BUCKS BACK IN ACTION THURSDAY AT HOME AGAINST THIRD PLACE TORONTO
Rested team opens second half of PDL season with three tough matches
Pontiac, MI (June 18 , 2008) - The Michigan Bucks (8-0-0) take their undefeated record into the second half of the Premier Development League (PDL) regular season with a very tough three game stretch against some of the top teams in the Central Conference. First up on Thursday night (7:30 kick off) at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac are the third place Toronto Lynx. The Lynx come to town just two points shy of the second place Cleveland Internationals in their first of two matches this season against the Bucks. Bucks coach Dan Fitzgerald is ready for a physical match with the team north of the border, as the two teams had three hard fought battles last season, with the Bucks taking two of three. The Bucks then travel to play the top two teams in the Midwest Division of the Central Conference with a road game at division leading Kalamazoo on Saturday night and then the first of two home and home games with the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Wed, June 25. With all four teams trying to secure the top spot in the Central Conference and a first round bye in the playoffs, each of these matches becomes very important.
Said Fitzgerald, "These teams know that the only way for them to catch us is to beat us. If they didn’t have enough incentive to beat the Bucks already, we know that we are going to get three of the toughest games thrown at us in a row. We are going to find out a whole lot about our squad in the next seven days."
The Bucks have had the past week off following their 2-1 US Open Cup loss to Cleveland last Tuesday and the rest served them well. While resting stars Nate Jafta, Kenny Uzoigwe and Ty Shipalane for most of the past four matches, fitness this week should not be an issue. The Bucks stingy defense has been consistent all year long and there are only two of the league’s 67 teams that have given up fewer than the Bucks four goals so far this season (including Chicago). Goal keeper Steve Clark has been nearly flawless in goal for the first eight games, conceding only one goal from the run of play all season (plus one free kick and two penalty kick goals). Defenders Mike Holody, Ian Daniel, Kyle Russell, Dave Hertel and Fabien Lewis have been solid across the back allowing defensive midfielders Piotr Nowak and Alex Morisset to not only defend well, but to both get on the score sheet this season as well. On the attack, the dynamic duo of Kenny Uzoigwe and Nate Jafta lead the team in goals and assists respectively and are complimented by the attacking prowess of Doug DeMartin, Nik Djokic and Ty Shipalane. Newcomers Zac Scaffidi, Mauro Fuzetti and Bes Bega have been brilliant when called this past month.
Tickets for Thursday’s match at Ultimate Soccer Arena are $14 VIP, $10 Adult reserved (16 and over) and $5 Youth. Children under 5 are always free to Bucks games. Tickets can be purchased on line through Ticket Master or at the Ultimate Soccer ticket office prior to kickoff. To follow the Bucks this season and keep up with all the scores, highlights, statistics, etc., please visit the Bucks web site at buckssoccer.com
FIRST WEEK OF BUCKS ULTIMATE CAMP KIDS SOCCER IS JUNE 23- SIGN UP TODAY!
The Michigan Bucks players will be hosting three soccer camps at Ultimate Soccer this summer, with the first session beginning next Monday, June 23. Camp will go from Monday to Friday from 9-2 (lunch included) and each camper will get personalized training from Bucks star players, including professional player and leading scorer Kenny Uzoigwe. The Bucks are limiting this camp to the first 30 campers so that the ratio of coach to camper will be 5-1 (or less). Registration is only $199 per camper and can be signed up on line or at the Bucks game on Thursday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.
