Pontiac, MI (August 5, 2009) - While the majority of the 2009 Michigan Bucks team prepares for the upcoming college season, Dave Hertel continues to play and collect accolades for his outstanding performance in a Bucks uniform this season.
Hertel finished his college career at Michigan State last fall as a first team All-Big Ten player, helping the Spartans to Big Ten titles in both the regular season and the Big Ten tournament. Following the Major League Soccer draft in January, Hertel was protected by Real Salt Lake and spent a month training with the first team in hopes of playing in MLS this summer. When those plans did not work out, the South Korean born talent returned for his second season with the Bucks to play his way back to the top and get a professional contract.
With the Bucks, Hertel quickly became a leader on the field and took the team scoring title with 8 goals and 2 assists on the season. Along the way, he impressed enough coaches, general managers and owners of the other 68 PDL clubs to be named to the PDL All-League Team. The enormous honor means Hertel has been recognized by his peers as one of the top eleven players in North America this summer, an honor that has become an annual event in the Bucks locker room.
The team which hold more records than any PDL club in history might have just added another feather in their cap, as Hertel’s selection to the Top XI give the Bucks representation on the team for the sixth consecutive year. Bucks Chairman/CEO Dan Duggan is proud of the accomplishment that Hertel achieved in a season that saw the Bucks miss the playoffs for only the second time in their fourteen year existence.
“It certainly takes some of the sting out of watching the playoffs,” said Duggan. “We are used to being handed these types of honors at the year end banquet, which means we are still playing. David is going to move rapidly through the pro soccer system because of his talent, but more importantly because of his heart and determination. He is deserving of everything that is going to come his way.”
On having a PDL Top XI player for the sixth consecutive season, Duggan added, “that is quite amazing when you think about it. I suspect there are over 1,600 registered players in the PDL each year and we have found at least one of the top eleven players each year. I guess that is a tribute to our recruiting team that works twelve months out of the year trying to attract the top talent to join us.”
Hertel has moved on to play pro soccer with the USL-2 Real Maryland Monarchs, where he has been reunited with a couple of former Bucks players from last year to try and lead the Monarchs to a deep run in the upcoming playoffs.
“I am honored that those who voted for me saw what they saw in my play this summer,” said an elated Hertel from Maryland. “Regardless of the situation or circumstances we were under this year, I always wanted to do what I could do to help the Bucks win. This organization will accept nothing less and they don’t deserve any less either. I look forward to my time here with Real Maryland and look forward to what opportunities the future brings for my progression to the highest level. I have an opportunity now, and that is all I can ask for,” concluded the humble Hertel.
The Michigan Bucks will prepare for their fifteenth season in the PDL in the summer of 2010. The Bucks will continue to offer high level soccer camps and soccer promotional programs throughout the off season. For more information, please visit the Bucks website at www.buckssoccer.com.
