PONTIAC, MI (May 16, 2009) - A 1-1 draw was not the way the Michigan Bucks wanted to start their 2009 USL Premier Development League campaign, but it’s the result they ended up with Saturday night against the Kalamazoo Outrage. Despite dominating possession throughout the match, recording 22 shots along the way, the Bucks couldn’t get a second goal past former goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt in the game which doubled as a qualifier for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Starting several faces new to the team, it didn’t take long for the Bucks to grab their first goal of 2009. Attacking midfielder Mauro Fuzetti (Michigan; left in photo) beat four Outrage players in midfield before laying off a nice pass to Bucks rookie striker Sebby Harris (Oakland / Lake Orion; right in photo). Harris made no mistake in slotting the ball past his college teammate Hildebrandt, putting the Bucks ahead 1-0 after ten minutes.
Kalamazoo found the equalizer almost on accident, when commotion in the Bucks box led to an inadvertant header from Outrage midfielder Tom Oatley. The ball was only just out of the reach of goalkeeper Bret Mollon and knotted the score at 1-1 in the 21st minute. The tally was Oatley’s third career goal against the Bucks.
The half ended 1-1.
In the second frame, Kalamazoo put numbers behind the ball, looking for an acceptable away result.
Star striker Kenny Uzoigwe replaced Stefan St. Louis for the Detroit-based side in the 61st minute and almost immediately scored his first goal of the season off a breakaway, but Hildebrandt came well off his line to deny the Toledo native’s attempt.
Minutes later Bucks midfielder Piotr Nowak (Sterling Heights) had another dangerous chance but again Hildebrandt served as a course of frustration for the Michigan attack.
Towards the end of the match things became chippy and referee Marc Lawrence handed out yellow cards to Bucks Andrew Bulls and Piotr Nowak as well as Kalamazoo’s Kevin VandenBoken.
The game ended the same way the first half ended, 1-1.
The Bucks will look to improve upon Saturday night’s performance this Wednesday, May 20, when they visit the Fort Wayne Fever in their second of four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifiers. The Bucks next host the Cincinnati Kings on Saturday, May 23, as part of the 2009 Canton Cup Tournament at Independence Park in Canton, MI. Admission is FREE to all.
For more information on the Michigan Bucks, please visit our website at www.buckssoccer.com
Match Report
Kalamazoo Outrage 1-1 Michigan Bucks
Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, MI
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Scoring Summary:
MICH: Sebby Harris (Mauro Fuzetti) 10
KAL: Tom Oatley (Steve Kaubel) 21
Lineups:
Kalamazoo: 1-Mitch Hildebrandt, 3-Kyle VandenBocken, 14-Tim Granaderos, 22-Mark Barone (24-Dan Jackson 90+), 5-Stew Givens, 10-Rafa Dantos (18- Adam Mena 65), 15-Jon Rzepka, 19-Tom Oatley (7-Lima 74), 13-Steve Kauble, 21-Lance Muckey (23-Eric Johnson 46), 8-Dominic Barone
Subs not used: 00-Jeremy Clark
Michigan: 27-Bret Mollon, 22-Machel James, 24-Kevin Taylor, 15-Julian Robles, 12-Nikolay Aleksandrov, 4-Spencer Thompson (3-Dave Hertel 61), 17-Piotr Nowak, 9-Mauro Fuzetti (15-Andy Stadler 75), 8-Nate Jafta (28-Andrew Bulls 70), 18-Stefan St. Louis (6-Jake Stacy 52), 25-Sebby Harris (10-Kenny Uzoigwe 61)
Subs not used: 2-Kevin Reiman, 19-Micheal Azira
Cautions:
KAL: Mark Barone 52, Kevin VandenBocken 85
MICH: Andrew Bulls 82, Piotr Nowak 83
Statistics:
Shots: 
Kalamazoo 5, Michigan 22
Saves: Kalamazoo 6, Michigan 3
Fouls: Kalamazoo 5, Michigan 13
Offsides: Kalamazoo 0, Michigan 1
Corners: Kalamazoo 3, Michigan 5
