Contact: Dan Duggan

(216) 533-0757

dduggan@buckssoccer.com

Wheaton, IL  (May 17, 2013)-   The Michigan Bucks (1-0-0) picked up in 2013 where they left off last season when they opened the campaign with a 5-0 victory over the Chicago Inferno (0-1-0) Friday night at Wheaton College.  The defending Premier Development League (PDL) regular season champions dominated the season opener from the beginning and applied continuous pressure for a full ninety minutes.

Second year Bucks player Zach Steinberger (San Diego, CA/ Butler University) combined with first year striker Adam Montague (Sylvania, OH/ Michigan State) for all five goals on the evening, including a couple of highlight reel finishes.   Steinberger got the Bucks first goal of the season when he took a pass from Montague at the top of the eighteen yard box and ripped a rocket into the top corner in the 19^th minute.   In the game’s 40^th minute, Steinberger would return the favor when he set up Montague for his first goal in a Bucks uniform, a low shot from twelve yards out that just slipped inside the far post.   Steinberger’s helper was compliments of Will Walker (Cincinnati, OH/ Xavier) who stole the ball at midfield and started the counter attack.  Montague would finish his brace right before the stroke of halftime when he poked home a shot after receiving another assist from Steinberger to take home a 3-0 halftime lead.

Defensively, the Bucks were sound all across the back line and midfield.  Reigning PDL goal keeper of the year Adam Grinwis (Ada, MI/ University of Michigan) continued his dominance in the PDL, where he led the league in shutouts last season.  Grinwis was not tested often on the evening but was forced to make two of his trademark leaping saves during the game.  Inferno forward Isaac Kannah found himself loose around the penalty spot and ripped a shot destined for the upper corner only to be saved by a diving Grinwis in the 26^th minute.  The Bucks keeper would be called to action in the first minute of the second half when he robbed the Inferno of a sure goal, leaving them only with a corner kick.

Steinberger, in his bid to become PDL Player of the Week, continued to press in the second half and got on the end of a Stew Givens throw in at the penalty spot.  The San Diego native had a ten yard run up and caught the throw in at full speed and dropped a full volley bomb on Inferno goal keeper Jeff Gal, who had no chance to react.  Steinberger would finish his hat trick in the 72^nd minute when he finished another goal with the assist from Montague.

Bucks head coach Demir Muftari was happy to get his first win as the team’s manager.  “It’s always nice to win, but it was very important for us to get off to a good start this season and to win on the road is never an easy task in this division.  I was happy with our energy and our pressure throughout the game.   We still have a lot to work on and our roster will continue to be a work in progress as the players get to know each other, but this was a huge step in the right direction.  Zach was on a mission tonight, but there was solid play all over the park for us.  We will have a great week of training and be ready for our home opener next Saturday,” said Muftari.

The Bucks return home to play on Saturday in their annual visit to the Canton Cup Soccer Tournament.  The event has become an important date on the team’s calendar each season as they play a noon matinee game on Field 3 at Independence Park during one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the country.   Admission is free to the public thanks to the Canton Cup Organizing Committee.  The Bucks will look to extend their unbeaten streak at the Canton Cup to six straight games when they take on the River City Rovers from Louisville, KY.

The Bucks next home game at Ultimate Soccer Arenas is Saturday, June 1 when K-W United (Hamilton, Ontario) comes to town for a 7:30 PM kickoff.  Tickets for that game are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) and are available at the gate.  Special presale tickets are available on line by visiting the Bucks website at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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Contact: Dan Duggan

(216) 533-0757

dduggan@buckssoccer.com

Pontiac, MI (May 16, 2013)-   The Michigan Bucks are using Tuesday night’s US Open Cup loss to the Dearborn Stars as a valuable learning experience as they get ready to open their 18^th Premier Development League (PDL) regular season on the road Friday night against the Chicago Inferno.   The Bucks only game so far this season was this week’s Cup game, where they were defeated 2-0 at home against the Stars. The loss  was the Bucks first ever defeat by an amateur team in their ten appearances in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup tournament.  Friday’s opponent, the Inferno open their third PDL season by hosting the Bucks at Wheaton College.

Bucks first year head coach Demir Muftari was naturally disappointed with the team’s early exit from the tournament, but identified a variety of talent in the match.   “The challenge for us is playing the Open Cup game with only a week to train with this year’s club.  Tuesday night we played several players who are very talented but have yet to even participate in one team training this season due to late arrival from college,” said Muftari.  “Take nothing away from the Stars.  They were well prepared and executed a very good strategy against us, and it worked for them.   We made one major mistake and they made us pay for it.  Going forward, we know what we need to clean up, but what we really need is some time to gel together.  I think once these players get to know each other, they have the ability to be a special group.  As much as we are all very disappointed to not advance in the Open Cup, we all realize that this may have been the best preparation we could have had leading into the regular season, where we need a result each game to defend our Great Lakes title.”

The Stars played in their first ever US Open Cup, but they had some valuable past experience on their side.  Dearborn head coach Sam Piraine and Stars goal scorer Nik Djokic both played and scored for the Bucks in previous Open Cup matches. Piraine scored a huge goal against the Miami Fusion in 2000 and Djokic scored two goals against the Richmond Kickers in 2007.   “There is no question that this team was prepared for the challenge on Tuesday.  I think their strategy to kind of sit back and see how dangerous we were going to be in the first half paid off for them,” said Bucks Director of Coaching Gary Parsons.  “When they saw that our attacking players were not connected and got to halftime 0-0, they got the feeling they could attack a bit more in the second half.”   The game winning goal came in the 58^th minute when a Dearborn shot was saved by Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis but the short hopper caused a rebound at the six yard box when an opportunistic Djokic calmly poked home the rebound.   “We kind of fell asleep defensively on that one,” added Parsons.

Michigan appeared to have figured out the Stars stingy defense with continuous attacking from Tom Catalano, Will Walker and Zach Steinberger, but none of the midfielders or forwards Nazeem Bartman and Dion Peters could get on the end of the elusive equalizer. While the Bucks continued to attack for the final thirty plus minutes, they just couldn't get the game tying goal past Stars keeper Vito Lonigro.  Djokic knocked home an insurance goal in the 93^rd minute after catching the Bucks in an all-out final attempt to equalize.   The Stars will move on to round two next Tuesday in Dayton and the Bucks will turn their entire focus to the fourteen game regular season that begins on Friday night.

The Bucks will return home for their first home game of the season on Saturday, May 25 when the Canton Cup hosts the Bucks for the sixth consecutive year.   This year the Bucks will take on the River City Rovers from Louisville, Kentucky in the 12:00 kickoff on Field 3 at Independence Park in Canton.   Admission to the game is free courtesy of the Canton Cup organizing committee.

The Buck next home game at Ultimate Soccer Arenas is Saturday, June 1 against K-W United from Canada.  Kickoff is 7:30 PM and special priced pre-sale tickets can be purchased on line at www.buckssoccer.com.  For more information, please visit the Bucks web site or call the office at 248-334-7460.

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Contact: Dan Duggan

(216) 533-0757

dduggan@buckssoccer.com

Pontiac, MI (May 14, 2013)-   The Michigan Bucks have announced today that former assistant coach Demir Muftari will take over the head coaching position for the Bucks effective tonight, when the Bucks host the Dearborn Stars in the first round match up of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 PM kickoff).  Muftari succeeds Bucks director of coaching, Gary Parsons who has decided to step down from the role as the two time defending Premier Development League (PDL) Coach of the Year.  The coaching staff has been in overtime mode trying to select a team of 18 from over 60 players who started in Bucks training camp just one week ago.

The coaching move is not a surprise move to Bucks management, as this idea has been talked about for over a year.  “Demir has served me well as an assistant coach here at the Bucks for the past several years.  We believe he is one of the most talented up and coming coaches at this level and has made it clear to us that he would like to further expand his resume in search of a top coaching opportunity somewhere in the game here in America.” explained Parsons.  “I have had over 30 years of high level coaching experience with Oakland University, ODP and the Michigan Bucks.  We feel the time is right for Demir to get his opportunity.   The Michigan Bucks have long set the standard in not only helping players get to the next level, but coaches as well. Our entire team and staff are following his lead to repeat this season as PDL regular season champions and hope to have even more success in the Open Cup and the PDL  playoffs than we had last year.”

Bucks CEO Dan Duggan is equally excited about Demir leading the PDL’s most successful franchise onto the field this season.  “I have an enormous amount of respect for Demir’s knowledge and passion for the game.  The quality that really excites me is how the players respond to him.   He is probably one of the best motivators and communicators of young developing players at the academy and college age, which is the makeup of the majority of the Bucks roster.   The pros on our team can relate to him as well and understand the importance of their role on the team.   He has some big shoes to fill with the success that Gary has had the past two seasons, but as Parsons would tell you- Demir had a lot to do with this team’s success the past two seasons and is partly responsible for the two Coach of the Year honors that were bestowed upon the Bucks the in 2011 and 2012.”

In addition to his leading role with the Bucks, Muftari is also the head coach of the U18 Vardar Academy team and is an assistant coach at Oakland University under former Bucks player Eric Pogue. 

The Bucks coaching staff, which includes Parsons, Andy Wagstaff, Dan Fitzgerald, Mark Zathey, Scott Duhl and Eric Rudland have had an intense week sorting out the look of Tuesday night’s Open Cup roster.  While the final selections will be a work in progress over the next two weeks, the coaches have agreed on a mix of Bucks former players and several new faces that will be unfamiliar to Bucks fans.  Returning to the roster are long time Bucks leaders, Tom Catalano, Seb Harris, Stew Givens, the PDL’s all-time leading scorer in Kenny Uzoigwe, Kevin Cope (MSU) and the current PDL goalkeeper of the year Adam Grinwis (University of Michigan).  Also returning from last season are Joey Dillon (Georgetown), Zach Steinberger (Butler) and Ryan Keener (MSU).

While several of the top colleges and universities are represented this season, the balance of the roster will look like a United Nations summit meeting.  Joining the group that led the Bucks into the fourth round of the US Open Cup, including the huge upset of MLS’s Chicago Fire are a list of talented professionals and college players from the US, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Jamaica, Nigeria, Cameroon and Bosnia.

Tickets for tonight’s first round US Open Cup match up are available at the gate and are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under).  Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks games.  Ultimate Soccer Arenas is located at 867 South Blvd. Pontiac, MI 48341 and has been the home of the Michigan Bucks since the 2008 season.   For more information on the Bucks, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com or call the Bucks office at 248-334-7460.

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Contact: Dan Duggan

(216) 533-0757

dduggan@buckssoccer.com

Pontiac, MI (May 1, 2013)-   US Soccer announced today that the Michigan Bucks have been selected to host their Premier Development League (PDL) record fourteenth Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match on Tuesday, May 14 when they host the Dearborn Stars in the first round of the nation’s oldest sporting competition, celebrating its 100 year.  The Bucks have qualified for the prestigious tournament for a PDL record tenth time and look to follow up their incredible run from 2012 that saw the club make it all the way to the tournament’s sweet sixteen, defeating two more professional clubs along the way.  The first round match will be held at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 PM kickoff) and will represent the fourth time a US Open Cup game has been played indoors, with all of these matches held at Ultimate Soccer, the largest indoor soccer facility in North America.

This year’s first round participants consist of teams from the PDL (16 teams), USL Pro (4), NPSL (8), USASA (8) and one entry from US Specialty Sports Association and US Club Soccer.  The beauty of the US Open Cup tournament is that every organized team sanctioned by US Soccer, both pro and amateur, have the opportunity to qualify for the annual tournament that offers a $250,000 prize to the eventual champion.  The winners of the first round matches will take on the fourteen USL Pro teams and NASL teams on May 21.   The winners of round two will earn the right to play, and possibly host one of sixteen US based Major League Soccer teams on Tuesday, May 28. 

The Bucks 2012 run started with a first round 6-0 win over Jersey Shore at home and a second round 1-0 victory on the road over USL Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds.    That set up the third round match with MLS’s Chicago Fire, where the Bucks upset the Fire with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win before a sold out crowd at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.  The Bucks would lose their fourth round match to the USL Pro Dayton Dutch Lions in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss the following week at Oakland University.

The Dearborn Stars are the Bucks first opponent this season and will represent only the second time they have faced another Michigan based club in their long, storied Open Cup history (defeated Chaldean Arsenal 3-0 in 2001).  The Stars earned their spot in the tournament by being named the top squad from USASA Region II and are coached by former Bucks striker Sam Piraine, who made his name in one of the most talked about US Open Cup games ever played.  In the Bucks 2000 match up with the Miami Fusion of MLS, Piraine made his appearance late in the second half and scored a huge goal with his first touch of the game to take the match to overtime and an eventual shootout after playing to a 3-3 draw in front of over 5,000 fans in Saginaw.

While the Stars have used the month of March and April to qualify, the Bucks open training camp on Monday, May 6 and won’t have most of its college based players until after May 13^th, so the team’s lineup is in question.   Bucks Director of Coaching Gary Parsons and his staff will be selecting a roster of 26 players to represent the defending PDL Regular Season Champions in the Open Cup and in the PDL regular season, which opens in Chicago on Friday, May 17^th.

Tickets for the May 14^th Open Cup match are priced the same as they have been for the past five seasons that the Bucks have played at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under).  Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks home games. Special discounted presale tickets will be available Friday online for only $6 at the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link or by stopping by the Bucks office at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.

BUCKS ONLY OPEN TRYOUT THIS SATURDAY AT ULTIMATE SOCCER AREAS

The Michigan Bucks will be holding their only open tryout on Saturday, May 4 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac from 2-4 PM.   The Bucks will be looking to add a player or two from the open tryouts to their soon to be named 26 man roster that will compete in the PDL’s fourteen game regular season and upcoming US Open Cup tournament.   All players need to register prior to attending the trial and payment can be made on line or in person at registration on Saturday.  All players must bring their own soccer equipment, including regular outdoor soccer cleats.  Please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and click on the TRYOUTS link.

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Contact: Dan Duggan

(216) 533-0757

dduggan@buckssoccer.com

Bucks Send Four More Players to Major League Soccer

Team to host men and women’s college teams and spring camp

Pontiac, MI (January 24, 2013)-   Four former Michigan Bucks players signed with Major League Soccer or heard their name called at last week’s MLS Super Draft and Tuesday’s Supplemental Draft.   Heading the list were former University of Akron first team All Americans Chad Barson and Scott Caldwell, who were both signed to MLS homegrown contracts.   Barson, a native of Lewis Center, Ohio played three seasons for the Bucks after growing up in the Columbus Crew youth academy system.  Caldwell also starred for the Bucks for three seasons after being a part of the New England Revolution youth initiative while growing up in suburban Braintree, Massachusetts.    Both Barson and Caldwell signed contracts and joined their respective MLS clubs earlier this month.

University of Michigan center back Kofi Opare (Niagara Falls, Ontario) was selected in the second round of the MLS Super Draft last Thursday with the 24^th overall pick by the current MLS champion LA Galaxy.  Opare also spent portions of the last three seasons with the Bucks alongside Barson and Caldwell.   The Bucks finished the 2012 season as the PDL Regular Season Champions and made it to the Elite Eight final in each of those three seasons.   Opare’s selection kept the Bucks PDL record streak of having a player selected in the MLS Super Draft for fifteen consecutive seasons, dating back to the team’s first selection (Jeremy Aldrich to Miami Fusion) in 1999.

Rochester Hills native, Dan Withrow was selected in Tuesday’s Supplemental Draft with the 28^th overall pick by the Columbus Crew.   The goalkeeper from Marshall University was a backup to PDL Goal Keeper of the Year Mitch Hildebrandt for the Bucks in 2011, but did see action in three matches, allowing zero goals on the season.

The Michigan Bucks have now sent 49 players to Major League Soccer since 1999, including several standouts including Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Jacob Peterson (Sporting KC) and Pat Noonan, who just retired from the LA Galaxy to take an role as assistant coach to Bruce Arena for this upcoming season.

The Bucks begin their 18^th season in the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League when they play in the first round of the 100^th anniversary of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday, May 14.    The full slate of teams and US Open Cup schedule will be released from US Soccer at a later date, when the Bucks will learn their opponent and the game’s venue.    The current scheduled format for this year’s Open Cup would be for the Bucks to play an amateur team in Round One with the winner advancing to play a professional team in Round Two on May 21.   The winner of the Round Two game would match up with a MLS club on May 28 (format and schedule still subject to change).  

The Bucks open their 14 game regular season PDL schedule on Friday, May 18^th on the road at the Chicago Inferno and open their home schedule with their sixth annual trip to the Canton Cup, where they will play the River City Rovers at Independence Park in Canton as the highlight of the Canton Cup Memorial Day Youth Soccer Tournament on Saturday, May 26 (12 noon kickoff).   The Bucks full schedule with times and venues will be released later this week.

The only open tryout for this year’s spring season will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 2-4 PM at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.    Tryouts are open to the general public.   All details and registration information will be up on the Bucks web site within two weeks.

BUCKS TO HOST CHALLENGE CUP, COLLEGE TRIPLEHEADER AND SPRING CAMP AT ULITMATE SOCCER ARENAS IN MARCH/APRIL

Mark you calendars for the three upcoming Michigan Bucks spring events that have become some of the most popular soccer events of the season.   The annual Michigan Bucks Challenge Cup will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 1-6 PM at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.    Tickets to the event will allow all fans to see three great games featuring University of Michigan vs Notre Dame,   Oakland University vs. Notre Dame and Oakland University vs. the Michigan Bucks.    On Monday, April 1 to Friday, April 5 the Bucks will host their annual Spring Soccer Camp from 9 AM to 3 PM for boys and girls from ages 6-15 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.    On Saturday, April 6 the Bucks will host the College Tripleheader that will allow all fans to see three college games (men and women) for one price between 1 PM- 8 PM at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.    

These three games will feature Michigan vs Michigan State (men),  Oakland University vs Michigan State (women) and Oakland University vs. Bowling Green (men).   Tickets and registration for all three events will be finalized within the next week.    

Visit the Bucks home page at www.buckssoccer.com for further updates and future links to purchase tickets or to sign up for spring camp.   Questions can be directed to the Bucks office at 248-334-7460.

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Adam Grinwis (Ada, MI/  University  of  Michigan ) was the lead story, collecting two honors as both Goalkeeper of the Year and Rookie of the Year.  The outstanding net minder recorded the league’s best goals against with 0.44 in regular season play and led the team to the fourth round of the US Open Cup with victories over two professional clubs, including the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.   Grinwis was both surprised and please with winning the double.  “I can’t thank my teammates and coaches enough for this honor, especially the defenders.  I love the Bucks and have wanted to play for them since I was a boy.  In my senior year in high school I was called up to train with and be a part of the team and that is when I decided I wanted to do something special with this organization.   Last season I was injured in spring and couldn’t play but was a part of the team and supported Mitch (Hildebrandt) in every way I could.   Winning back to back Goalkeepers of the Year is neat for this organization.  I can’t wait to go for a three-peat next season,” said Grinwis.  Hildebrandt played five seasons for the Bucks before winning the award last year.  He spent this season playing professionally for Minnesota in the NASL.  Grinwis qualified as a rookie because he never appeared in a Bucks game over the past two seasons.

