July 17, 2011
PONTIAC -- The Michigan Bucks and FC London butted heads on Saturday night in a potential Premier Development League (PDL) playoff preview. The Bucks came away with the 2-0 win in a tightly contested battle at Ultimate Soccer Arenas where they have yet to concede a goal this season.
Michigan, London and the Chicago Fire Premier have locked up the Great Lakes division’s three playoff spots, but the division championship (and a first-round bye in the playoffs) is still up for grabs. The Bucks knocked London out of contention for first place, setting up a crucial road match up against Chicago on Wednesday, July 20th.
The Bucks currently lead the Great Lakes division with 32 points (10-2-2), but Chicago is just three points behind with a game in hand. London plays at Chicago on Monday in a game that will help clarify the upcoming playoffs which begin in ten days.
“We know what we’re up against when we play London and we know what we’re up against when we play Chicago,” Bucks head coach Gary Parsons said. “These are three quality teams that are going to go head to head and battle; and whoever puts their chances away is going to come out the winner and we did that tonight. It also helps to come up with some huge saves in goal and Mitch (Hildebrandt) did that again tonight as he has done all season long.”
While Michigan had a few good runs early in Saturday’s match up neither team managed a goal in a very even first 45 minutes. “They were exactly what we expected; they are a really hard working team and we knew it was going to come down to us taking care of a couple of our chances,” midfielder and Co-captain Simon Omekanda said. “We had a couple of chances that we missed, but we just kept going at it.”
London had the slight advantage in shots in the half, seven to six, and in the 31st minute nearly took the lead. On a free kick that was sent into the box London ripped two shots that were knocked away by a sprawling Bucks keeper, Mitch Hildebrandt with a third blocked by defender Sebby Harris.
“It seemed like all 22 guys on the field were inside the box because I couldn’t see anything. I kind of just knew he was going to hit it and he caught it clean. It came hard,” Hildebrandt said, of the second shot from six yards out. “I kind of just made myself big and was in the right place. It was a funny play, but it got us out of a jam and we were able to come back in the second half and get three points.”
Hildebrandt came up big once again for the Bucks, recording his tenth win and league-leading 10th shutout of the season and continued his scoreless streak at home.
In the 68th minute the Bucks finally broke the stalemate with a goal from midfielder, Tommy Catalano. After a long throw-in got the ball near London’s box, defender Sebby Harris flicked the ball to a wide-open Catalano, who composed himself from short range and finished the game’s first goal. The goal was Catalano’s team-leading eighth of the season.
“That’s what you work for. You work your butt off to get the chances to get the goal and whoever gets the first one has got a huge advantage now,” Parsons said. “So Tommy’s goal was good timing for that and it took a little bit of the steam out of them.”
The Bucks continued pressuring for the second goal to try and put the game away and it was Catalano who was instrumental in creating the opportunity. On a corner kick in the 80th minute Catalano took his position in front of London goal keeper Toba Bolaji. While the two battled for position Bolaji took down Catalano while the ensuing corner kick was headed into the box. A penalty kick was awarded to Michigan and co-captain, Stew Givens buried it to secure the victory.
Following Wednesday’s showdown at Chicago, the Bucks return home for the regular season finale on Saturday, July 23 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 kick off) against the Toronto Lynx. Tickets are $10 Adults and $7 Youth at the door but can be purchased for only $4 in advance by visiting the Bucks web site or at Ultimate Soccer Arenas this week.
