Pontiac, MI (April 2, 2008) -- The Oakland University Grizzlies will have their hands full this Saturday, as they take on two of the Big Ten’s leading men’s soccer teams at the Michigan Bucks College Cup II Tournament to be held this Saturday, April 5th at the Bucks new home Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. The first of four back-to-back one hour matches begins at 9:10 AM with Oakland taking on the Big Ten champion Indiana Hoosiers. The state’s favorite rivalry follows with Michigan vs. Michigan State at 10:25 AM. The Spartans will then have to recover in a hurry to play back-to-back matches as they try to avenge their NCAA tournament loss to Oakland in the day’s third game at 11:40 AM. Closing out the College Cup will be Michigan taking on rival Indiana at 12:55 PM. Tickets for all four matches are just one price and can be purchased at the door. Rates are $10 for Adults and $5 for Youth (15 and under). Children under 5 are always free to Bucks events. As a special pre-sale, any tickets purchased at Ultimate Soccer by Friday, April 4th can be purchased for just $5 for all four games (adults tickets half price). Doors will open at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning and seating is general admission.
Game 1: Oakland University vs. Indiana University (9:10 AM kickoff) -- Oakland is coming off one of its best campaigns in recent years having won the Summit League Conference last fall and slated to play Michigan State at East Lansing in the first round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament. The Grizzlies upset the Spartans 2-1 and advanced to the second round of the tournament, where they were ousted by #10 ranked Notre Dame, 2-1. Coach Gary Parsons sends a veteran line-up at the highly rated Hoosiers, including Bucks starters Steve Clark (Mason; pictured above) in goal, defender Ian Daniel (Troy) and defensive midfielder Piotr Nowak (Shelby Township). Indiana counters with one of the most storied soccer programs in the nation and are the defending Big Ten champs. Coach Mike Freitag is loaded with young talent, including two Michigan natives in midfielder Billy Weaver (Lake Orion) and Eric Alexander (Portage).
Game 2: Michigan vs. Michigan State (10:25 AM kickoff) -- The in-state rivalry gets just as heated in soccer as it does for any UM/MSU event. Last fall the Spartans mastered the Wolverines with a 5-0 pasting in East Lansing and the Wolverines are anxious to return the favor. The Spartans are led by Bucks forward Doug DeMartin (Mason), who not only led the Big Ten in scoring last season, but was also selected as a first team NSCAA Scholar All American for his success in the classroom. The Bucks coaching staff are looking forward to seeing some of their new 2008 signings, including Spartan midfielder Spencer Thompson (Shelby Township), who was recently called into camp with the US U-20 National team. The Wolverines are led by one of the top defensive players in college soccer in Michael Holody (Clarkston), who will be returning to try and lead the Bucks to their unprecedented third consecutive Premier Development League (PDL) championship game this August. Defensive midfielder Alex Morisset (Utica) and attacking midfielder Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, TX) move the ball through the midfield for the Bucks and the Wolverines.
Game 3: Michigan State vs. Oakland (11:40 AM kickoff) -- This will be the rubber match for the year, with the Spartans winning the regular season match up with the Grizzlies, 2-1 only to have Oakland knock the favored Spartans from the NCAA tournament last November by the same score. Oakland keeper Steve Clark and MSU forward Doug DeMartin grew up together as good friends in Mason, MI, but as everyone saw last November they are fierce rivals once the whistle blows. Its a match up of two of the countries most tenured college coaches, with Michigan State head coach Joe Baum entering his 32nd season this fall, while Oakland coach Gary Parsons will be on the sidelines for his 27th year at the helm for the Grizzlies.
Game 4: Indiana vs. Michigan (12:55 kickoff) -- The Wolverines boast the most Bucks history behind the bench with head coach Steve Burns (1996-1999 Bucks head coach) and assistant Paul Snape (2005 Bucks head coach). Burns left the Bucks to start the U-M Men’s Division One team in 1999 after a successful run as Michigan club soccer coach for many years. In eight seasons, the Wolverines have put a bona fide Big Ten contender together, but are still not quite at the consistent level that Coach Burns envisioned. Indiana head coach Mike Freitag took over the reigns of the Hoosiers four years ago from legendary head coach Jerry Yeagley, and has been a part of the Indiana soccer family as an assistant coach and former player for the past 22 years. Experience bodes well for the quick, young team from Bloomington, as they will try to repeat their recent success against Michigan. The Hoosiers scored a 2-1 overtime victory over the Wolverines in Ann Arbor last fall.
The Michigan Bucks begin play in their thirteenth PDL season with their home opener on May 17 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas against the West Virginia Chaos. For further information about the Bucks, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com.