Kevin Cope (Canton, MI/  Michigan State University ) finished his third PDL season named Defender of the Year.   Cope becomes the third Bucks player to garner this award, following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Stew Givens and Kevin Taylor (2005).  Cope played two seasons ago for the Bucks before heading to Chicago to play with the PDL’s Fire last season so that he could get some training in with the MLS side.   He decided that coming home this season was a better option, and he may never have made a better decision in his young adult life.  “I can’t explain how excited I was to be a part of this organization again this year.  It was a hard decision for me to leave last year and I knew it might have some negative repercussions from the Bucks organization.   They supported my decision last year and welcomed me back this year with open arms.   There aren’t many clubs that would do that, given the rivalry between the two teams.   Needless to say, I was highly motivated the three times we played the Fire PDL and I can’t put into words what it meant to play and defeat the MLS side.   The Bucks helped me get in a week of training with Sporting KC this summer and now I am rewarded with this great honor.   I am extremely grateful to the owners and coaches for their support,” said the MSU captain. 

Gary Parsons retired as the head coach of  Oakland University  in 2008 after spending 28 years at the helm of the Golden Grizzlies men’s soccer team.   In addition to his duties with Oakland over the years, Parsons has also be a mainstay in coaching Region II ODP players and has been a part of the CSA Wolves US academy team since its inception.   The Massachusetts native was slotted to be the Bucks original head coach in 1996 and then again in 2005, when the NCAA stepped in and disallowed his involvement on the bench if the Bucks were to include Oakland players on the roster.   He was named Bucks Director of Coaching in 2008 and spent his first season behind the bench in 2009.   Parsons becomes the first coach in PDL history to be named Coach of the Year in back to back seasons.  “I am proud of everything that has been bestowed on our team this year and the recognition we have all received.   You may see my name on this trophy, but we have a team of six volunteer coaches that have been by my side the past two seasons that have made this all possible.   The players will be first to confirm that this award should be given to the entire staff, not just one person.”   Parsons’ 2012 award is the fourth Coach of the Year award presented to Bucks coaches, which include Steve Burns (1997) and Joe Malachino (2000). 

Bucks Chairman/ CEO Dan Duggan was ecstatic with the announcement, but a little surprised.  “If Gary had done his job this season we would have gotten the MVP as well.  Not sure how that slipped away” laughed the long time owner of the PDL’s most successful franchise. “Seriously, when Gary, myself and the coaching staff do our annual recruiting, we promise each player that comes to us that if they make a commitment to the Bucks, we will make a commitment to them and advancing their future.   It makes it a lot easier promoting these players with these highly recognized awards.  Many people will never understand the magnitude of what has just happened.  With over 2,000 players and 73 coaches in the league, the Bucks won four of the five top awards.   That is an incredible feat that is deserving of a place in PDL history.   On behalf of our entire organization, we would like to thank all the coaches and management that voted for our players and coach this year.  I also would like to wish the best of luck to both teams playing in tonight’s title match.  I hope Carolina isn’t too upset with me if I cheer for FC London to bring home their first title tonight.” 

The Michigan Bucks are already preparing for their 18^th PDL season which will start in May 2013 when the Bucks begin play in the 100^th anniversary of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, compliments of their Great Lakes Division title this season.   For more information on the Michigan Bucks, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com.   To learn more about the 73 team PDL and to get results on Saturday night’s PDL championship match between FC London and Carolina Dynamo, please visit the league site at www.uslsoccer.com.

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In addition to the All PDL selections, four Michigan Bucks have also been nominated as finalists, led by goalkeeper Adam Grinwis who is up for both Goalkeeper of the Year and Rookie of the Year.    Kevin Cope will try to follow in Given’s footsteps by retaining the Defender of the Year award that Givens won last season and coach Gary Parsons will try to become the first coach in PDL history to win back to back Coach of the Year honors as a finalist in that category.

Grinwis led the PDL with a regular season goals against of 0.44 and a record of 8-0-1 with five shutouts.  He also delivered shutouts in two US Open Cup matches and the Bucks playoff win over Real Colorado and played a huge role in the Bucks defeating two professional teams in the US Open Cup, shutting out the USL Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds and shocking the Chicago Fire of MLS.  The University of Michigan keeper is playing for the Bucks in his third season but did not appear in games in his first two stanzas, qualifying him for the Rookie of the Year nomination.

Kevin Cope was the heart of the Bucks defense that allowed the PDL’s fewest goals in the regular season (10) and played nearly every minute of almost every game this season.   The Bucks finished their season playing 22 matches (including playoffs and Open Cup) and the only games missed by Cope were when he was in Kansas Citytraining with Sporting KC of Major League Soccer.   The MichiganState center back not only held the defense together, but also went forward and scored four goals on the season, most of them coming from headers off of corner kicks and set plays.

Catalano led the PDL in assists and scored six goals in the regular season and added two goals and three assists in four US Open Cup matches to lead the Bucks offense, which also led the league in goals scored (46).  Catalano was selected to the All Conference team in back to back seasons and adds his first PDL All League team selection this year to his resume.

Parsons was pleased with his inclusion as a Coach of the Year finalist for the second time in his four seasons at the helm of the Bucks, but was happier for his players continued recognition.  “We had a season that most teams would only dream about, with our Open Cup run and our regular season championship.  I am glad that the other clubs recognize the accomplishments of our players over the season.   Having the coaches and team’s vote for the top players is a good idea, because they know better than anyone how much of a commitment it takes for a player to play 22 games in 9 weeks as we did this summer, and to play at a very high level in every game.   We only lost a couple of matches all season and those could have gone our way as well.   The only way that happens is to have a deep roster of committed players that appreciate what the ownership does for them.  I wish we were playing on Saturday night, but if we get an award or two out of this weekend, that would be icing on the cake to our players.   They all deserve the accolades that are coming their way.”

The Michigan Bucks just completed their seventeenth consecutive winning season in the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League.  The 73 team league spans across the USA and Canada.   For more information on the PDL, please visit the league web site at www.uslsoccer.com.  

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Both clubs know each other well, as they compete in the Great Lakes Division and play each other twice in the regular season.   The Bucks got the better of the second place Londoners in both matches by a one goal margin.   London came in with a great game plan on Sunday and executed it to perfection.   While most of the first half was played between the eighteen yards boxes, there was some fantastic soccer being played by both sides as each mid field moved the ball at will but neither could solve the final third of the field.    Nerves got to London goal keeper Reece Richardson early in the second minute when he sent an inadvertent clearance directly to the foot of a surprised Tom Catalano who pulled the trigger quickly from 25 yards out to try and beat the keeper, only to have his shot sail wide.  Richardson would settle down and finish with a fine performance in goal.

London’s clear strategy was to minimize the Bucks potent build up offensively and limit the amount of through balls that could reach their talented forwards.   Stefan St. Louis and Nermin Crnkic attacked feverishly but could not get many quality chances inside the box.   Meanwhile, FCL was waiting patiently for its opportunity to counter attack to find the game’s first goal.  That finally happened in the 21^st minute when forward Marin Lange spotted strike partner Jordan Ayris in a full sprint at the top of the eighteen yard box and sent a precise pass between two Bucks defenders directly in his path.  Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis saw the through ball coming and dashed off his line to find himself one on one with Ayris.   Grinwis guessed to his right and Ayris calmly side stepped the University of Michigan goal keeper and tapped in an easy goal for a 1-0 lead.

The Bucks hardly played from behind all season and usually rebounded well when facing a deficit, but still could not negotiate the tight making of London’s midfielders and defenders.   The teams went into halftime with similar shots (3 each) and saves (1 each) although London had the edge in corner kicks, 4-1.   Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was the first to pull the trigger when he made a tactical change at halftime by bringing in left back Nate Robinson, who was instrumental in starting many of the Bucks second half offensive surges.

The Bucks came out with more energy in the second half, as they seemed flat and a bit fatigued from the previous night’s tight 1-0 win over Real Colorado.  They seemed to be getting into a positive rhythm when they went to sleep for a brief second and ended up paying the price.   With a London free kick being set up 30 yards from goal, the home side was busy looking around for assignments when midfielder Tom Owens played a quick restart forward to an alert Lange, who beat Grinwis without a defender near him.   That mental error proved to be the deciding factor in the game at the 67^th minute, but it did not deter the Bucks.  Parsons went to his bench again and inserted instant energy in ButlerUniversity product Zach Steinberger and Bowling Green forward Anthony Grant.   The two made an immediate impact and took over the game the rest of the way.   Grant’s speed put him in for a couple of chances shortly after entering the game, and it would be his hard work that would lead to the Bucks halving the lead.  Grant beat his man down the right side of the penalty area and sent in a cross to a streaking Catalano, who would head the ball off the goalpost and then chest his own rebound in at the 74^th minute mark.   With that goal, the fired up Ultimate Soccer Arenas crowd of over 800 sensed that it was only a matter of time before the second goal would come, eerily similar to last year’s playoff match against Des Moines.  In last year’s match the Bucks scored two goals late, with the equalizer coming on a Catalano goal in stoppage time.    The Bucks would go on to win that match 3-2 in overtime and many of the Bucks players and faithful were hoping for déjà-vu. 

The game tying goal appeared to be within reach as the Bucks pounded the goal relentlessly and were thwarted by either an off sides call, a goal post or a great Richardson save.   Down the stretch and in the five minutes of stoppage time, theLondon net minder made several great saves, including tipping a Nate Boyden shot destined for the corner of the net over the bar.   Catalano smoked a dipping free kick in the game’s final minute that looked like it was destined for the net but sailed just high of the top corner.  Down at the Bucks end, Grinwis made three electric saves of his own but for the most part was a spectator as he watched the two mid fields control most of the game’s possession. 

Bucks coach Gary Parsons was hoping for a better start to the game from his team and was concerned about the first half from the beginning.  “I warned the boys in the pre game that this would be the toughest match they would play all year, including the MLS game.   That may sound strange, but we know this team very well and how hard they work and what this game meant to their entire organization.   They are as dangerous and as well disciplined as any team we have played this year.   We made two glaring mistakes tonight, and they capitalized on both of them.   That is what good teams do.  Offensively, I was disappointed that we couldn’t get the equalizer but sometimes it just isn’t meant to be.    As much as I feel for all of our guys right now, in a month they hopefully will look back on this season as one of the best summers of their lives.   It certainly was for me and the coaching staff, as it was a pleasure and privilege to work with this group.”

Bucks owner Dan Duggan didn’t have much to say that wasn’t already obvious to everyone who witnessed the Central Conference tournament.  “London came in here and defeated the top two seeds in the country on back to back nights.   I don’t think that was lucky.   Martin (Painter) is one of the best young coaches in this league and he had his team prepared mentally and physically for this match up.   It was a great game for the fans.   The linking play throughout the midfield on both sides was fun to watch. The physical battles between the combatants was intense.   We made a couple of mistakes and they made us pay.  We wish them all the best next weekend in representing the Central Conference and the Great Lakes Division in bringing home a PDL post season title to go along with our regular season title.   If they play next weekend like they did this weekend, I think they will do well,” said Duggan.

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Pontiac, MI (July 19, 2012)-   The Michigan Bucks were crowned 2012 Premier Development League (PDL) Regular Season Champions this week by the United Soccer League (USL) for their 13-1-2 (41 points) record to lead all 73 teams in the eight division PDL and head into the post season as the #1 seed in the sixteen team tournament.   Goal keeper Adam Grinwis took top honors among the league’s goal keepers with a goals against best of .444 per game (yielding less than a half a goal a game average).  Midfielder Tom Catalano finished tied for the top spot in the league in assists with 12 helpers during the sixteen game regular season.

Although being the top seed in the tournament sounds like a great place to be, history in the PDL has proven different.  “I think in the 17 years the Bucks have been in the league, the #1 seed has only won the tournament one time.   When we finished first in 2000 we lost in the championship game and when we were the top seed in 2008 we lost in the conference semi finals, so we have not fared particularly well as the top seed either,” said Bucks CEO Dan Duggan.  “When we won it all, we won it as the 13^th seed.  The regular season title is nice because it shows we were consistent over a ten week season.   But what we really want are four more wins to be crowned North American PDL champs by winning the playoff tournament beginning this weekend.”

The Bucks have appeared in the PDL post season a record fifteen times in seventeen seasons, a record that may never be challenged with the growing number of quality teams throughout the league each year.   This season’s quest begins on Saturday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac when the Bucks take on the Real Colorado Foxes at 6 PM.   That match will be immediately followed by FC London taking on the defending Central Conference champion Thunder Bay Chill.   The Chill won the conference tournament last year with a 2-1 win over the host Bucks at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.

Catalano’s fourth season with the Bucks has turned out to be his finest, as the formerOaklandUniversity product has turned up his game and led the league’s highest scoring team (46 goals) this season.   The attacking mid fielder had five goals to go along with his 12 assists in the regular season, but it was his stellar play throughout the US Open Cup that had the rest of the team believing in his leadership abilities.  “We had several key players that are new to the team this year and Tommy emphasized the importance of the US Open Cup both on and off the field.    From our first round game when he scored a goal and had two assists to his performance against the Chicago Fire of MLS, you could see how much he has matured in a Bucks uniform,” complimented head coach Gary Parsons.   In addition to coaching Catalano with the Bucks, Parsons was responsible for recruiting the Macomb, MI native to attendOakland in the first place.   Catalano electrified a sell out crowd of over 2,000 fans at Ultimate Soccer when he scored the game’s first goal against the Major Soccer League’s Fire on May 29^th.  He would also assist on the game winner in overtime that made the Bucks the only PDL team to ever record two wins over MLS clubs in the history of the 99 year old tournament.

Grinwis has been another special player who has been a part of the Bucks the past two seasons, without seeing any action.   In 2010, he was a late addition to the team as a back up for late season run and the playoffs.  Last year, a spring college injury at the University of Michigan put him on the sidelines for most of the summer.   Watching the team lose to Thunder Bay in those two consecutive years in the playoffs helped to motivate the Ada, MI native to show the athleticism that has put  him on the radar of most MLS teams.   This season, Grinwis displayed some of that incredible talent as he shutout the first two US Open Cup challengers, including the USL Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds, where he was the Man of the Match for several incredible saves in the Bucks 1-0 upset on the road.   The next week he showed his wares to the Fire in the 3-2 overtime win.   Grinwis was beaten on two shots that game, but both came from counterattacks and near breakaways from two of the Fire’s top strikers in Federico Puppa and Corben Bone.  Grinwis would make several game saving stops in this match as well.  

While Parsons had Grinwis focus on the US Open Cup, back up keeper Sean Teepen carried the work load early for the regular season games and was superb in getting the team to mid season with their undefeated record in tact.   The two backstops combined to give the Bucks the lowest goals against in the PDL with only ten goals surrendered.  Grinwis would finish the four US Open Cup games with a 3-1 record before playing nine of the PDL regular season matches and amassing a record of 8-0-1 with five shutouts.   Grinwis’ four goals allowed were also the lowest in the PDL.  Parsons was happy to see one of his top youth prospects finally get to show what he can do at the top level.  “He was a man among boys in the academy (where Parsons coached Grinwis for the WolvesAcademy) and had a challenging year last fall atMichigan.   I was happy to see him have a consistent season where he proved to himself that he could be a difference maker at the professional level.   The games he played against the three pro teams this summer for us in the Open Cup only helped to raise his pro stock.  He has the talent to be a great one at the highest level in this country,” said Parsons.

The USL will be handing out all of its year end awards over the course of the next two weeks and there could be more accolades for the team.   Catalano is a certain contender for MVP of the PDL for his leadership of the league’s top team and Grinwis could earn top goal keeper and qualifies as PDL Rookie of the Year since he has not appeared in games for the Bucks prior to the 2012 season.    Meanwhile, Parsons will be looking to do something that has never been done before.   The reigning PDL Coach of the Year for his stellar work in 2011 has surpassed last year’s accomplishments this season and make him a candidate for back to back Coach of the Year awards, something that has yet to happen in the history of the PDL.

Tickets for Saturday’s Central Conference semi-final are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) at the door, but can be purchased for only $6 pre sale until midnight Friday by visiting the Bucks web site at www.bucksoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks games.   Tickets for Saturday allow all fans into both matches.  For fans bringing the family or planning on attending all three matches (two on Saturday and the final on Sunday), fans should select the Family Pass or Individual Pass that allow fans to purchase tickets for as low as $4 per person.

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The Bucks started slower than normal on Sunday, feeling out the Rovers for the first ten minutes.   The high powered offense clicked into gear in the fourteenth minute when Tom Catalano sent a free kick into the box that was originally saved by goal keeper Matt Soyka.  Soyka’s punch came back to Catalano who clipped the ball to defender Kevin Cope who headed home his second goal on the weekend to put the home side up 1-0.   The Bucks would continue to attack the Rovers and outshoot the visitors 11-6 in the first half.   Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis wasn’t very busy on the night but did make the play of the game in the 35^th minute.  After making a diving stop, Grinwis jumped to his feet and sent an eighty yard kick down field to a streaking Catalano who was finishing his own 100 yard dash from end to end.   Catalano found himself going one and one with goal keeper Soyka for the Grinwis punt.   Catalano out jumped the keeper near the penalty spot leaving Soyka no option but to take the forward down before he could control the loose ball and finish the goal.   The referee had no choice but to show Soyka the red card and send Buck’s captain Stew Givens to the penalty spot, where he has converted his last six spot kick attempts dating back to last season when he was named PDL Defender of the Year.   Rovers back up keeper Taylor Hafling was called into duty to take over in goal for the balance of the night and Givens greeted him with a blast that caromed off the goal post and into the net for a 2-0 lead, which would be the way the first half would end.

Playing up a man for the second half, the Bucks knocked the ball around and patiently waited for their opportunities to put the game away.   In the 63^rd minute midfielder Peter May was given a straight red card after a violent tackle on Catalano at the midfield stripe.    The next goal would come on the goal of the game when Anthony Grant played a ball to midfielder Zach Steinberger, who neatly beat three defenders in the eighteen yard box before chipping the ball into the top corner for a 3-0 lead.   The Bucks would outshoot RiverCity 18-0 in the second half with the two man advantage and would close out the scoring in the 88^th minute when Matt Bahner redirected a Nate Boyden pass from close range for his second goal of the year.

