Michigan Bucks Press Release - www.buckssoccer.com
Sunday, June 14, 2009
PONTIAC, MI -- The Michigan Bucks entertained a vibrant crowd at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Saturday night and gave them their money’s worth when Bucks first year forward T.J. Gore (Macomb, MI/Vermont) scored in the final minute of stoppage time to give the side a much needed 3-2 win over the Cleveland Internationals. 
Gore slammed home the first goal of his career from close range off a nice set up from another of coach Dan Fitzgerald’s second half substitutions, Andy Stadler (Wauwatosa, WI/George Washington University) to move the team into second place in the PDL’s Great Lakes Division with a record of 5-2-1 (16 points) at the half way point of the sixteen game season.
Although things finished in a positive fashion, they didn’t start out that way when an early miscue between defender Kevin Taylor (Miami, FL) and goalkeeper Steve Clark (Mason, MI) led to a tap in goal for Internationals striker Chris Korb in the fifth minute.
The Bucks shook off the early deficit and played attacking soccer for the balance of the first half, taking nine shots at the Cleveland goal. It was the 39th minute before the Bucks scoring tandem of Dave Hertel (Holland, MI) and Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, TX/ Michigan) hooked up to tie the score at 1-1 going to the break. Fuzetti brought the ball down the right flank and gave it to Hertel, who cut into the box, beat two defenders and ripped a shot past Internationals goalkeeper Nick Harpel. Hertel’s fourth goal of the season, along with his one assist leads all Bucks scorers on this year’s campaign.
The Bucks continued to play aggressive soccer in the second half in a game that went end-to-end for most of the duration. Clark came up big on several occasions, making five saves on the night, but couldn’t handle a well placed shot by International’s Sam Luffey, who got behind the Bucks back line on a well struck ball over the top from midfielder Ben Zemanski.
With the Bucks down 2-1 in the 65th minute, it was time for Mauro Fuzetti to show his incredible individual talent. Shortly after the ensuing kickoff following the Cleveland goal, Fuzetti collected the ball just past midfield and drove at the final three Cleveland defenders. After a short step over move to get past the first defender, Fuzetti juked his way into a sliver of daylight and ripped a shot between the remaining two defenders from eighteen yards out that found the corner of the net to knot the score at 2-2.
Fitzgerald would then count on his bench to finish the evening’s business and subbed in three attacking players in the final 25 minutes to try and find some late game heroics. The team found great energy with the additions of the three rookies, Gore, Stadler and Moses Aduny (Kampala, Uganda/Lindsey Wilson), who all played an important role in the come from behind victory.
The Bucks now turn their attention to the Fort Wayne Fever on Thursday night (7:30 kickoff) to try and make amends for an early season loss on the road. The Fever beat the Bucks 2-1 in the second game of the season to eliminate the club from the US Open Cup.
Tickets for Thursday’s match at Ultimate Soccer Arena are $10 Adults and $6 Youth (under 16), while children 5 and under are always FREE to Bucks games. For more information, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.
Match Report
Cleveland Internationals 2:3 Michigan Bucks
Ultimate Soccer Arenas
Pontiac, MI
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Scoring Summary:
CLE: Korb 5
MIC: Hertel 39
CLE: Luffey (Zemanski) 65
MIC: Fuzetti 66
MIC: Gore (Stadler) 90+
Cleveland: 1-Nick Harpel, 11-Josh Williams, 19-Abrim Mueller, 17-Jeff DeMarchi, 6-Mitch Boyer, 13-Ben Zemanski, 16-Matthew Preyss (3-Ryan Greenhill 15), 14-Mike Nanchoff (18-Christian Huelsman 86), 27-Sam Luffy, 7-Chris Korb, 24-Justin Mancine (23-Chris Koy 77)
Michigan: 27-Steve Clark, 14-Kyle Russell, 24-Kevin Taylor, 15-Julian Robles, 22-Machel James, 28-Tony Walls, 6-Jake Stacy (20-Andy Stadler 84), 17-Piotr Nowak, 3-Dave Hertel (11-T.J. Gore 70), 25-Sebby Harris (26-Moses Aduny 76), 9-Mauro Fuzetti
Cautions
CLE: Greenhill 25, Korb 37, Williams 40, Boyer 81
MIC: none
Referees: David Shalowitz, Matt Fiota, Clifton Ellis
