the following Bucks ticket outlets in the metro Detroit area:

George's Soccer 3837 Rochester Rd., Troy 48083   248-528-2948
George's Soccer 27051 Southfield Rd., Lathrup Village 48076   248-557-1166
Trading Post 1009 Ann Arbor Rd., Plymouth 48170   734-453-0022
Soccer Plus 37629 5 Mile Rd., Livonia 48154   734-432-0222
Soccer Plus 1952 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor 48104   734-214-7000
Soccer Plus 2191 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills 48302   248-758-0222
Soccer Plus 21952 23 Mile Rd., Macomb Township 48042   586-598-8400
Soccer Stop 34356 Utica Rd., Fraser 48026   586-296-5227
Tool Sport & Sign 1060 S. Lapeer Rd., Oxford 48371   248-969-5850
 
For more information, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.

Chicago Fire Premier vs. Michigan Bucks
Canton Cup at Independence Park
May 26, 2007

Scoring Summary:
MICH -- Ty Shipalane (Piotr Nowak) '62
MICH -- Khelli Dube (Ty Shipalane) '65
MICH -- Nate Jafta (Ty Shipalane) '77
MICH -- Eric Brunner (Nat Jafta) '82

Lineups:

Chicago: 66-Matt Pyzdrowski (60-Patrick Sperry '46), 40-Ryan Handbury, 55-Rauwshan McKenzie, 44-Chris Rufa, 47-Andrew DeGurian, 45-Neil Hlavaty, 43Kyle Knotek, 36-Isaac Lee (56-Nikola Katic '44), 33-Strider Elass (56-Keum Sun Kim '46), 42-Luis Mojica,
43-Cesar Zambrano
Subs not used: none
Head Coach: Larry Sunderland

Michigan: 25-Steve Clark, 3-Mike Holody, 22-Ian Daniel, 4-Kyle Russell (19-Steve Brust '86), 14-Alex Morriset, 17-Piotr Nowak, 8-Nate Jafta (13-John Palladino '86), 20-Dan Stevens (23-Eric Brunner '46), 7-Ty Shiplane (11-Steve Bonnell '77), 21-Khelli Dube (9-George Josten '76), 6-Xavier Balc (10-Kenny Uzoigwe '46)
Subs not used: none
Head Coach: Dan Fitzgerald

 
Misconduct Summary
CHI - Neil Hlavaty '18 (caution)

Shots: Chicago 1, Michigan 18
Saves: Chicago 7, Michigan 0
Fouls: Chicago 8, Michigan 12
Offsides: Chicago 3, Michigan 2
Corners: Chicago 0, Michigan 9

Referees: N/A