Grinwis would finish the game and the regular season with a record of 8-0-1, five shutouts and the PDL’s best 0.44 goals against for allowing only 4 goals the entire season.   Catalano would finish tied for the lead as the PDL’s assist leader with twelve helpers to go with his five goals.   Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was pleased with the play of both of his leaders, as well as the rest of the team.

“I was very happy with how personal they all took the defeat the other night. Sometimes a team of this caliber might just write it off as a bad night and no big deal. But this team was generally disappointed to lose the undefeated season.   I was proud of the effort tonight and the intensity from start to finish.   This is what we needed from the team to build on for next week.   We went into this game with a playoff mentality because we really wanted to stay home and host the playoffs next weekend,” said Parsons.

Bucks Chairman/CEO Dan Duggan was grateful for the tremendous crowd support and is looking for the fans to duplicate the effort next weekend.  “The team did their job by making sure we are home next weekend.  Now we need the fans to step up and continue to support the team like they have all season long.   We could really use a crowd on Saturday like the sellout crowd we had that helped us defeat the Chicago Fire from Major League Soccer.   That was big, but this is bigger.   We have three more games to win to get us back to the PDL Championship game and that was always goal number one since last August.”

The Bucks will take on Real Colorado in the first of a two game doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 6 PM.   Specially priced ticket packages are on sale now where fans can get tickets for all three games for one low price.   Individual tickets are $10 Adults and $7 Youth for each day (includes two games on Saturday or one game on Sunday) at the gate on game day.  Specially priced pre sale individual weekend passes are only $10 for all three games.   Family four pack tickets are only $32 for all three games by purchasing in advance at the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   The Family Four Pack allows four people of any age into all three games.   Children 5 and under are always free to all Bucks games.   Individual game tickets for either Saturday or Sunday can also be purchased at the discounted rate of $6 per day.   All presale tickets must be purchased by midnight Friday night, when remaining tickets will go to the normal $10/$7 prices.

Groups of 20 or more wanting to attend either day can purchase tickets together for only $5 per ticket by calling Sherwin Connell at the Bucks office at 917-325-9345.

NATE BOYDEN WINS PRESTIGIOUS SCICLUNA AWARD

Midfielder Nate Boyden was awarded the 14^th recipient of the Paul R. Scicluna Michigan Bucks “Total Soccer” Player of the Year at halftime of Sunday’s match.   The 29 year old grad student at the University of Michigan has been the field marshal running the Bucks engine all season long.   Boyden also serves as a volunteer assistant  coach to the UM women’s soccer team and has served as much as an on field coach as he has a player.  “Nate has been one of the great finds we have made in several years,” said coach Gary Parsons.  “He is a consummate professional and is invaluable to the younger players we have on this team.   He not only runs the show on game day, but he is always leading by example in training as well.  He is a difference maker that most people don’t even know about, but could be one of the most valuable players in the PDL.   For us to finish with the best record of 73 teams, you need to have solid leadership for three consecutive months.  Nate has never taken a minute off since he joined us.”

In the closest Scicluna vote in team history, Boyden edged out Tom Catalano by a single vote for the honor.  Only Bucks players and management vote on the Scicluna Award winner, named after a former soccer partner and long time friend of Bucks owner Dan Duggan.  “This was a year when it would have been appropriate to award both these worthy candidates, had the vote been tied.   For all that Tommy has done for this club the past few years, I would have loved to see his name on that trophy. Unfortunately for me, I don’t think he will ever have the chance again.  Fortunately for him, I suspect you will see him signing a pro contract to move on from the Bucks at the conclusion of the season.    Paul would be proud of all the players on this team and especially the way they play and for the respect they have for one another.  Hopefully we can turn a PDL regular season title into another North American PDL title over the next few weekends in the playoffs,” concluded Duggan.

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The Bucks were hoping to come home to the last match of the season with their undefeated record in tact, but that was just not to be.   The Bucks started and finished the game as they have most games this season; getting good opportunities to score.  Tom Catalano was put through in the game’s first minute and forced Rovers goal keeper Taylor Hafling into his first save before the fans were in their seats.   Ninety five minutes later, Catalano played a cross through the box that looked like it was sure to find a Michigan attacker to tie the score at 2-2, but somehow squirted through for a goal kick as time expired.

In between, the Bucks outshot the Rovers 10-8 and put most of their shots on goal. Hafling ended up making 7 saves on the night, while Bucks goal keeper Sean Teepen had a strange night in goal behind the defense that had given up the fewest goals in the PDL up until Friday’s game.   Teepen did not make a save on the night and the only two shots on goal eluded him to give him his first loss of the season to go along with his five wins and one tie. 

After a scoreless first half that saw the Bucks pressure the home side and squander six quality chances, RiverCity jumped out on top in the 53^rd minute when Ryan Smith finished an intercepted ball to make it 1-0.   Twelve minutes later Lin Mfeka picked off another lazy Michigan pass and put a shot far post on a diving Teepen to put the Bucks behind by two goals for the first time this season.

The two goal margin didn’t seem to phase the team much as they continued to attack until the final whistle.   Anthony Grant, Nermin Crnkic and Catalano created all kinds of offensive opportunities, but it was not to be the Bucks night.    Defender Kevin Cope knocked home a late goal off a Catalano corner kick to bring the score to 2-1 with a couple additional minutes of added time.   The Bucks would create two more close range opportunities, but could not bring the team level.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was understandingly disappointed after the game, but not for obvious reasons.  “Sure the guys would have wanted to finish the season undefeated, but we knew coming down here and playing a team that was fighting for its life was going to be a difficult challenge.  This happens in the game of soccer when you dominate and just don’t get the bounces, but what I am not happy with is the sloppiness I saw in the second half.   Our set pieces were not sharp and we made some silly passes through the mid field that they made us pay for.    Now we have put all the pressure back on ourselves,” said Parsons.

When asked about his team’s strategy for Sunday’s huge rematch, Parsons was hesitant but optimistic.  “This team has been forced to produce in a couple of very big games already this year and Sunday is going to be as big as any of them.    We will have a hyped up crowd on Sunday that all know that if we win, they get to see at least one more weekend of playoffs.   If we don’t win, we travel.   I would think this team would like to repay the Duggan family and the fans that have supported us all season long with a bonus playoff weekend at home.    We have everything in our control and I would be very surprised if they don’t straighten out the miscues and come out smoking,” said the reigning PDL Coach of the Year.

In addition to the high stakes playoff hosting rights, Sunday will also be a special season ending event where the Bucks award the top player the Paul R. Scicluna Memorial Trophy, given to the player who best represents the Bucks organization both on and off the field.   The team will also be giving away special autographed team merchandise as well as MLS autographed jerseys to lucky fans attending the final regular season home game.

Tickets for Sunday’s game are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) at the gate. Kids 5 and under are always free to Bucks games. Discounted pre sale tickets can still be purchased for only $6 online by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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The Bucks five goal outburst puts the team at the top of the PDL in goal scoring (41 goals), while the stingy defense boasts the same honor, surrendering only eight goals in fourteen games.   The PDL’s all time leading scorer, Kenny Uzoigwe came to life with two goals and an assist in jump starting the Michigan side.  The 33 year old veteran notched the 87^th and 88^th goals of his PDL career with one tally on each side of half time.   On defense, goal keeper Adam Grinwis notched his seventh PDL win on the campaign to go with his one tie and five shutouts.  Grinwis wasn’t tested often on Wednesday, but did make one outstanding save in each half to insure the clean sheet.

Uzoigwe started the attack early when he flipped a pass over the top to put Tom Catalano in on goal in the seventh minute.  Catalano finished his fifth PDL goal (7^th on the season) to start the night’s scoring.   Zach Steinberger stole a ball inside of mid field in the 23^rd minute and went in alone on Rage goal keeper Justin Silveira and notched his fifth goal of the year to make the score 2-0.  Uzoigwe then got on the scoreboard for the first time on the night in the 39^th minute when he finished a nice side volley goal off a pass from defender Sebby Harris.

The Bucks didn’t waste much time getting back into the swing of things in the second half when Uzoigwe completed his brace on a goal from Matt Bahner.  The second tally was also Kenny’s fifth of the season.  Bahner would finish the game’s scoring when he took a slick pass from PDL assist leader Catalano (10 assists) and buried his first goal in a Bucks uniform.  Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was quick to accept the road result but already focused on the weekend’s final two games.  “We have worked hard to get to this point so far this season.  Now the vision gets much simpler.   Our goal is to win the next six games; the final two regular season games and four in the playoffs to finish off a very positive season.  Everyone in this locker room understands what is at stake this weekend.   The team we are playing needs to win both games and so do we to keep our perfect season.   I suspect the boys are up to the challenge and looking forward to coming home for the Sunday match with a chance to complete an undefeated regular season.   I think that has only happened a couple of times in thirty years in this league, so it is worth pursuing.”

The Bucks now turn their attention to a home and away season ending series with the Rovers starting with a road game in Louisville on Friday night before the two teams head north on I-75 for a Sunday matinee game (2 PM kick off) at Ultimate Soccer Arenas to close out the regular season.   The Rovers sit in third place with a slim two point margin over the Chicago Fire Premier, who both have two games left to try and secure the third and final playoff spot in the Great Lakes Division.

The Bucks final home game of the season on Sunday will feature a special fan appreciation celebration, along with the awarding of the Paul R. Scicluna Memorial Trophy at halftime to the Bucks most valuable player this year.   Tickets for Sunday’s finale are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) and available at the door.   Special presale tickets are still available for only $6 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

The PDL playoffs will begin next weekend, July 20-22 with the Bucks taking on the Real Colorado Foxes and the Thunder Bay Chill taking on the Great Lakes Division second place survivor.   The Central Conference Final Four venue will be determined this weekend and announced by the United Soccer League’s (USL) home office inTampa on Sunday.   For more on the PDL, please visit the league web site at www.uslsoccer.com.  

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The Bucks tendency to have a different offensive leader in each game stayed true to form on Saturday night as Nate Boyden started the game’s scoring when his low shot from eight yards out deflected off the near post into the net to give the Bucks a 1-0 lead in the 30^th minute.    Boyden finished a through ball from Zach Steinberger, who corralled an Adam Hintz throw in to start the sequence.

While the Bucks were still celebrating their early lead, Kings midfielder Leon Powell picked off an errant Bucks defensive clearance and ripped a 25 yard shot past Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis to tie the game just a minute later.   Not to be outdone, Bucks Man of the Match Boyden slammed home a pass from Anthony Grant from close range to take back the lead at 2-1 in the 33^rd minute.   The two goal performance from the University of Michigan women’s assistant coach brought his personal goal total to five in his rookie season in a Bucks uniform.

The Bucks would continue their normal attacking soccer for the remainder of the first half to try and put the game out of reach.    Michigan came into the game only needing a win to clinch the Great Lakes title thanks to a Friday night River City Rovers loss at FC London.  The fired up home side scored their third goal of the game in the 40^th minute when Anthony Grant took a through ball from Stefan St. Louis at the top corner of the box and broke in and slotted a ball side netting past Cincinnati goal keeper Hunter Huffman for a 3-1 lead.   Less than a minute later, Zach Steinberger would be put through by PDL assist leader Tom Catalano and made no mistake in burying his right footed shot to send the Great Lakes Division champions into the locker room with a 4-1 halftime lead.

The Bucks outshot Cincinnati 21-12 on the night and Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis made five saves in registering his sixth PDL win of the season and ninth overall. In the second half, the home side continued to attack the Cincinnati goal, but could not break the game open until Grant took a pass from Matt Bahner in the 80^th minute and buried his second goal of the game and team leading eighth of the season to put the game out of reach at 5-1.

The Bucks clinched the Great Lakes Division with a current record of 11-0-2 (35 points) with three games to play, including road trips to Hamilton on Wednesday and Louisville on Friday before closing out the regular season with a home game Sunday, July 15 against the playoff hopeful River City Rovers.  The Bucks win combined with the results from the Heartland Division results on Friday insure that regardless of what happens in the next eight days, the Bucks will play the Real Colorado Foxes in the first round of the Central Conference Final Four on Friday, July 20 at a site still to be determined.   The Bucks could still possibly host the Conference Finals if they can continue their unbeaten streak for the final three regular season matches.

The Bucks last regular season home game against the River City Rovers on Sunday, July 15 is a special matinee game that will kick off at 2 PM.  The Bucks will have a special customer appreciation celebration at that game, highlighted by the annual half time announcement of the Paul R. Scicluna Award winner, the highest honor the Bucks have to award each year as chosen by the team players, coaches and management.

Tickets for the grand finale are $10 Adults and $7 Youth on July 15h but can be purchased for only $6 with the team’s special presale offer only available by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.

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The Bucks enter the final stretch with an undefeated record of 10-0-2 (32 points) with four games remaining.  Their closest Great Lakes Division challenger is RiverCity, who after eleven games stand with 20 points.    If the Bucks win one more game, the Rovers would have to win all five remaining matches (including two against the Bucks) to tie Michigan with 35 points.    Anything less than a perfect 5-0 record would give the Bucks their unmatched tenth Great Lakes Division title and insure that they would be a member of the Central Conference Final Four playoff weekend July 20-21, with the Bucks still a contender to host.   The second and final playoff spot from the division will be decided on Tuesday, July 17 when the #3 team travels to play the #2 with the winner gaining the PDL’s sixteenth and final playoff spot for the year.

The Kings return to Ultimate Soccer Arenas to face the Bucks for the third time this season, the second time at USA.   The Bucks beat Cincinnati 4-2 on June 1 on the road and followed that up with a 5-0 win at USA on June 21.  Michigan has been strong all season long and has dominated defensively.   The team has registered shut outs in 7 of the last 9 matches and has only given up two goals in that same span.  Offensively, the team has been dominating in most matches with attacking mid fielder Tommy Catalano leading the Bucks is scoring and the entire PDL in assists.

Tickets for Saturday’s home game (7:30 PM kick off) are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under).   Kids 5 and under are always free to Bucks games.   All tickets can still be purchased for the special pre sale price of only $6 by going to the Bucks web site atwww.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

STILL ROOM TO ATTEND THE COOLEST SOCCER CAMP IN THE MIDWEST!!!!

With this summer’s scorching temperatures setting records in several parts of the country, your Michigan Bucks are inviting all young soccer players to attend the coolest soccer camp in the area.   Bucks Ultimate Soccer camp is held inside air conditioned Ultimate Soccer Arenas on the Bucks stadium field, where weather is never an issue.  The Bucks are hosting two summer camps indoors this year beginning with the first camp that begins this Monday and runs until Friday.   The full day camp goes from 9 AM to 3 PM and is only $199.   Bucks camp is run by the Bucks professional and college all stars and includes a Bucks t shirt, four tickets to a Bucks home game, a certificate of completion and some of the best soccer training in the area.    For those that cannot attend this week’s camp, there is one more week of camp from July 30 to August 3.   There is still room available at both camps for boys and girls ages 6-15.  Campers will be paired with other campers of similar skill level, regardless of age.  Special requests will be accepted to group campers with siblings or team mates.   To register for camp, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and click on the CAMP link.

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In a game delayed sixty minutes due to weather, both teams came out ready to play and moved the ball up and down the field at will.   Chicago had the better of the first half chances out shooting the visitors 7-4 in the first half and had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.   The Bucks defense was solid on Sunday as it has been all season long led by center backs Kevin Cope and Seb Harris, who dominated the game in the air.   The Bucks did have several first half chances that were all created on counter attacking through the midfield between Scott Caldwell, Nermin Crnkic and Tom Catalano.    The three worked well together and played several balls into the area for forward Anthony Grant, who would have two great first half opportunities saved by Fire keeper David Meves and another sure goal rejected by the near goal post.    The Bucks were content to go to the half scoreless, where head coach Gary Parsons made the necessary adjustments to the offensive plan.

The Bucks wasted no time in the second half in putting the Fire under constant pressure and would finally break the scoreless draw in the 51^st minute when Man of the Match Crnkic would steal a ball at midfield, take on two defenders before slotting a perfect pass into the path of Grant, who first timed his shot past Meves for a 1-0 lead.  Grant’s goal would be his team leading sixth of the season; but that would be matched just two minutes later.   Crnkic took a neatly played ball from Nate Boyden on the left flank, beat two men as he cut across the middle of the penalty area and ripped a twelve yard shot into the side netting for a 2-0 lead and his sixth tally on the season to match Grant for the team lead.  The Bucks would continue to pound at the Fire goal for the next ten minutes but could not get the third goal past Meves.

In the Bucks goal, Sean Teepen registered seven saves on the day for his fourth shutout of the season in raising his record to 5-0-1 for the campaign.  In addition to making several key saves, Teepen was helped out all day by his strong back line and got some help from the cross bar on two occasions.  Bucks coach Gary Parsons was excited about what he saw from his club, who remains the only unbeaten PDL club in the 73 team league.  “We played some very nice soccer the past two games and I really like the way this team is coming together.    We knew with our US Open Cup run that we had a special group this year, but the more I have the pleasure of working with these guys, the more excited I get.   We thought at the start of the season it would take twelve wins to defend our Great Lakes Division title and we have ten with four to play so I really like where we are right now.”

Bucks Chairman/CEO Dan Duggan was happy to finish off the regular season with teams from Chicago, having played six games against three different teams from the Windy City this year.  “Every sports fan in Detroit understands the competitive nature of any Detroit/ Chicago sporting event.    It started decades ago with hockey and football and in recent years has heated up in basketball and baseball as well.   I am just happy to say that the Bucks have done their part this year to give the Detroit fans bragging rights.   It’s always nice to beat the Fire, but it really means something to the players because of the quality of the team they had to defeat.  If today’s opponent can somehow manage to make the playoffs, they are going to be tough to play against.”  

The Bucks took the season series from the Fire PDL side with a record of 2-0-1 and won both games against the expansion Chicago Inferno.  For good measure, the Bucks also beat the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer in the US Open Cup to make the season record 6-0-1 against their Illinois neighbors.

The team will take a few well deserved days off to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, while several of the players take the week to train with MLS clubs.   The Bucks will resume with their next game on Saturday, July 7 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, one of only two remaining home games on the season when the Cincinnati Kings come to town for the final time.    Tickets for the game are $10 Adults and $7 Youth but can be purchased for the special pre sale price of only $6 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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The Bucks came out strong in the first half and dominated the match out shooting the home side 8-3 and forcing London goal keeper Reece Richardson into making several key saves, including a close range shot from Kenny Uzoigwe in the 13^th minute.   It would only take the veteran a few more minutes to figure Richardson out as he scored his second goal of the season when he headed home a Tom Catalano corner kick from close range just four minutes later to put the Bucks up 1-0.

With the game seemingly in hand, FC London put together a five minute stretch early in the second half that had the Bucks defense on its heels.  The team relied on backstop Adam Grinwis, who turned in the Man of the Match performance with six highlight reel saves to keep the Bucks in the lead.    After making a diving stop in the 56^th minute, Grinwis quickly jumped to his feet and sent a 70 yard punt down field to a streaking Catalano, who juked his defender and had only Richardson to beat.   The goal keeper got a late start coming off his line and decided to try and beat Catalano to the open ball and took down the Bucks striker at the top of the penalty area for a Michigan Bucks penalty kick.   Captain Stew Givens buried the spot kick to give the Bucks a comfortable 2-0 lead.

That lead would only hold up due to several more Grinwis saves, as he put on a clinic the last fifteen minutes and made three diving one handed stops that were destined for the back of the net.    His shutout was only ruined in the 95^th minute on a penalty kick that was awarded as time expired.  Carl Haworth slotted home the PK to make the final score 2-1 and ruin what was nearly a perfect night for the University of Michigangoal keeper.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was pleased with the result and ready to hit the road again.  “We played well in the first half and let them back into it in the second half.  They are a feisty team so we knew even a two goal lead wasn’t going to slow them down.  Adam Grinwis showed tonight why I believe he is destined for MLS when he finishes college.   This kid is not only a terrific athlete, but he reads the game extremely well back there.   He was fun to watch tonight.    We do need to brush up on our closing out of games, as I never like to see last minute goals conceded as we have the past couple of games.   But taking four of six points against these two playoff caliber teams on the road is not a bad result for us.  Now we have to finish the job in Chicago on Sunday and take a couple of days off for the holiday,” said the reining PDL coach of the year.

The Bucks head to Chicago on Sunday to take on the Fire Premier for the third and final time this season.  The Bucks defeated Chicago at home 1-0 and tied last Tuesday on the road on a late Chicago goal in the 88^th minute.   The Fire are in desperate need of three points as they currently sit with 12 points, four behind London for the final Great Lakes division playoff spot.

The Bucks return home on Saturday, July 7 to take on the Cincinnati Kings at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 pm kick off).

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The tie keeps the Bucks unbeaten on the season (8-0-2, 26 points) and nine points clear of second place RiverCity atop the division.   The Fire go to 3-4-3 (12 points) for their 2012 campaign, just three points behind FC London for the third and final playoff spot with less than three weeks left in the season. 

The Bucks came out attacking in the first half but could only finish the one opportunity in the 27^th minute.   Nermin Crnkic broke down the sideline and ripped a shot that was saved into the middle of the box, where an opportunistic St. Louis was the first to the ball and headed home his fifth goal of the season to garner Bucks’ Man of the Match honors.  St. Louis’ goal also tied him for the team lead with Tom Catalano and Crnkic, who also have five tallies for the season.

Adam Grinwis stood tall in the Michigan goal registering several outstanding saves (of seven in total) that kept the Fire off the scoreboard.  Just when it appeared that Grinwis would record his sixth shutout of the season, the Fire pulled back the game tying tally following a Bucks foul and yellow card to Kevin Cope.   The ensuing free kick went into the box, was saved by Grinwis twice and knocked past him when the Bucks defenders failed to clear.   Grinwis’ record on the season goes to 7-1-1 (5 shutouts) including his great four game stretch in the US Open Cup.

The Bucks will prepare for the second of three road matches this week when they travel to Canada for a rematch with FC London on Friday night.   The game sets up to be a key match up for all Great Lakes division playoff hopefuls, as London looks to avenge a 1-0 defeat from the Bucks at Ultimate Soccer Arenas less than two weeks ago.   With a FC London win and a RiverCityloss this week, the Canadians can leap frog the team from Louisville into second place behind the Bucks.   Meanwhile, the Bucks will be looking to put some additional distance between themselves and the rest of the pack knowing the final two games of the season are back to back games with the second place Rovers.

Following the Friday night match in London, the Bucks will make a quick return trip to Bridgeview to take on the Fire for the third and final time of the season on Sunday afternoon.   The Bucks next home match will be Saturday night, July 7 against the Cincinnati Kings at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.   All tickets for this match are $10 Adults and $7 Youth but can be purchased for the special pre sale price of only $6 online by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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This year’s trademark is a fast paced, high powered offense to go along with their stifling defense and goal keeping.   Thursday night was no different, as the Bucks came out flying from the opening whistle.   Electric forward Nermin Crnkic nearly scored on two different chances in the game’s first minute and the visitors fromCincinnati knew that the home team was on a mission.   Bucks leading scorer Tommy Catalano led the team from the opening stanza and finished the game with a goal and three assists, giving him five goals and nine assists on the season.   Catalano had a pair of assists off of corner kicks in the first half when his perfect services were headed home by defenders Justin Sass (19^th minute) and Kevin Cope (23^rd minute).  The Bucks went into the locker room at halftime with a 2-0 lead and a decisive advantage of shots (12-5) and corner kicks (8-2).    Sean Teepen made his fifth start in goal for the Bucks and ran his record to 4-0-1, with three shutouts on the season.

The home side came out in the second half with the same intensity as they started the game and put away the game’s third goal on another highlight reel goal by Crnkic.  Nermin netted his third game winner of the season on Tuesday night with a 20 yard volley into the top corner and took a pass from Catalano in the 61^st minute of Thursday’s game, beat two defenders and found side netting from an impossible angle.    Four minutes later, Man of the Match Catalano would try and outclass Nermin’s goal with a left footed strike from eighteen yards that bent just inside the left post for another quality finish.    Kenny Uzoigwe would work hard to put Nate Boyden in from close range in the 90^th minute to close out the 5-0 scoring.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was not surprised at the team’s offensive display before the home crowd on Thursday.  “The guys were frustrated the past couple of games after dominating teams and failing to produce more than just a goal for their efforts.   I could see in warm ups that these guys were going to come out smoking tonight.”  When asked about the incredible run of nearly six and a half games without yielding a single goal, Parsons didn’t hesitate.  “I don’t think it is a coincidence that the last goal this team has given up was a fluke penalty kick in overtime to lose the Open Cup match to Dayton.   The guys took that personal.   They dominated a pro team and came away with nothing to show for it.   Nobody is talking about it, but you can tell there is a ton of pride in this team.   These guys have something to prove and so far this season, I really like what I see,” concluded Parsons.

Bucks CEO Dan Duggan was happy to see this group set a monumental team record for the undefeated start to the season, but was quick to remind all that were listening that there is much more to be done this season.  “We have had some great teams here and some incredible runs, but we have never started a season undefeated after nine games so that is something these guys should all be very proud of.   I reminded them all that they don’t hand out trophies in June.   We have a ton of work to do in the next six weeks to achieve all of our team goals for the season.    To be undefeated in the PDL, and especially in the Great Lakes Division after nine games is an incredible accomplishment.  To shut out six teams in a row with the caliber of teams we play game in and game out is unheard of.   The boys can celebrate for the weekend but better be ready for next week, which will be the most difficult stretch of the season,” said Duggan.

He was referring to the upcoming three game road trip which sandwiches a game in London on Friday night between two games in Chicago against the Fire on Tuesday and Sunday.  Both Chicago and London are fighting for two of the three playoff spots in the division.  “Normally when you go on a three game road trip to play two of the toughest teams in the PDL, you hear players and coaches talk about trying to steal a point on the road.   I don’t think that you will ever hear this team talk like that.   We need to be prepared to win every time we step on the field, physically and mentally.   I think our veteran leadership will insure that we will have a successful road trip,” said Parsons.

The Bucks return for their next home match on Saturday, July 7 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, when they play the Cincinnati Kings for the final time this season.

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The Bucks attacking style of soccer continued on Tuesday night as they outshot the Lynx 25-8 and had a decisive advantage in corner kicks (10-1), but for the fifth time in the past six matches game could not muster up more than one goal.   The first half started similar to the first match of the season with the young team from Toronto, with the hard working visitors disrupting the Bucks offensive rhythm.  Along the way, Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis was called on to make several key saves in the game’s first 45 minutes to record his fourth league victory and fourth shutout of the season.   

After the first twenty minutes, the home side settled in and began their usual assault on the opponent’s goal and finished the half with 13 shots on goal, forcing Lynx keeper Matthew Silva into three saves.   Silva would prove to be the Man of the Match forToronto and would save his best work for the second half.   Bucks forwards Steve Miller and Anthony Grant combined well with attacking mid Tom Catalano to put constant pressure on the Toronto goal, but the game was scoreless at halftime.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons brought in Bucks striker Nermin Crnkic to start the second half to try and light a fire under the offense.   Nermin made an immediate impact and made countless runs at the Toronto defense creating one corner kick after another.   It was from a well deserved corner that the Bucks finally broke the night’s scoring drought after watching Silva make several incredible saves to keep the teams scoreless.  In the 71^st minute Catalano served a corner kick that was headed to the opposite side of the box by Justin Sass to an onrushing Crnkic who hit a one time volley from 20 yards out into the top corner for his fifth goal of the season and third game winner.  The Bucks would continue to press the final twenty minutes to put the game away, but Silva continued to shine in the nets for the Lynx.

Parsons was happy with the team’s start but concerned about the finishing in the final third. “We have had over 20 shots in just about every game in which we have only scored one goal this season, so it does get frustrating for everyone.   Sometimes your finishing is awful, sometimes the keeper is outstanding and other nights you think it is just not your night.  Tonight their keeper was outstanding and kept them in the game.   It could have been over at halftime but they scrap and just won’t go away,” said Parsons. “At the end of the day, you need to learn how to win 1-0 games if you are going to do something special on the year so from that point of view we are getting very good.  Our fans aren’t leaving early to any Bucks game so we know they are getting their money’s worth.     We do need to learn to put people away long before the 80^th minute and I am confident we will get that right during the second half of the season.”

The Bucks won’t have much time to make adjustments as the Cincinnati Kings come to town on Thursday for the second game of Ultimate Soccer Arena’s Fan Appreciation Week.   Thanks to the owners of USA, all Bucks normally priced tickets ($10/$7) are only $3 at the door when the Bucks battle the Kings for the second of three matches this year.   Michigan defeated Cincinnati 4-2 on the road on June 1.  Presale tickets are available at the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.

BUCKS SUMMER CAMPS FILLING UP FAST!

The Michigan Bucks only two week long summer camps inside air conditioned Ultimate Soccer Arenas are filling up fast.   Don’t miss out on your child’s opportunity to get high level training from the Bucks professional and college all stars, who are some of the best soccer trainers in the area.   The Bucks camp is designed to accommodate boys and girls ages 6-15 and all skill levels.   All players will be placed in a group that best suits their talent level to insure that all campers enjoy the week’s soccer education.   Siblings and youth teams are encouraged to attend camp together as well.   The Bucks camps run July 9-13 and July 30- Aug 3.  Both camps are Monday- Friday from 9-3.

Campers will receive a Bucks t shirt, certificate of completion and four tickets to an upcoming Bucks game all for only $199.   Campers can register today at the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and click on the CAMPS link.

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The Bucks started the game attacking the young London defense with strikers Stefan St. Louis and Steve Miller pounding the ball down both flanks.  St. Louis would prove to be the most dangerous of the Bucks forwards but was not able to convert a goal from his relentless pressure.   With the Bucks leading the game and securely in first place in the division (6-0-1, 19 points) and London (3-2-2, 11 points) now in third, the Canadian rivals were desperate to try and get some points on the evening.

The Bucks came out driving in the second half as well and had a couple of early opportunities before Man of the Match Adam Grinwis would step up in the 62^nd minute to put his stamp on the game.   Grinwis came charging out to collect a through ball in his penalty area when he was whistled for a foul.  London was awarded a penalty kick, where striker Tom Owens stepped up to try and pull the visitor’s level.    Grinwis shook off the referee’s decision to award the visitors the spot kick and  proceeded to make a diving stop on Owens’ effort to preserve his fifth shutout of the season and to keep the Bucks run of clean sheets in tact for the past four consecutive games.

The Bucks would continue to press for the second goal of the game but would miss high and wide on a couple of great opportunities before Anthony Grant smacked a 20 yard free kick off the post and the follow up rebound by Tom Catalano looked to be in for the second goal of the game, but was cleared off the line at the last second.    Bucks coach Gary Parsons made some strategic defensive moves to kill off the game’s final 20 minutes.  “We knew they were going to be a hard working determined team that was desperate for three points,” said Parsons.   “Our plan was simple; stick to our game plan and play Bucks soccer for 90 minutes.   They needed to take some chances in the second half to get a result.   Our plan was to be patient and counter attack when the opportunity arose.   We played a decent game, but didn’t put it away like we had hoped to.   It was a bit nerve wracking at the end, but we are getting used to that around here.   We have played and shutout four very good teams in consecutive games within the past eight days.   I don’t have a whole lot to complain about,” finished the reigning PDL Coach of the Year.

BUCKS FAN APPRECIATION WEEK: ALL TICKETS ONLY $3 TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

The Bucks grueling season continues with home games on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.   The Bucks will host the Toronto Lynx on Tuesday and the Cincinnati Kings on Thursday both at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 PM kickoff).   As a special thank you to all of our loyal  fans who have supported the Bucks throughout the regular season and the US Open Cup, the Bucks will be offering $10 tickets to either of next week’s games for only $3.   Fans need only show up at the box office at either game to get the ticket savings.  Discounted tickets are compliments of Ultimate Soccer Arenas and the Michigan Bucks.  No presale or registration is necessary.

The Inferno (3-5-1, 10 points) came out the aggressor on Tuesday and took the action to the Bucks for the first twenty minutes.   While the young team got caught up in the attack, veteran striker Stefan St. Louis took a pass from Bim Ogunyemi against the run of play and put the Bucks up 1-0 in the game’s 25^th minute.   While both teams continued to battle for the balance of the first half, Bucks leading scorer Tom Catalano put the team ahead 2-0 right before the halftime whistle.

Bucks coach Gary Parsons made several early second half substitutions to get some fresh legs in the game and it was super sub Zach Steinberger who took a pass from Catalano in the 50^th minute to make it 3-0 and put the game out of reach.  The goal was the Butler midfielder’s third on the season coming off the bench.  Defensive leader Seb Harris scored his first goal of the season when he broke through down the left side of the field and finished a nice goal in the 66^th minute to finish the game’s scoring at 4-0.

Parsons was happy to escape the week with a five point lead in first place in the Great Lakes Division with second place FC London coming to Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Friday night.   London picked up only one point in a two game road trip this week and will be desperate for a win in Pontiac.  “In the last seven days we have played the fourth round of the US Open Cup which we lost on a PK in overtime, a road shutout in Toronto on Thursday, a home shutout of the Fire on Saturday and a road shutout in Chicago tonight.   You can’t ask for much for than that out of any club.  Our defense has been outstanding all season and our balanced scoring makes us very difficult to defend.   We got everything Toronto had to give us on Thursday and we saw the same from Chicago tonight.   Everyone wants a piece of us so we have to come prepared every night or we will fall victim on any given night.    Coming up, we have a Friday/ Tuesday/ Thursday stretch- all at home- to try and really put some distance between us and the rest of the pack.    I think all the boys are focused on how huge Friday night’s match with London will be,” said Parsons.

Tickets for Friday night’s showdown between the first and second place teams in the Great Lakes division are $10 Adults and $7 Students (5 and under are free) and are available at the door of Ultimate Soccer Arenas.   Presale tickets are available on line for only $6 in advance by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   To celebrate this weekend’s youth soccer tryouts throughout the state, any soccer player wearing his or her club’s jersey to Friday night’s match will get in for only $4 at the gate on Saturday.

To keep up with all the Bucks season long information and their drive towards the PDL playoffs, please visit the United Soccer League’s web site at www.uslsoccer.com.

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The Bucks came out early and dominated the first half against the Fire but could only muster the one goal.   It appeared the home team had a certain two goal lead when Givens ripped a 35 yard bomb past Fire goalkeeper Jordan Godsey, only to be rejected by the goal post.   The Bucks outshot Chicago 10-1 in the first half and created several chances between strikers Stefan St . Louis and Anthony Grant, but could not increase the lead.

The second half started similar to the first stanza but midway through the half, the Fire took control of the game for a 20 minute stretch and had the Bucks defense back peddling.   The back line led by Kevin Cope and Sebby Harris controlled the balls in the air, while Givens and Nate Robinson counterattacked from the back flanks.   Goal keeper Adam Grinwas was sharp in the nets for the Bucks.   Although he was not very busy in the first half, he made a point blank save from five yards out in the 53^rd minute to keep the Fire off the scoreboard.   As the visitors pushed for the tying goal in the game’ final minutes, Grinwas made three huge saves to record Man of the Match honors. He improved his PDL regular season record to 2-0 and his overall season record (including Open Cup matches) to 5-1.   Saturday was the University of Michigan net minder’s fourth shutout of the season.

The Bucks outshot the Fire 18-9 on the night and finished with a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.  Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was relieved to get the three points and a couple of days rest for his weary squad who have played nine games in just over three weeks to start the season.  “We played some very nice soccer in the first half and probably should have had more that just a one goal lead.   But our second half was sluggish, to say the least.  We allowed them to start playing and to get into a rhythm and it could have cost us.   These guys are too good once they get into the flow, so we had to try and get back to our game plan to close this thing out.   We will take a couple of days off before we head out on the road for a game with the (Chicago) Inferno on Tuesday night.   We really want to get the three points Tuesday and come back home Friday with the division lead and London coming to try and take it from us,” finished Parsons. 

FC London will be at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Friday, June 15 (7:30 PM kickoff).  Tickets for the Great Lakes Division showdown are only $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) the day of the game.    Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks home games.    Fans can get special PRESALE discounted tickets for only $6 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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The Bucks were playing their eighth game in just over two weeks since the season began and were rebounding from a difficult US Open Cup overtime loss on Tuesday night to the Dayton Dutch Lions (D3- USL Pro).  “The quick turn around and the travel had me concerned, as we had several players with heavy legs and a half dozen that didn’t make the road trip.” said Parsons.  “But make no excuses, the team we played tonight was highly motivated and out worked us.   They are a much better side then their record indicates and will cause teams in our division a ton of problems this season.   If they play like they did tonight the rest of the way, they will get their share of wins.”

Parsons relied heavily on his roster depth, starting six players who were not in Tuesday night’s Open Cup lineup.   “It is time for our second half of the roster to prove what they can do in games that mean something,” continued Parsons.  “I saw some players who are going to be an important part of our regular season lineup and some that just aren't there yet.   In this league, you have to score goals and finish your chances every night.   We can’t afford to have a stretch where we fail to score goals.  The newcomers to this organization will quickly learn that there are no easy games in the Great Lakes Division.”

Sean Teepen played his third regular season game in goal for the Bucks and registered the first shutout of his career.   He made a game saving stop from point blank range in the game’s 80^th minute to preserve the clean sheet and keep the Bucks undefeated in regular season play.   After the trip back home on Thursday night, the Bucks will train Friday in preparation for the first of three matches this season with the Chicago Fire Premier Saturday night atCatholicCentralHigh School inNovi.   After dropping the first game of the season, the Fire has rebounded to win their last three games and come into Saturday’s showdown with the opportunity to take over the Great Lakes Division lead.

Tickets for Saturday night’s match (7:30 PM kick off) are $10 Adults and $7 Students at the gate (kids 5 and under are free to Bucks home games) but can be purchased online for the special pre sale price of only $5 by visiting the Buck web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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Bucks coach Gary Parsons’ game plan was working fairly well into the second half, when injuries caused the Bucks some real problems.   The US Open Cup operates under FIFA rules, where each team is only allowed three substitutes for the game.   “We expected a long night and a very physical battle.  The plan was to go into half time tied or close, if we didn’t have a lead and then make the offensive substitutions that would change the game.   With Simon (Omekanda) and Stew (Givens) having to come out to injury, we were never able to bring on Kenny (Uzoigwe) or Stefan (St. Louis) to finish off the scoring.   Kenny would have been the difference maker in the second half and over time, but we didn’t have the ability to sub him in,” concluded Parsons.

Parsons first sub of the game was replacing forward Steve Miller with Anthony Grant at halftime.   Grant has played in two PDL games this year and has scored two goals in each, so the young Jamaican from Bowling GreenUniversity was ready for the call.  In the 55^th minute, Grant would beat his defender to the ball at the penalty spot, leave him on the ground and struck side netting when he buried his shot past Dayton keeper Matt Williams to knot the score at 1-1.

Two minutes later Givens would pull up with a hamstring injury that would force Parsons to use a valuable sub in the back line.  Joey Dillon was called on to finish the game at right back.   In the 72^nd minute Omekanda pulled up lame and had to be replaced by Zach Steinberger, who added instant life to Catalano and Crnkic, who were relentless all night long.   With the Bucks lineup complete for the evening, the home side knew they needed a goal in regulation to insure they would not have to play down a man if another injury occurred.   The Bucks dominated from the time Steinberger entered the game and he created three spectacular chances, hitting the post on one and sending a cross through the box that only needed to find a body part to be the game winner, but somehow eluded three Michigan players at the six yard line.  

The Bucks bombarded Williams’ goal with 22 shots on the night (to Dayton’s 8) forcing the goal keeper to make several key saves.  The Bucks had several opportunities to score in the waning moments of regulation time, but the ball would not find the back of the net.  In overtime, it was much of the same as the younger side continued to press.   Kevin Cope had two headers just creep over the bar on successive corner kicks while midfielder Scott Caldwell and defender Chad Barson continued to pick up Lion turnovers and start the counter attack looking for the winning goal.  

In the 7^th minute of the 30 minute over time period, Dillon was isolated on his Lions attacker just inside the penalty box when he awkwardly challenged for the ball.   The Lions player went down and referee Kevin Terry Jr. pointed to the spot, much to the dismay of the Bucks bench and the partisan crowd.  Michigan native Joel Delass slipped his PK inside the post just past the outstretched arm of Grinwas who guessed the right way but was a few inches short.   The Bucks went back to the offensive attack and threw everyone forward for the remaining 23 minutes and created a couple of free kicks that would also just miss the mark.

“This is a funny game,” said Parsons.  “Sometimes you can dominate but just not finish.  So far this year we have not really had this problem so you hate to see it crop up in a game of this magnitude; but it does happen.  My heart goes out to these boys.  They have played three professional teams on three consecutive Tuesdays and have taken all three to the 90^th minute plus and came away two wins in the three tries.  We knew we needed to get this done inside of 90 minutes because I was afraid we just wouldn’t have the legs to go on.  Our schedule since we started the season three weeks ago has been absolutely brutal and isn’t going to get any easier.”

Parsons was referring to the four US Open Cup matches since May 15 and the five league matches the Bucks will play, including the match at Toronto on Thursday and against Chicago on Saturday.   Michigan will have to rely on its depth to get through the rough stretch which will have the team playing nine games in just over three weeks to start off the 2012 campaign.  The team is currently 3-0 in league play and finish this year’s Open Cup run with a record of 3-1.

Bucks Chairman/ CEO Dan Duggan was disappointed with the outcome but pleased with the great crowd, the recent support of the team and his players’ efforts the past three weeks.  “Yes we do live for the Open Cup opportunity and this year we took advantage of it by hosting three games in four weeks.  That being said, I think US Soccer has learned a couple of things about our success.  First, you can’t have Open Cup games on four consecutive Tuesday nights in May and early June. It is not good for the players with the combined league schedule and it certainly is impossible to sell tickets in six days week after week.   To have the youth clubs in the area cancel practice the past two Tuesday’s and encourage their kids to attend these high level matches was the fundamental reason why we had the success that we did.   We feel like we pushed everyone and used a ton of favors to get people to the matches.   With the fee structure that US Soccer is operating under now, a hosting team has to sell at least 2,000 tickets or they will lose money on the event.  This will have a negative effect which will keep some teams from bidding or wanting to host in the future.   I suspect there will be some changes to next year’s tournament, but all in all I am happy with most of the modifications they did put in this year and I do like have the tournament concluding in early August.   We just need a couple of weeks between each round to catch our breath, play our regular season schedule and if we host, have time to properly promote the match so everyone can make it to the event.”

After returning from Toronto on Thursday night, the Bucks will host the Fire at CatholicCentralHigh School in Novi on Saturday.  Kick off is 7:30 PM and tickets can be purchased in advance for only $5 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   Tickets at the gate will be $10 Adults and $7 Students (5 and under are free to Bucks games).  The Bucks and Fire are two of the top PDL teams each year and are the teams who have sent the most players on to MLS.   Last year the Fire had eleven players selected in the MLS draft and the Bucks had five so fans will once again get to see tomorrow’s MLS stars  today by coming out and supporting the Bucks as they try to hold on to first place in the Great Lakes Division.

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Friday night’s match was an opportunity to give some of the newer players their opportunity to show their stuff, and the team quickly got out to a 2-0 lead.  Bucks veterans Stefan St. Louis and Simon Omekanda connected in the 10^th minute, when Omekanda’s through ball was neatly stuffed home by St. Louis for his third goal of the season to make the score 1-0.   In the 33rd minute, Cincinnati native Matt Bahner sent a cross through the box that was neatly converted with a left footed strike by forward Steve Miller to make it 2-0 to the visitors.  While the Bucks dominated the first half of play, it was a last second goal off a restart from the top of the box and halved the score at the stroke of the half time whistle.

Bucks coach Gary Parsons went to his bench early and often in the second half to bring on fresh legs and to save some of his starters for the huge Open Cup match on Tuesday.   The Kings would strike early in the second stanza when forward Luke Spencer would weave his way past two Bucks defenders and put the tying goal past Bucks keeper Sean Teepan.   The veteran Bucks team would begin to take the life out of the rejuvenated home side with the addition of forward Anthony Grant, who would be the Man of the Match and take over the rest of the scoring duties.  Within a six minute span, the Jamaican striker, who plays his college ball at Bowling Green, would strike for his second brace of the season and collect another two goals to double up the score to 4-2.   Grant credited his two goals to the outstanding passing combination he received from Tom Catalano on his first strike and Zach Steinberger on the second.  That was all Teepen needed to record his second PDL win of the season and pull the Bucks even with FC London in the Great Lakes standings.

While Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was not entirely enthused with the performance of his players, he was quick to remind us of what these players have been through in the past two weeks and what they have ahead of them.    “Depth is our greatest asset today and will have to be our greatest asset throughout July and early August if we are to achieve all of our team goals,” said the reigning PDL coach of the year.  “We have played and won six games in our first two weeks of PDL season, which is incredible in itself.  Throw in the fact that two of those games were against pro teams and it makes the start even more impressive.   What makes me really concerned is what lies ahead.   We have a monumental task in trying to upset Daytonand our third pro team in as many weeks.  That has never been done before at our level.  And just for kicks, we get to follow Tuesday’s Open Cup game with a road trip toToronto on Thursday and our first date with the Chicago Fire Premier on Saturday.  That will make it four games in the next seven days.   The only way you can succeed with this brutal schedule is to have depth and to use that depth.   We will start at least five different players in each of these four games so that should tell you something about the quality we have from the top to the bottom of our 26 man roster,” concluded Parsons.

The Dayton Dutch Lions (USL Pro) upset the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer at the same time that the Bucks were putting out the Chicago Fire.  The two incredible upsets have the Dutch Lions coming to play the Bucks on Tuesday, June 5 (7:30 PM kick off).  The venue for this Open Cup match will be moved to OaklandUniversity’s Varsity Field to accommodate a larger crowd than the 2,000 that packed the rafters at Ultimate Soccer Arenas for Tuesday’s round three match up with the Fire. The Bucks need a huge crowd to not only motivate the team, but to help offset the expense of hosting a Round Four match. 

“When you get to this round, it will cost you at least $25,000 to host the match, so we need everyone we can muster up to come out and support the Bucks to help push them on to the next level, where the Bucks/ Lion winner is slated to travel to play the winner of the MLS showdown between FC Kansas City and the Colorado Rapids in the tournament’s final eight bracket.” Duggan explained.

Tickets for the Tuesday match are $13 General Admission at the gate (5 and under free) but can be purchased on line for only $10.   For those teams, coaches or business groups that want to save even further, all fans can order blocks of 30 tickets for their team or organization and pay the $210; meaning you can get tickets for only $7 each by using this option.    All tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKET link.

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The only complaint received from Bucks fans about last Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime thriller over the Fire was that there was not enough seating and that the next round game should be moved to a larger venue.   Bucks CEO Dan Duggan heard the fans and immediately contacted  OaklandUniversity.   “ OaklandUniversity has been a great unofficial partner with the Bucks for nearly a decade.   We use their first class facilities to house our out of town players and their fields in emergencies.  We have not played at Oakland since the university added their lights last year, so it should be quite an exciting venue for our rowdy fans.  I expect the crowd to be similar to a college crowd.  The fans made the experience on Tuesday.  The players feed off of their energy and we are counting on the support big time if we are going to upset our third professional soccer team on three consecutive Tuesday nights,” concluded Duggan.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons spent 28 years at the helm of the Oakland University men’s soccer program and is looking forward to going back home for his first night game as the manager.   Parsons was instrumental in the development of not only the soccer program at OU, but also the development of the stadium fields and the recent addition of the lighting.   “With the expanded seating at Oakland, there will be no VIP and all general admission.  While there may be up to 750 bleacher seats, the charm atOakland is bringing a blanket or chair and sitting on the hill at either end or at midfield.   The  MotorCity supporters group will be able to wander behind both goals revving up the crowd, so that will add to the atmosphere,” said Parsons.   “The players are really looking forward to a huge crowd on Tuesday to help the team continue to make soccer history.”

If the Bucks upset the Dutch Lions on Tuesday, they will face the winner of the Sporting KC/ Colorado Rapids game so they are guaranteed another shot at MLS this year in the quarterfinals with a victory.  No PDL team has ever made it to the US Open Cup quarterfinals.  The Bucks came the closest in 2000, when they appeared to have defeated the Miami Fusion in overtime, only to lose in penalty kicks after a Bucks goal was stolen away by an out of position referee.  “Most of our players were only 9 years old when we played that game in  Saginaw ,” reminisced Duggan.   “We were on our way to play DC United in the quarterfinals when that travesty took place.  I will show the players the tape of that game because it was perhaps the greatest US Open Cup game ever played by a PDL team and to remind them that we have done a lot of the impossible so far, but if we stay focused we can make soccer history on Tuesday night.”

Tickets for the huge match will be $13 General Admission all ages (5 and under free) but can be purchased now for only $10 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   There is no service charge for using this service and all tickets will be left at Will Call at the gate.  No tickets will be mailed.   For more information about the Bucks incredible 2012 story, history of the US Open Cup or about the United Soccer Leagues, please visit the Bucks web site. The Bucks travel to Cincinnati on Friday night to take on the Kings in PDL action.  Although the team has played more Open Cup games this year so far (3) than regular season games, the team sits in third place in the Great Lakes Division with a record of 2-0.  Cincinnati has started the season 0-1-1.

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A sellout crowd of more than 2,000 saw the Michigan Bucks upset the Chicago Fire, 3-2, in overtime Tuesday night at Pontiac’s Ultimate Soccer Arenas. Midfielder Nermin Crnkic rifled a shot past the right shoulder of Fire goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi in the third minute of overtime for the go-ahead score.  The Bucks advance to host the Dayton (Ohio) Dutch Lions of the USL Pro League Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup Tournament’s fourth round. "Any time you come on stage, you got to be ready," Crnkic said. "When you get one chance you got to put it in." Tuesday’s victory was the Bucks’ first over an MLS team since they beat the New England Revolution at Foxborough (Mass.) Stadium in 2000.

Bucks owner Dan Duggan, a Livonia native, was all smiles when asked about the historical significance of the victory.  "There’s a lot of days when you wake up and wonder why you do this," Duggan said. "It’s expensive; you wonder where the support is. But then you get a day like this."  The Dutch Lions upset the MLS’ Columbus Crew, 2-1, Tuesday in Columbus.  Bucks coach Gary Parsons had said this week a victory over the Fire would be "unbelievable," but he was a believer after the game.  "It’s soccer," Parsons said. "You might not be as good as another team position-by-position, but it’s more of a team game than any game I know. It takes every guy working hard."

While the Bucks controlled the overtime session, regulation was a different story.  Bucks midfielder Nathaniel Boyden scored on a header in the 79th minute to tie the score at 2.  The Bucks had missed scoring opportunities on four breakaways prior to Boyden’s goal, including a Zach Steinberger shot in the 45th minute that hit the crossbar.  Chicago took control in the 51st minute when Federico Puppo connected on a pass from Corben Bone for a 2-1 lead.  Bone scored Chicago’s first goal in the 28th minute when he caught Bucks goalkeeper Adam Grinwis with a quick strike off a rebound.  Midfielder Thomas Catalano gave the Bucks a 1-0 on a breakaway goal in the ninth minute.  While the Bucks players receive no salary and for the most part are no older than 23, socceramerica.com reports that the Fire’s combined 2012 base salary for their starting lineup Tuesday is $637,300.

"This is ours," Crnkic said. "We stunned them."

eric.lacy@detnews.com

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120529/SPORTS07/205290423#ixzz1wN2OBuM1

“As much as you hate to start a game and stop so quickly, it actually worked to our advantage,” said Bucks head coach Gary Parsons.   “It gave us time to see how we lined up, how they were going to play us and we made the adjustments with our new personnel to go back and out restart the game as if we were starting fresh.   The tactical changes worked, and the team responded with much more intensity on both sides of the ball.”

In the 29^th minute, Bucks leading scorer Tom Catalano lined up a free kick from just outside the box.   Catalano put the ball on the ground underneath a leaping Bucks player positioned in the wall and slotted it perfectly in the lower corner for a 1-0 lead.   The goal was Catalano’s third of the season and second from free kicks.  Five minutes later Anthony Grant (Bowling Green) would play a perfect ball through to Zach Steinberger (Butler) and he would notch his first goal of the season to make it 2-0 for the home team.  

While the momentum was high, three minutes later in the 37^th minute Nermin Crnkic would ignite the crowd with the goal of the game.   Tuesday night’s hero Stew Givens launched a long throw across the penalty area where two players attempted to head the ball.   When the ball would elude both players, the opportunistic Crnkic was already in mid air where he met the throw with a perfect side volley rocket from eight yards out making the score 3-0.   Just before halftime, co-captain Simon Omekanda spotted Anthony Grant on a dead run through the middle of the park and put him in alone on Rage keeper Conor Hurley who had no chance and the locals went into the halftime break up 4-0.

With the game seemingly in hand, Parsons went to his bench in the second half to further explore the depth of his talented side, who were participating in only the second PDL regular season match.   The Bucks are now 2-0 (6 points) in first place in the Great Lakes Division and 2-0 in the US Open Cup to remain perfect for the year.  In the 55^th minute, Grant would record his second goal of the game (and the season) when he headed home a beautiful cross from Sebby Harris for a 5-0 lead.  The team was caught napping in the next minute when Hamilton would convert a turnover into a counter attack that would result in a goal by Stephen Powell.  The Rage goal would ruin the shutout in the first appearance by  keeper Sean Teepen (Charleston).    The teams closed out the scoring by trading goals ten minutes apart.   PDL all time leading scorer Kenny Uzoigwe would continue his Canton Cup streak of scoring when he blasted a close range shot in the near post top corner to make it 6-1 Bucks.  Hamilton would finish the game’s scoring when Mark Reilly would beat Teepen after the Bucks defense was caught flat on an offside trap.  The Rage fall to 1-1-1 (4 points) on the season.

The focus now quickly turns to the match of the season on Tuesday night when the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer heat up Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac  (7:30 kick off) in what is certain to be the first sold out match in Bucks history at Ultimate since 2008.   Bucks owner Dan Duggan was pleased with the fury of presale tickets purchased before the team made it back to Detroit from Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon.   “Before we put the tickets on sale to the general public on Thursday, we had over 1,100 tickets purchased from our season ticket holders, long time loyal fans and sponsors and several of the youth clubs that have supported the Bucks over the years.   We were very concerned about only having 6 days to sell tickets to the match and the fact that the match was the day after Memorial Day when many of our fans were just returning from a long holiday weekend.  But the response has been phenomenal and the media is getting on board to help promote this huge event,” said Duggan.    By the time we leave the Canton Cup tournament on Sunday night, I would be surprised if there were more than a couple hundred tickets still available.  The Bucks will cap the capacity crowd at USA at just under 2,000 fans, including expanded general admission sections.

For those who have not yet ordered their tickets, there are still some VIP reserved seats which guarantee you a specific seat in the arena for only $15.   General admission tickets are $12 at the gate (if available) and $10 if purchased on line.   Tickets can be ordered at www.bucksscocer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.  Once tickets are sold out, the ticket links will be disabled.   All tickets purchased will be left at Will Call and doors will open at 5:30 PM on Tuesday night at air conditioned Ultimate Soccer Arenas.

The Chicago Fire plays at the Columbus Crew on Saturday night and will bus to Pontiac, where they will train Sunday and Monday (sessions closed to the public).  The Bucks are off Sunday and will resume training on Monday afternoon in final preparation for their opportunity of a lifetime to upset an MLS team for the second time in US Open Cup history.

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The Bucks have a storied history of success against USL professional teams since they first entered the Open Cup in 1997.  Since then the team has a 7-3 record after Tuesday night’s win against teams in divisions higher than the PDL.  The Bucks played the Riverhounds in the 2006 Open Cup and came away with a 2-0 win.   Tuesday night’s match was a difficult test for the Bucks, who came out firing from the opening whistle.   The junior side pounded the Riverhounds goal the entire first half but could not get anything past goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap, who recorded four saves on the night, but that didn’t tell the story.  The Bucks attacked relentlessly for the entire first half with long throw ins and corner kicks and won most balls in the air, but went into halftime in a scoreless draw.

The Riverhounds made two second half substitutions that added a spark to their offense and began dominating the offensive third between the 60^th and 75^th minute.   During that stretch, the Bucks defense stood tall, blocking shots from every imaginable angle and relied on their back stop in goal Adam Grinwas to keep the professionals off the scoreboard.   Grinwas not only stood on his head keeping the Bucks even, but made the save of the season from the seat of his pants in the 86^th minute to further frustrate the home side.   After making the first point blank save off a Pittsburgh corner kick, Grinwas made a two handed save of a shot from five yards away and cleared the ensuing rebound  with his feet to save the visitors. 

The Bucks continued to pressure offensively with the addition of second half subs Stefan St. Louis and Nermin Crnkic who sparked the attack in the game’s waning moments.   Crnkic collected a ball at the top of the box and drove towards goal in the game’s 90^th minute when he was clipped from behind by Pittsburgh defender Louie Rolko.   Bucks captain Stew Givens stepped up to the penalty spot with a berth against an MLS club on the line and converted for the fifth consecutive time for the Bucks from the penalty spot.   The Bucks would handle the last three minutes of extra time to upset the Riverhounds and move on to play again in a week.

Both teams knew tonight’s prize was a date with the MLS’s Chicago Fire.   Bucks head coach Gary Parsons didn’t discuss the opportunity with his team pre game, but knew the visions weighed heavy on his players.  “Every year many of the top players from around the country and other parts of the world come to play for the Michigan Bucks so that they will have an opportunity to get recognized by coaches from MLS.  There is no better audition than to play 90 minutes in front of them with a tournament game on the line.   The boys knew what was at stake tonight and they desperately wanted a result.  I believe they played well enough to deserve what they got.  It is always tough to win or lose a game on a penalty kick, but Nermin did his job by beating his man and penetrating the box when he was brought down.  I wish we would have scored earlier in the game when we were dominating, as it would have made all of our lives a bit easier.   We let them get into a rhythm in the second half and we nearly paid dearly for it.   Adam Grinwas proved today why he is a top MLS prospect in goal.   He made four or five saves that many pro keepers just don’t make,” said an exhausted Parsons from his team bus.

The Bucks head home to play the Hamilton FC Rage as part of the Canton Cup soccer tournament on Saturday at IndependencePark in Canton.  Admission is free to the Memorial weekend event compliments of the Canton Cup Tournament organizers.  A special Memorial Day tribute to the area’s veterans is scheduled for 12 noon as the Bucks and Rage kick off for the Buck’s fifth consecutive season at the area’s largest annual soccer tournament.  

The Bucks will then quickly turn their attention to the Fire, the fifth MLS team to come to Michigan to encounter the PDL powerhouse since 1999.   Ultimate Soccer Arenas’ limited seating of less than 2,000 is certain to sell out quickly once the Bucks put tickets on sale on Thursday at 5 PM.    Fans will be able to purchase tickets on line at www.buckssoccer.com.    Tickets are $15 VIP reserved seating or $12 General Admission at the door the day of the game.    There are a limited amount of reserved seats that will go quickly.   The general admission tickets can be purchased for a discounted price of only $10 until game day by purchasing on line or at the Ultimate Soccer.     To find out more about how to get tickets to MLS only visit to Detroit this year, please visit the Bucks web site and click on the TICKETS link.

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The newcomers from the WindyCity answered Catalano’s goal with a quick response when defender Francis Letourneau-Mathieu broke free down the left flank and sent a cross that eluded Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwas (Michigan) less than a minute after the home team went up 2-0.   The teams went into half time with the Bucks up 2-1 after an 8-3 shot advantage during the first 45 minutes.   Grinwas was not tested often but did come up with a stellar save in the 32^nd minute to push aside a curling shot headed for the top corner of the net.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons made a couple of strategic half time substitutions to try and put the game away early in the second half.   Uzoigwe and Bim Ogunyemi gave way to Steve Miller (Colgate) and Nermin Crnkic for some fresh offensive legs.   As the Bucks attacked early in the second stanza, Tom Catalano sized up another free kick from 25 yards away.   Instead of focusing on the goal frame, the red hot midfielder chipped a perfect ball to the head of defender Kevin Cope (MSU), who nodded home a textbook finish into the upper corner, giving the Bucks a 3-1 lead in the 48^th minute.

Both teams would continue to battle fairly evenly through the midfield for the next thirty minutes, without yielding a dangerous opportunity.  While the Inferno were starting to come together as a team in their very first PDL match, the Bucks continued to try and find a way to deliver more scoring opportunities as the game went along.   Parsons substituted star forward Stefan St. Louis up top to electrify the crowd, and the Trinidadian native didn’t disappoint.   Coming off a stellar performance of his own on the Bucks 6-0 Open Cup win on Tuesday night, St. Louis pounded at the Chicago goal from the time he took the field.   In the 81^st minute he slammed a certain goal past keeper McKeown, only to be denied by the goal post.   Bucks first year midfielder Zach Steinberger (Butler) followed the rebound and finished the scoring with his first goal as a Michigan Buck.

The Bucks now turn their attention to a Tuesday night road match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Pro (Division 3) in the second round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.  If the Bucks can find a way to upset the Riverhounds, they would host the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) on Tuesday, May 29 (7:30 kickoff) at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.   Ticket information about the possible return of a MLS team to the Detroit area for the first time since 2006 will not be released until after Tuesday night’s match.     If the Bucks move on to play in the third round of the Open Cup, ticket information will be posted online at www.buckssoccer.com by 10 PM Tuesday night.

The Bucks have had the most success against professional teams in PDL history since their first entry into the Open Cup in 1997.  In nine games against professional teams in higher divisions of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), the Bucks have an impressive 6-3 record including a 2-0 victory over the Riverhounds in 2006.  For more information about the Riverhounds and the Bucks, please visit the USL web site at www.uslsoccer.com.

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While ticket information about the potential match up with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire on May 29^th will be withheld until the outcome of Tuesday’s match in Pittsburgh, ALL fans attending Saturday night’s Bucks/ Inferno match will be given a guaranteed pre sale code to insure that they have the ability to purchase Open Cup tickets before they go on sale to the general public.   “Since the announcement came down from US Soccer on Thursday, we have had calls from all over (including the Chicago fans) asking about ticket prices and information for May 29”, said Sherwin Connell, Bucks Director of Operations.   “We have made it clear that there will be no announcement of tickets until there is an official game to announce.   But seeing that there are only six days between when we would find out the result of next Tuesday night’s match and the actual game on May 29 we are preparing to be able to make tickets available to our loyal fan base at least 24 hours prior to tickets going on sale to the general public.   If the game is going to happen, we are committed to making sure our hard core fans will not be kept out of this match that would certainly be a sell out.”   Ultimate Soccer Arena’s intimate setting is great for fans to be right on top of the action, but can only seat around 2,000 fans for such an event.

Bucks head coach Gary Parsons is already tired of hearing about the Fire and the Riverhounds, as he has an all important match in front of him Saturday night.  “It is incredibly important for us to get off to a fast start in the league standings and that means winning our opening match on Saturday night.  It will be important to get the three points in the standings and equally as important to keep the team moral up going to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.   We still have yet to see about one third of our team this year so we are still trying to put the pieces together.    I am excited to see several new players in the lineup on Saturday that were not here on Tuesday.  This should give me a much better idea of the necessary depth that this team will have,” concluded the reigning PDL coach of the year.

The Bucks will indeed have several familiar faces ready to play on Saturday for the first time this season, including PDL all time leading scorer Kenny Uzoigwe who served a one game US Open Cup suspension on Tuesday for a red card received in 2008.   Joining the Bucks veteran in Saturday’s line up will be PDL Defender of the Year Stew Givens and last year’s team captain Simon Omekanda. Overall the current team is made up of college stars representing eleven universities across the United States, as well as several foreign countries.  

Tickets for Saturday’s home opener are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) at the gate but can be purchased for only $6 presale by visiting our web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   Fans presenting their Tuesday night’s US Open Cup ticket stub will get in to the match for only $3 for any member of the group attending.     

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This year’s version of the Bucks Open Cup roster was new to Bucks fans, but the attacking style they are accustomed to was the same.   The team came out attacking from the opening whistle and pounded the Boca goal relentlessly throughout the first half.   The star of the first stanza was Jersey Shore goal keeper Bobby Feeny, who faced 23 shots in the first 45 minutes (40 overall) and made several point blank saves in keeping the Bucks off the scoreboard for the first half hour of play.   The Bucks inability to put the ball in the back of the net became a bit easier in the 17th minute when Jersey Shore defender Nick Tarquino was sent off for a straight red card when he brought down Bucks forward Stefan St. Louis who was heading in alone from the top of the box.  

The Bucks would finally break the deadlock when a pair of former Oakland University Grizzlies would connect to bring the crowd to their feet.   Forward Stefan St.Louis smacked home a close range rocket to the top of the net after collecting a perfect through ball from former college team mate Tom Catalano in the 31^st minute.   Catalano, the Man of the Match, would set up newcomer Nermin Crnkic for his first tally in a Bucks uniform just five minutes later.   In the 38^th minute, St. Louis would give the Bucks a 3-0 lead with one of the most bizarre goals ever scored in Bucks history.   After breaking in alone on Feeny after a perfect through ball from Steve Miller, St. Louis would trip over the ball, nutmeg himself and wind end up lying on the turf three yards from goal.  With Feeny unable to collect the ball from underneath the Trinidad striker, St. Louis back heeled the ball into the corner of the goal while rising up from the turf.  

Defensively, the Bucks were solid across the back led by PDL veterans ‘Sebby’ Harris and Kevin Cope.   Michigan only yielded nine shots on the evening and goal keeper Adam Grinwas was forced to make only four saves.   Although most of the night was quiet for the Michigan Wolverine goalie, he did make a couple of key first half saves to keep Boca off the board in registering his first shutout in a Bucks uniform.

The second half started much more subdued for both teams, with Jersey Shore playing down a man and the Bucks in complete control.  Bucks head coach Gary Parsons made a couple of second half substitutions early bringing in Thomas Schmitt and Ethan Miller to lead the offense and both would figure in the second half scoring.  Schmitt, the University of Akron leading scorer this spring, would set up Catalano for the games fourth goal in the 74^th minute.    The best goal of the game came six minutes later when Crnkic beat his defender down the flank and found Miller at the top of the box running free.   Miller ripped a left footed shot into the top corner to make the game 5-0 for the home team.   Bim Ogunyemi would complete his homecoming party with the nightcap in the 89^th minute from Crnkic to round ou t the scoring.   Ogunyemi left the Bucks to pursue his pro career with the Portland Timbers (MLS) the past two seasons and won a PDL championship with the Timbers U23 team in 2010.

The  Bucks will be off on Wednesday before training Thursday and Friday for the PDL season opener on Saturday night against the expansion Chicago Inferno.  The first of  eight regular season home games will also be played at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 PM kick off).   Tickets at the gate for the match are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under).  Kids 5 and under are always free to Bucks games.   Fans who attended Tuesday’s US Open Cup game can get in for only $3 by showing their game ticket.   Anyone can purchase tickets for the regular presale price of only $6 by going to the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking the TICKETS link.

The charm of the Open Cup is that every amateur and professional men’s team in the country has an opportunity to qualify for the annual event and each year a new Cinderella team is born as an inevitable underdog will make their way from Round One or Two into the later rounds.   This year, the sixteen Round Two winners will meet the sixteen US based Major League Soccer (MLS) teams on Tuesday, May 29 (host to be determined).   The Bucks built their reputation as one of the top PDL teams in the country thanks to several major upsets of professional teams between 1997-2006 and made their way to a record six matches against MLS clubs since 1999 through the Open Cup.   The biggest upset in US Open Cup history came in 2000 when the Bucks became the first PDL team in history to defeat a MLS club when they upset the New England Revolution inFoxboro, MA.  The team’s last major run in the Open Cup came in 2006 when the team upset two USL Pro teams before losing to the Columbus Crew at home.   Since then, the Bucks only other appearance was in 2008 when they made a quick first round exit.

“It has been a while since we have made any noise in this tournament so we really want to start another run,” said Bucks Chairman/CEO Dan Duggan.   “The tournament has become more difficult to qualify for and much tougher to advance each year due to the increased level of competitive teams that have developed over the past decade.   We know very well how much this game means to our opponent, as we have been there many times before.”   The US Open Cup format has changed significantly this year, as the qualifiers were determined from winning last season instead of early qualification in 2012.   Duggan believes this is a positive move for all the teams involved, especially the PDL.   “The only downside to the new format is that our first game of the season as a team will actually be an Open Cup game so we don’t have much time to get to know each other.   But knowing that if we continue to win, we play a pro team at a higher level seven days later will help to keep the tournament the main focus of the team in May and then they can move on to only focus being the PDL season.  I like the new concept,” concluded Duggan.

Bucks Director of Coaching Gary Parsons was glad to hear the first two rounds were published so he can begin planning the next three weeks of training.   When asked what he knew about his first round opponent, the veteran coach didn’t hesitate with his answer; “ My opponent?   I don’t even know who MY team is.   The players cannot report to camp until they finish their final exams.   We have our first session on May 7 and most of my projected starters won’t be here until game day; some I have yet to meet for the first time.   The good news is that both teams should have the same issues so we just have to get to work in a hurry and get organized.   We know we will have talent, but winning in the US Open Cup takes a good team so we will have to work fast to get to know one another.  We may have to put names on the backs of their jerseys so I know who is out there,” joked the reigning PDL coach of the year.

The Bucks will publish a preview of the team and the upcoming roster next week as the players report to training camp.  Bucks fans will see a lot of familiar faces again this year as the Bucks will have a mixture of professional players and college All Americans looking to defend their Great Lakes Division championship with the hopes of bringing home another North American PDL title in 2012.  Tickets for the US Open Cup match are the same prices as Bucks tickets for the past four years.   Tickets for Adults are $10 and Youth (16 and under) get in for only $7 the day of the game.  Kids 5 and under are always free to Bucks home games.   All fans can get discounted pre sale tickets for only $6 each by purchasing tickets at Ultimate Soccer Arenas,  one of the local ticket outlets or by purchasing online at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.   

Tickets for Tuesday’s US Open Cup match will be available this weekend for sale for the special $6 price at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.  The Bucks are also offering a limited amount of Family Passes for this season, which offer an entire immediate family (regardless of size) admission to all eight Bucks regular season home games and offer a two for one Bucks summer camp coupon. TheFamilyPass is on sale for only $99 and can also be purchased on line.   This offer will save a family of four who attend all the Bucks games and enroll their kids in camp over $500 on the season.  Any family passes purchased between May 1 and May 15 will also receive two tickets to the Open Cup match on May 15.

PONTIAC, MI - The Michigan Bucks players picked up this fall where the team left off in August at the end of their Premier Development League (PDL) season.  While several players earned accolades and led their teams to college championships, several others cashed in on their success to move on to Major League Soccer and beyond.   Leading the pack was Ben Speas (North Carolina/ Bucks 2010) who scored the game winning penalty kick in the NCAA semi final win and the only goal near the end of the NCAA Final, leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA Division 1 title.  It was Speas’ second consecutive NCAA championship ring, having been a part of the Akron Zips title team in 2010 prior to transferring to Carolina.  For his efforts, Speas was named Soccer America College Player of the Year and signed a contract with MLS as a homegrown player with the Bucks affiliate Columbus Crew.   NAIA powerhouse Lindsey Wilson won their ninth National Championship title behind the leadership of Moses Aduny (Bucks 2009).   Aduny was part of the long-standing Lindsey Wilson College connection that has produced over a dozen top Bucks players since 1996, including Bucks Hall of Famers Benji Djeukeng and Kheli Dube.

The MLS Super Draft has become a celebration for the Bucks organization each year, as they have had a player drafted for a PDL record 14 consecutive seasons.  Last year the Bucks placed a team record seven players with MLS clubs and the 2012 draft was nearly as lucrative.  Five Bucks players moved from the college ranks to have their names called by MLS teams and are currently competing for contracts with clubs in both the US and Canada.   To date, over 45 former Bucks players have been drafted and more than 80 players have moved on from the PDL to play professional soccer in eight countries around the world. In addition to Speas, Dartmouth striker Lucky Mkosana was drafted with the fourth pick in the second round by the Chicago Fire, a team that saw Mkosana show off his skills twice last season with the Bucks and now joins fellow Zimbabwe and former Bucks star Kheli Dube in the Windy City this summer. Dube was released by the New England Revolution before joining the Fire in January.  The Fire also added Tony Walls (UW-Green Bay/ Bucks 2009/2011) with a supplemental draft pick to help shore up their defensive midfield as well. Walls was the Horizon League Player of the Year while Mkosana was named Ivy League Player of the Year.

Two year Bucks reserve forward and Windsor native Babayele Sodade (UAB/ Bucks 2010/2011) caught the attention of the MLS scouts and coaches at the MLS combine the week before the draft and then put on an impressive display of individual skills to have his stock rise and earn the 15^th pick of the second round by the Seattle Sounders.   Sodade was also named 1^st team All Conference USA.  Andrew Bulls (UMBC/ Bucks 2009) finished his outstanding college career when he was chosen by the Columbus Crew in the Supplemental Draft. Both Bulls and Speas will join University of Michigan product Justin Meram (Shelby, Twp) trying to add much needed scoring to a rebuilt Crew team that looks to have a stellar season in Major League Soccer this year.

Bucks coach Gary Parsons enjoyed his off-season from being named PDL Coach of the Year by celebrating the recent success of several other state of Michigan soccer products that he had a hand in coaching either in US Academy Soccer or over the years in ODP.        Oliver Kupe (Lake Orion/ Northwestern) spent a couple summers training with the Bucks and over came a knee injury to have an outstanding senior season and was drafted by Real Salt Lake, where formed MLS standout goalkeeper and Livonia native Jeff Cassar is assistant coach.   Sporting KC assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin (Plymouth/ Catholic Central HS) is happy to have another Parsons academy player Soony Saad (Dearborn/ UM) playing in Kansas City this spring after signing him late in last year’s MLS season.  Saad suited up one game for the Bucks last season between trials in Europe and settling in to a MLS contract.   Canton native Josh Gatt (Catholic Central) never had the opportunity to wear a Bucks uniform but spent several seasons at the Wolves Academy under Parsons, before signing a pro contract with FC Molde in Norway.  Gatt’s recent success in Scandinavia has him in camp with the US National team attempting to qualify for the London Olympic Games this summer.   Joining Gatt in US Olympic team camp are former Bucks stand out defenders Zarek Valentin (Akron/ Montreal Impact) and Kofi Sarkodie (Akron/ Houston Dynamo).   Both Valentin and Sarkodie finished their first year of MLS play last year and are slotted to be starting defenders for their respective clubs.

Former Bucks goal keeper Steve Clark (2005-2008) may have had the most successful pro career last season of all the Michigan professionals, leading his Norwegian team Honefoss from the first division to move up to Norway’s top league the Norwegian Tippelgaen.   For his efforts, Clark signed a lucrative two-year contract and looks forward to finally getting noticed back home on American soil.  The following Bucks players all had outstanding fall college seasons both in the classroom and on the field: Latif Alashe (Northville/ UM) was named to the All Big Ten Academic team as well as 2^nd team all Big Ten.  Fellow Michigan teammate Adam Shaw (Lone Tree, CO) joined him on the All Big Ten Academic team; while Kofi Opare (Niagara Falls, ONT) was a 2^nd team Big Ten selection.   Goalkeeper Dan Withrow (Rochester/ Marshall University) was named 1^st team All Conference USA.  Peter Jacobson (Ann Arbor/ Yale) gathered All Ivy League Honorable Mention for his efforts.

The Akron Zips had a down year by their lofty standards by not defending their two consecutive year run of playing in the NCAA Final game and failed to defend last year’s title.   Having lost seven starters from the 2010 title team, coach Caleb Porter did a masterful job rebuilding with an impressive team of young players, including starting five or more freshman in most games.   Leading the Zips in 2011 and returning for their senior seasons in 2012 are co-captains Chad Barson and Scott Caldwell, who both were members of the Bucks teams in 2010 and 2011.  Barson was named to the NSCAA Academic All American 2^nd team as well as to the NSCAA All Great Lakes 2^nd team.  Barson is a part of the Columbus Crew Academy and will finish his senior season preparing for a career in soccer, followed by a career in medicine.   Caldwell was also an incredible talent both in the classroom and on the pitch as he was named to the NSCAA Academic All American 1^st team, the NSCAA All American 3^rd team and the NSCAA Great Lakes 1^st team.  The Braintree, MA native is part of the New England Revolution Academy.

The Michigan Bucks prepare for their 17^th PDL season when they open spring camp on May 7th.  Although the regular league schedule is due to be released any day, the Bucks do know that they will be participating in a PDL record ninth US Open Cup.  The Bucks automatically qualified for this year’s Open Cup as last season’s Great Lakes Division champion and await the announcement from US Soccer as to the time, place and opponent for the first round match to be held on Tuesday, May 15.  The Bucks will be hosting the team’s only open tryout on Saturday, May 5th at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.    To find out more about the Michigan Bucks, their upcoming season, schedule, Bucks camps and player signings, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com. 

The 2012 schedule and season ticket information will be available by the end of February.

The Bucks and Des Moines Menace have faced off in the post season four times in the past with the Bucks holding a 3-1 lead in the series.   The Bucks won playoff games in 1997, 2002 and 2003 and the Menace's lone playoff victory came over the Bucks in Des Moines in 2005 and culminated in the franchise’s only PDL title.   Des Moines began in 1994, two years before the Bucks, and is second in total victories behind Michigan of all the 64 PDL teams in North America.   The Bucks set the PDL record for wins earlier this season when they became the first team in league history to ever surpass 200 all time victories. 

Both teams are known more for their flair in the attacking half of the field and scored a similar amount of goals on the sixteen game regular season campaign with the Menace holding a slight advantage (41-38 goals scored).  The Bucks dominate the defense like few teams in the PDL and held teams to only 9 goals on the season (compared to Des Moines’ 20) and registered a league high twelve shutouts during the campaign.   Bucks goal keeper Mitch Hildebrandt not only led the PDL with the twelve victories and twelve clean sheets but he did not yield a single goal in eight home games over the summer.    Parsons would like to see a repeat of that two more times this weekend,  “we know if Mitch continues to dominate between the pipes our offense should create enough chances to give us the lead.   If we can jump out early we should be able to hold down the fort knowing we have a solid defensive back line and the best PDL keeper this season as our back stop.”

Tickets for both matches on Friday are only $10 all ages (5 and under free) at the door but are still available at half price until 3 PM Friday.  The Bucks best ticket value is the Family Four pack, which includes 4 tickets to both games on Friday and 4 tickets to the championship match on Saturday.  The $80 value Family Four pass is available until 3 PM on Friday for only $25.  Tickets can be purchased at Ultimate Soccer Arenas or on line at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKET link.  The Bucks are hoping for huge local support from the community to help sway the USL to select the Bucks as Final Four hosts should they survive the weekend.  “We know that Laredo was selected in 2006 and 2007 because of their huge local support where they brought over 7,000 fans to the game.   If we can sell out Ultimate Soccer Arenas we may have a chance.  Plus the team plays better with the place full so hopefully that advantage will insure we are still alive to play next weekend.” concluded Duggan.

Both games will be streamed live over the internet on Friday and can be viewed at www.USLlive.com beginning with the first match at 5:30 PM.  To keep up with all of the 2011 PDL playoffs please visit the United Soccer League home page at www.uslsoccer.com. 

PONTIAC --  The Michigan Bucks will be honoring three former/current Bucks players and coaches at halftime of Saturday night’s Premier Development League (PDL) game against the Cincinnati Kings at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 kick off).   The third class to be inducted represents sixteen years of some of the top players, coaches and soccer entrepreneurs to be a part of the organization.   The Class of 2011 covers Bucks legends from the first season in 1996 until this current year’s squad. Entering the Bucks Hall of Fame are Tim Richey (1996-97), Kheli Dube (2005-07) and Dan Fitzgerald (2002- present).  

Tim Richey was a part of the Bucks inaugural season and came to the team after a couple years of professional soccer with the Tulsa Roughnecks and the Detroit Wheels.  The Birmingham Groves and Michigan State graduate led the team to the PDL Finals in each of the franchise’s first two seasons and scored the winning shootout goal in the first season to send the team to the CocoaBeach. FL. national finals.  Richey’s influence with the Bucks far exceeded White Pine Stadium where the team played its home games in Saginaw, MI back in the early years.  Richey joined forces with Joan Duggan (mother of Bucks Chairman/ CEO, Dan Duggan) to form the first inner city soccer league in Detroit in 1998, where Richey coached his first group of 20 kids as a volunteer.  Together they received financial support from the USSF Foundation and the Michigan World Cup Organizing Committee Foundation (funds from the 1994 World Cup) and partnered with Think Detroit to further develop the program.   In 2006, the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) joined forces with Think Detroit to support the non profit organization that helps develop young children raised in the city of Detroit.  Today, the TDPAL Detroit Youth Soccer League has over 1,000 boys and girls playing organized youth soccer within the city.  In the past three years, Richey has developed his kids from being introduced to organized soccer for the first time to producing several premier teams that compete with all of the top youth clubs in the area.  Richey is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Think Detroit PAL.

Mkhokheli Dube (Kheli) is the most famous of the three inductees, currently playing in Major League Soccer for the New England Revolution.   Dube first came to the Bucks in 2005 from Lindsey Wilson College and led the team through 2007, including back to back appearances in the PDL Championship game in 2006 and 2007.  Dube was one of the hardest working, diligent college players to ever play in the PDL and played every minute of every game as if he were auditioning for a job in MLS.   Even though he played two games against the Columbus Crew with the Bucks and finished a stellar college career at Coastal Carolina, he was not drafted until the eighth pick of the supplemental MLS draft in January 2008.  He made an immediate impact for the Revolution, scoring eight goals in his rookie season, including scoring in his very first match.   Dube was the leading candidate for MLS Rookie of the Year until a late season injury sidelined him (he finished runner up).  Although hampered by a couple of fluke injuries this season, including a recent car accident, the forward has stayed positive and rehabbed enough to hopefully make a major difference as the Revolution prepare to make a playoff run in the second half of the season.   Dube will be on hand for Saturday night’s ceremonies, thanks to Rev’s head coach Steve Nicol allowing him to miss training  to receive his honor in person.

Dan Fitzgerald might be the most invisible coach the PDL has ever seen having been an integral part of the Bucks organization since he began as an assistant coach in 2002.   He has been the assistant to three different Bucks head coaches and held the top spot from 2006-2009.  During his reign as the Bucks leader, the team went to back to back PDL title games, won its only PDL championship, won the PDL regular season championship (2008) and went to three consecutive US Open Cups, an unprecedented run in league history.  Although Fitzgerald has kept a full time job outside of the Bucks and a low profile within the team, he has been a long time key to scouting, recruiting, coaching and analyzing competition.   “He has an incredible eye for talent and a computer-like memory for soccer,” said Bucks CEO Duggan.  “Whenever coaches from around the country want to know about a player that played against the Bucks, we have them call Dan.  He can’t remember where he had dinner last night but he can tell you who scored in what minute of every game dating back to 2002.   When we need to know what we are up against, we send him on the road and he will come back with a fool proof game plan.   He has been a wealth of soccer knowledge and a great friend of the program for a long time and we are grateful to have him as part of our team for life.”

The Bucks are looking to keep their first place lead in the Great Lakes division as the regular season winds down.  They also would like to avenge an early season loss at Cincinnati.  The team gave up a late penalty kick goal to tie the away game and then were scored on in the 92^nd minute to be eliminated from US Open Cup qualification.  Tickets for the rematch on Saturday are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free) at the door but all tickets are on sale now for only $5 when buying in advance.  Discounted tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

SOUTH BEND -- The Michigan Bucks continued their struggles on the road this season when they lost to the Indiana Invaders on Wednesday night on a last minute goal.   The Bucks (8-2-2, 26 points) remain in first place in the Great Lakes division despite the 2-1 setback; however, the loss opened the door for the Chicago Fire Premier to make a move on the top spot.  Although the Bucks playoff fate is not yet in jeopardy the team was desperately trying to nail down first place with the hopes of securing a home playoff series later in July.   The Bucks have given away both losses on last minute goals and recorded both scoreless ties on the road this year.  At home the team has yet to concede a goal while maintaing a perfect 5-0 record and look forward to the next two matches in the friendly confines of air conditioned Ultimate Soccer Arenas.

Wednesday night’s match featured a much more spirited Indiana team than the one that came to town and lost to the Bucks 3-0 at the Canton Cup in late May.  The Invaders scored first in the 44^th minute on a goal from Musa Kamara. The Bucks appeared to have tied the score only a minute later but the goal was disallowed on a controversial off side that resulted in a couple yellow cards issued by the referee.   When things cooled down and play resumed in the second half it was much of the same end to end action with both teams creating scoring chances.   The Bucks would finally get the equalizer when a long pass from Ryan Keener reached Invaders goalkeeper, Avery Steinlege at the edge of the box where crafty Bucks forward, Kenny Uzoigwe stole the ball from the feet of Steinlege and walked in alone to knot the score at 1-1 in the game’s 54^th minute.

Although the Bucks outshot the Invaders 15-12 and edged them in corner kicks 7-5, it was Indiana that created more dangerous chances and in the game’s 90^th minute finished off the Bucks when Adam Mena’s shot found the side netting in stoppage time.   Bucks head coach, Gary Parsons was searching for answers after the final whistle wondering why the team plays so differently on the road than at home.   “This makes no sense to me.   Is there really that much difference in the field or the atmosphere?  Referees on the road have not exactly been our friends this year, but that has nothing to do with our lack of defending. Not at all.   This was a game we should have won but did not work as hard as the other team.  That is unacceptable.    We simply cannot get outworked by any team in this league if we want to win games.   The talent in this division top to bottom is just too good to think you can bring anything less than you’re “A” game and expect to get points,” concluded a disappointed Parsons.

The Bucks return to Ultimate Soccer Arena for a taste of homefield advantage the next two Saturday nights with matches against Cincinnati and London before takeing one last road trip to Chicago on Wednesday, July 20. The regular season will then close out at home against the Toronto Lynx on Saturday, July 23.   This Saturday the team will seek revenge for their first loss of the season when the Cincinnati Kings come calling for a 7:30 p.m. kick off.   The game will feature the Bucks third Hall of Fame Induction ceremony when three former/ current Michigan Bucks greats will be inducted at halftime.    This year Tim Richey (1996-97), Kheli Dube (2005-07) and Dan Fitzgerald (2002- present) will be honored.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame game are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free) at the door but all tickets are on sale now for only $5 when buying in advance.   Discounted tickets can be purchased at Ultimate Soccer Arenas or on line by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

HAMILTON --  The Michigan Bucks struggled on the road Sunday but came away with a critical point in a 0-0 draw with the Hamilton FC Rage.  The tie keeps the Bucks (8-1-2, 26 points) atop the Premier Development League’s Great Lakes Division while also keeping Hamilton’s (3-5-3, 12  points) slim playoff hopes alive in their inaugural season .  When the Bucks defeated the Rage two weeks ago at home, it was an early goal that set the tone.  The team tried the same strategy on Sunday, but the goal never came.  In the game’s third minute Luke Holmes sent in a nice cross from the corner that first year Bucks forward, Peter Jacobsen headed just over the cross bar.  Less than ten minutes later Kenny Uzoigwe sent a ball across the box that defender Justin Sass booted high as well.

While the Bucks tried desperately to find their scoring touch goal keeper, Mitch Hildebrandt played another outstanding game, making several great saves, including a beauty in stoppage time to deny the home side a late game winner.   The OaklandUniversity keeper registered his eighth shutout this season to lead the PDL.   Bucks head coach Gary Parsons acknowledged Hildebrandt’s stellar play so far this season, “There has really been only one part of our team that has been consistent game in and game out, and that has been Mitch. He has been brilliant in every game this season and has not taken a minute off. We have let him down more than once defensively and he has continued to bail us out. I haven’t seen all the teams in the PDL this season, but I can’t imagine another keeper with a better highlight reel of saves than Mitch has this year. If we are going to succeed and make a run in the playoffs, we need everyone to step up and play to the same standard as Mitch has committed to this season,” concluded Parsons.

The game was very even up and down the pitch as both teams recorded 15 shots and each goalie registered 12 saves.   Corner kicks were also even at seven a piece.  Although the Bucks pressured late trying to get the game’s only tally; they could not connect on a couple of second half set pieces, including a late throw in opportunity that Bucks forward, Kenny Uzoigwe headed just high of the goal.

The Bucks continue their road trip when they travel to South Bend on Wednesday to take on the Indiana Invaders, another tough team trying to secure the third and final playoff spot in the Great Lakes division.   Following Wednesday night’s match the Bucks return home for a game against the Cincinnati Kings on Saturday, July 9 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac. Saturday’s home match is Michigan Bucks Hall of Fame Night, when they will induct the latest three Bucks legends to the prestigious club.  

Tickets for the Kings game are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free) at the door but all tickets are on sale now for only $5 when buying in advance.   Discounted tickets can be purchased at Ultimate Soccer Arenas or online by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link. 

PONTIAC-The Michigan Bucks scored twice in the first half of Wednesday night’s game against the Akron Summit Assault to record the team’s seventh victory of the season. With the 2-0 win, the team (7-1-1, 22 points) maintained its lead atop the Great Lakes Division in the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League (PDL).  The victory not only keeps the team’s seven game winning streak intact, but moved the franchise within one victory of a PDL milestone very few would have ever thought possible.   

The Bucks have won a PDL record 199 matches in their sixteen year existence (including regular season, playoff and US Open Cup matches).  “I am not sure when Francisco Marcos created this league 25 years ago that he would have conceived a PDL team winning 200 games.   There are MLS clubs that have been in existence since 1996 (the same year the Bucks started) that play twice as many games each year as the PDL teams, and they have yet to win 200 games.  It really will be something we will cherish as an organization,” said Bucks Chairman/ CEO Dan Duggan.

Although this was the first time the Bucks would ever play against the expansion team from Akron, they expected to face a strong midfield presence.

“We kind of had an idea of what they were going to do, so we tried to adjust our midfield for it. We changed it throughout the game to try and counterbalance it,” defender Stew Givens said. “At times, we had more of the play in midfield and at times they had more of the play, so it was kind of a back and forth game there.”

Forward Kenny Uzoigwe, the PDL’s all-time goal scoring leader, added one more to his career total in the 10^th minute. After a Bucks’ offensive possession was kicked out to midfield, Tommy Catalano sent the ball right back into Akron’s box, finding Uzoigwe alone for a header.

“I always trust Kenny,” Catalano said. “On that ball, I knew I could trust him. He’s a big guy; I knew he could head that ball in.”

The goal was Uzoigwe’s sixth this season, the 82nd of his career, and put Michigan on top 1-0.

Akron nearly pulled even in the 29th minute, when forward Ryan Minick got past the Bucks’ defensive line but missed wide with a shot from inside the eighteen. The Assault were limited offensively all game, and Michigan keeper Mitch Hildebrandt faced just six shots and was forced to make only three saves while recording his seventh win and PDL leading seventh shutout of the season.   The four year Bucks veteran and Oakland University netminder has yet to concede a goal at home in five matches this summer.

Givens doubled his team’s lead in the 31^st minute. On a free kick from about 30 yards out, midfielder Tony Walls’ headed the ball to an unmarked Givens inside the penalty area.   The veteran made no mistake with his first-time side volley that was directed past Akron goalkeeper Brad Stuver, into the bottom left corner of the net for his second goal of the year.

“I saw the ball go over my head, and then I was just looking for a knockdown,” Givens said. “It just fell into a space, and I was there and had time on the ball and was able to take my time and just pick my corner and finish it.”

The Bucks will take their mid season break this weekend and return to play their next three games on the road, starting with a rematch against the Assault next Wednesday, June 29 in Akron, where they will try to reach the 200 win plateau.   

“It’s definitely different playing a team twice in a row,” Givens said. “We’ll hopefully be able to figure them out quicker and then be able to get a few more goals and take it to them.  We still had a few guys off with summer school that will be back next week so we can make the final push into the last three weeks of the season as a cohesive unit.”

The Bucks next home game will include the team’s third Michigan Bucks Hall of Fame Induction ceremony when the team returns home to Ultimate Soccer Arenas on July 9th to take on the Cincinnati Kings at 7:30 PM. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased for just $5 before the day of the game. Tickets at the door on Saturday night are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free). Click here to purchase tickets online.

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- The Michigan Bucks lined up on Saturday without their top two scorers (Kenny Uzoigwe and Luke Holmes) and had the team’s third leading scorer (Tommy Catalano) leave the game after just 30 minutes, but still managed to get enough offense to take down the Hamilton FC Rage 3-0 in front of over 500 fans at Borden Park. The late afternoon game was sponsored by the Rochester Soccer Club as part of the club’s annual tryouts.

Babayele Sodade filled in at forward for Uzoigwe and Lucky Mkosana played the other forward position to lead the Bucks offense that came out firing from the opening whistle. Sodade had a couple of quality opportunities in the game’s first minutes but couldn’t open the scoring.

"Babayele gives us what Kenny does, but Kenny’s a prolific goal scorer...so we’re getting the same things out of Babayele, except that maybe Kenny is going to get a few more goals," Bucks head coach Gary Parsons said.

Meanwhile, Mkosana, playing in just his third game with the team, gave Michigan an early lead in the fourth minute. Using his pace, Lucky pushed a ball past the last defender and went in on goal from 30 yards out. After getting past hard charging Hamilton keeper Nick Kurtz, Mkosana saved the ball from going over the end line and curled it into the top left corner of the net from an impossible angle for his first goal of the season.

"I thought [the keeper] was going to reach the ball first, but I managed to kick it behind him, and I got a really quick chip over the defenders," Mkosana said. Looking to extend the 1-0 lead, the Bucks peppered Hamilton’s net with fourteen shots in the first half. Kurtz made eight saves, preventing Michigan from gaining a larger advantage. Sodade was stopped on a couple of point blank saves and a Simon Omekanda shot from 18 yards out destined for the top corner was also denied by Kurtz. Even with all the continued Bucks pressure, Hamilton made it into halftime down by just one goal.

The Rage came out to start the second half with a different strategy and decided to open the game up. The first part of the second half was an end-to-end affair that seemed to frustrate the Bucks. Assistant coach Dan Fitzgerald summed up the second half breakdown that kept Hamilton in the game until the later stages.

"This was a good test for our guys. We could have had several first half goals, but didn’t cash in," Fitzgerald said. "We were getting out of our game trying to chase that second goal and it put a lot of pressure on our defense. There was a fifteen minute stretch where we gave up four corners and really needed to calm things down and get back to our plan. I was pleased to see the defense stay composed. This is the kind of pressure we will see the last half of the season, so it was a great test."

Hamilton went to substitute keeper Justin Silveira for the second half, who stymied the Bucks offense for nearly 45 minutes. The Bucks subbed in another of the team’s offensive weapons in Stefan St. Louis, who has scored some great individual goals of his own over the past three seasons. Saturday he delivered another beauty when he took a ball near the top of the box, beat two defenders and ripped a left footed shot to make the score 2-0 in the 82nd minute.

Substitute John Dreshaj came on late in the game, stole a Rage pass and sent a nice cross to the back post where Mkosana rose above the defenders and headed home his second goal of the game to close out the scoring in the 3-0 shutout.

"That’s the game right there. You’re going to spend the last ten minutes of the game defending your goal, and the last couple of games that we’ve had a one goal lead, we haven’t done as good a job as I would have liked," Parsons said. "Stefan scores the second goal, and it’s a whole different matter then."

Along the defensive line, the Bucks back four were solid all game long but no player was stronger than goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt. The fourth-year Bucks goalie made several spectacular saves and picked up his sixth win and sixth clean sheet of the season. Hildebrandt has only given up four goals in eight games this year and has been key to the Bucks six-game winning streak.

The first place Bucks (6-1-1, 19 points) begin the second half of the regular season when they take on the third-place Akron Summit Assault (3-1-3, 12 points) on Wednesday, June 22nd at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 kick off). Pre-sale tickets can be purchased for just $5 before the day of the game. Tickets at the door on Wednesday night are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free). Click here to purchase tickets online.

TORONTO-   The Michigan Bucks had an enjoyable weekend in Canada when they came away with a two-game sweep after Sunday’s 4-0 win in Toronto.  The win kept the Bucks in first place (5-1-1, 16 points) in the Great Lakes division of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League (PDL).  After defeating FC London 2-1 on Friday evening, the team took the short drive up the 401 and posted their fifth consecutive victory of the season.  The loss on Friday was the first for FC London (3-1-0, 9 points) and the Lynx dropped to 2-3-0, good for six points on the season.

The Bucks jumped out early on Toronto, Sunday when Canadian striker Babayele Sodade (Windsor, ONT/ UAB) out-leaped the Toronto defense and headed home the game’s first goal on a throw in from Stew Givens. After battling back and forth for the balance of the first half, that proved to be the only goal before the break.

The Bucks came out hard in the second half hunting for another goal to put the game away.  Tom Catalano (Macomb, MI/ Oakland) scored his fourth Bucks goal of the season on a very nice individual effort.  His unassisted goal clanged in off the post in the 47^th minute to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.   Michigan head coach Gary Parsons rested 32 year old striker Kenny Uzoigwe for the first half and brought him on to play the final 45 minutes to apply some additional offensive pressure.   

The team’s leading scorer responded by heading home two more goals, giving him three for the weekend and five on the season.  Uzoigwe scored his 80^th PDL goal in unique fashion after taking a cross from the right side from Luke Holmes (Oldham, England/ Akron), Uzoigwe battled both a defender and goal keeper for the ball before finally heading home the goal from his knees.   “I’ve scored a lot of crazy goals in my life,” said Uzoigwe,  “but never one quite as bizarre as that one.”   The Bucks continued to control play for the balance of the game and Uzoigwe was rewarded once again when he got on the end of a Tony Walls (Milwaukee, WI/ Wisc-GB) corner kick to head home the game’s final goal in the 78^th minute.

Defensively the Bucks have been sound all season long.  The back line has included a mixture of veterans and rookies that have combined to play quite solid so far this season.   Stew Givens (Troy, MI) has been the leader all season long in organizing the back four and keeping things as simple as possible for net minder Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, MI/ Oakland).  Hildebrandt has been spectacular all season for the Bucks turning in his fifth win and fifth shutout of the season in seven contests.   The fourth year Bucks player saw 13 Toronto Lynx shots but was only forced to make four saves on the day.

The Bucks return home on Saturday, June 18 as part of the 2011 Bucks Stop Here Tour.   This stop brings the team to Borden Park in Rochester where the Bucks will take on the Hamilton FC Rage for the first time.  The unique event is sponsored by the Rochester Soccer Club and is being played at the end of the club’s annual youth soccer tryouts.  Kickoff time for the match is 5:00 PM.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

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LONDON-   The Michigan Bucks retained their hold on first place in the United Soccer League’s (USL) Great Lakes Division with a 2-1 win over FC London on Friday evening.    The Bucks (4-1-1, 13 points) handed London their first loss of the season (3-1-0, 9 points) when they closed the deal with a second half Kenny Uzoigwe goal in the 56^th minute.  Uzoigwe’s header from a Sebby Harris (Oxford, MI) free kick from mid field put the team on top to stay, while the defense held off a late London rally for the equalizer.  

Kenny’s third goal of the season, along with his three assists put him atop the Bucks scoring leaders with nine points. Forward Luke Holmes (Oldham, England/ Akron) opened the scoring in the fourth minute when he smacked home a left-footed shot from close range to give the Bucks a very early 1-0 lead.  Holmes has three goals and two assists on the season for the Bucks (8 points).

As usually is the case, both teams battled the entire match and defended tightly to keep the game a low scoring affair.   PDL Honorable Mention player this week, goal keeper, Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, MI/ Oakland) came up big on several occasions in registering his fourth win of the season in the Michigan goal.  Hildebrandt was denied his fifth shutout of the season when striker Harris Cekic scored on a FC London penalty kick to tie the game at one in the 18^th minute.

Bucks coach Gary Parsons was happy to get his first road win of the season, especially in a hostile environment.   “London had a nice crowd tonight (over 950 people) in a great soccer park.   They have done a nice job here with this club and always put one of the hardest working teams in the PDL on the field each year.   As hard as it is to play against them, we always have competitive matches that are entertaining for the fans.   I am happy with the progress we are making as a team and need to continue to build on our winning streak Sunday in Toronto,” said Parsons.

Michigan continues their Canadian tour this weekend by taking the short drive to Toronto to take on the Lynx on Sunday (6:00 PM kick off).  The Bucks will look to make it five wins in a row after stumbling out of the gate with an opening season road trip that produced only a tie and a loss.  Following Sunday’s match, the Bucks return home to take on the Hamilton FC Rage on Saturday, June 18 at Borden Park as part of the Rochester Soccer Club youth tryouts.  Ticket information for that game can be found on our web site at by clicking on the TICKETS link.

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PONTIAC -   The Michigan Bucks continue their 2011 “Bucks Stop Here Tour” when they visit Borden Park in Rochester Hills on Saturday (5:00 kick off) to take on the expansion Hamilton FC Rage.   The special event is being hosted by the Rochester Soccer Club to conclude the organization’s annual youth tryouts and admission is free to the public.  Bucks Chairman/ CEO Dan Duggan is happy to visit the local community and pleased with the commitment from RSC.  “This is a great up and coming youth soccer organization in the metro Detroit area and we are proud to be a part of their annual tryouts.   As part of the sponsorship deal, RSC has purchased all the tickets to the match and have decided to just open the game up to the general public.  The organization expects to have over 1,000 RSC players and parents in attendance, so it should be a great event.”

The Bucks come in to Saturday’s match sitting on top of the USL’s Premier Development League (PDL) Great Lakes Division with a five game winning streak and an overall record of 5-1-1 (16 points).  Hamilton comes in with a record of 1-3-2 (5 points) in their inaugural season in the PDL.   Bucks head coach Gary Parsons doesn’t know much about the Rage, but he has learned in the PDL you never take any team for granted.  “Sometimes it is easier playing a team you have seen before because you can prepare a bit. In this case, we know very little about the Rage, except that they are capable of coming in here and ruining our party.   It is up to the veteran leadership on this team to keep everyone disciplined enough to do their job and make the proper adjustments as the game progresses.  We know we have enough fire power to score goals, so our strategy as always is to come out and play entertaining Bucks soccer to get the fans behind us,” concluded the fourth year coach.  Saturday’s match marks the halfway point of the PDL sixteen game regular season schedule and a win will keep the team on top of the division.

The Bucks will then play a home game at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Wednesday, June 22 (7:30 PM kick off) when they host the Akron Summit Assault for the first time.  Ticket prices for that match will return to the Bucks normal home game ammount and can be purchased at the door for $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free).  Fans can purchase pre-sale tickets to the match for only $5 by visiting the Bucks office at Ultimate Soccer Arenas or stopping by the merchandise table on Saturday at Borden Park. For those wishing to purchase $5 pre-sale tickets on-line, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com and click on the TICKETS link.   For more information about the 64 team PDL, please visit the United Soccer Leagues home site at www.uslsoccer.com. 

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Alex Dropkin

WALLED LAKE–– After the Michigan Bucks’ performance against the River City Rovers on Friday night, the team’s goalless draw against the Rovers at the start of the season is a distant memory. The Bucks scored five goals and pummeled the Rovers with 17 shots in the first half alone in a 5-0 shutout win before a vibrant crowd at Walled Lake Central High School.

Friday night’s goal production was shared among several of the quality attackers, led by Stefan St. Louis (Trinidad) and Luke Holmes (Oldham, England/ Akron).   But it was Bucks  co-captain Stew Givens (Troy, MI) who lit up the scoreboard first off a diving header from close range finishing a Kenny Uzoigwe cross into the box in the 17^th minute.

“The game is about finishing your chances and we had those chances in the first half of the game in Louisville, but we didn’t put any in. Once you don’t put your chances in, the game gets tougher and tougher as you go,” head coach Gary Parsons said. “Tonight, we unlocked the gate early and got the goals. Then the game became easy for us.”

Just two minutes later, Michigan doubled its lead on the goal of the game from Luke Holmes. Holmes, after receiving a pass from defender Adam Shaw (Lone Tree, CO/ Michigan), weaved his way through three River City defenders and scored on a shot from just inside the box.  Holmes also had two assists, both coming later in the match.

“The most important thing was that we got early goals and then we could afford to sit back. We got five goals, but we didn’t have to keep going forward and going forward [later in the game],” midfielder Luke Holmes said.

The Bucks continued to pressure the Rovers’ defense with tight passes and fluid ball movement. In the 36^th minute, midfielder Tommy Catalano (Macomb, MI/ Oakland) found forward St. Louis right in front of the net for the Bucks’ third goal of the game.

“It’s always good to have quality players on your team. Luke and Tommy’s support from the mid field make it easier for the forwards to finish,” St. Louis said. “The opportunities came mainly because the midfielders and forwards were all pressuring the defense and forcing them into making mistakes and making our opportunities count.”

Catalano would add a goal for the third consecutive game, tying him for the team lead in scoring (3 goals/ 1 assist for 7 points) with Uzoigwe (2 goals/ 3 assists). St. Louis would round out the team’s scoring with his second of the night just before halftime.

Friday’s victory closes out a home stand in which Michigan won all three games, scored eleven goals and allowed zero. Following a Chicago Fire draw against Hamilton FC on Friday, the Bucks now move into first place in the Premier Development League’s Great Lakes Division.

Goal keeper Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, MI/Oakland) wasn’t busy but did make two key saves in the first half to secure his third win of the season and recording his fourth shutout in the team’s first five matches.  “Tonight the boys made things much easier for me than the first time we played this team,” said a relaxed Hildebrandt referring to the 0-0 tie on opening night when he was called on to make two game saving stops in the final minutes in Louisville.  “Having this much fire power up top is any goal keeper’s dream.  But the back line did a nice job of staying organized for the entire 90 minutes.”  The Bucks solid defense held the Rovers to zero shots on goal in the second half.

The team will hit the road for a two game road trip to Canada next weekend, squaring off first against FC London on Friday, June 10 before heading up the road to Toronto for a game on Sunday, June 12.  The Bucks next home game will be on Saturday, June 18 at Borden Park in Rochester against the Hamilton Rage as part of the Rochester Soccer Club annual tryouts.  Kickoff is 5:00 and tickets are available on the Bucks web site.

For all information about the Michigan Bucks and the United Soccer Leagues (USL), please visit us online at www.buckssoccer.com.

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Alex Dropkin

PONTIAC, MI –– Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, Mi/ Oakland) closed out a Memorial Day weekend that would make any soccer player proud.  The fourth year Michigan Bucks goal keeper followed up his shutout performance against Indiana on Saturday with another clean sheet against division rival Chicago Fire Premier at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Monday night.  Hildebrandt finished the Bucks US Open qualifying campaign (consisting of the first four regular season games) with three shutouts as the Bucks doused the Fire by registering a 2-0 win, highlighted by a first half penalty kick save from the ’keeper that would ignite the home team.

The Fire came into the match with an undefeated record of 3-0-0 and already qualified for the Open Cup tournament.  The Bucks squandered a couple of early chances to secure their ticket to the Cup when they came away from their first two matches with only one point.  However, the team rebounded this past weekend with two much needed victories as they defeated Indiana 4-0 at the Canton Cup on Saturday and by putting out the Fire on Monday night.

Monday’s game was an intense match between two of the Premier Development League’s (PDL) top franchises, highlighted by physical play and end to end attacking.   Both goal keepers (David Meves for Chicago, Hildebrandt for Michigan) were called on early and often to keep the scoreline in check.  Bucks head coach Gary Parsons highlighted how crucial Hildebrandt’s play was when appraising his team’s defensive preformance, “I don’t think defensively we were tight enough; we allowed them too much time to play. They’re a quality team, and when you give them some time to play they’re going to go through and create dangerous opportunities.”

The Fire nearly got on the board first after being awarded a penalty kick in the 25^th minute... Midfielder Harrison Petts went left, but was denied by an outstretched Mitch Hildebrandt.

“As soon as they gave the penalty kick, it’s like we’re down 1-0 already, and then Mitch saves that and it just gives the whole team a lift. I think it woke the team up more than anything, and then, the results speak for itself,” midfielder Luke Holmes said.

The Bucks capitalized on the momentum boost provided by Hildebrandt’s save. Twelve minutes later, Tommy Catalano nearly scored on a shot that beat Fire goal keeper David Meves and bounced off the right post.

A few minutes later the Bucks would earn a free kick from 20 yards out and Holmes would step up to try and put the home team on top.  The first year Bucks player would smack home the games first goal, beating his Akron college team mate Meves on the short side, giving the Bucks a 1-0 lead right before halftime.

The Bucks doubled that lead in the 69^th minute when a Kenny Uzoigwe header was laid back to midfielder Tommy Catalano, who rocketed the ball into the net for his second goal of the season.  The win pushed the Bucks up to second place in the PDL’s Great Lakes Division.

The Bucks will take on the River City Rovers of Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, June 3^rd. The game is a part of the “Bucks Stop Here” tour, and will be held at Walled Lake Central High School at 7:30 PM.   Tickets for Friday’s match can be purchased for a discounted rate of only $5 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKET link.

June 2, 2011

TAMPA-  The United Soccer Leagues (USL) have honored Michigan Bucks striker Kenny Uzoigwe as the Premier Development League (PDL) Player of the Week.  Every Thursday the league announces its PDL team of the week for all games played between the 64 teams in North America.  Uzoigwe scored two goals in the Bucks 4-0 shutout of the Indiana Invaders on Saturday, making him the PDL’s all time leading scorer with 78 goals.   The 6’4 forward from Toledo, OH has had this honor several times before in his first eight PDL seasons, but none were as satisfying as the latest.  “To be honored by the league is special.  But getting us off to a fast start against Indiana and following that up with a huge win against Chicago is really what the team needed.  We are starting to put it all together after a slow start on the road this year,” concluded Uzoigwe.  On how long the 32 year old intends to continue to play, “until I break the 100 goal mark,” he laughed. 

The team continues its home stand as the Bucks visit Walled Lake Central High School on Friday night for the first time when they host the River City Rovers (7:30 kick off).  The Bucks opened the 2011 season in Louisville where they had to settle for a 0-0 draw playing down a man the last 28 minutes.  The team will have eight new faces for the return match, most of which have been in training camp for only the last week.   Tickets for the game sponsored by the Walled Lake North Boys Soccer Boosters are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free) and available at the gate.  The third of three consecutive home games is the last time the team is in the area until they play at Borden Park in Rochester Hills on Saturday, June 18 (5:00 kick off) as the highlight of the Rochester Soccer Club annual tryouts.  Tickets for that game and all Bucks home games are on sale at Ultimate Soccer Arenas or by visiting our web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

Bucks Ultimate Soccer Camps Filling Up Fast

The Michigan Bucks Ultimate Soccer Camps are the coolest camp in town.  Not only are Bucks camps run by the team’s pro players and college all Americans, but the camp takes place in air conditioned Ultimate Soccer Arenas.  There are two summer camps for boys and girls ages 6-15 to choose from; Monday to Friday (9 AM to 3 PM) July 11-15 and August 1-5.  Included in the $199 registration fee is a Bucks camp T-shirt, certificate of participation and four tickets to a Bucks home game to watch the teachers in action.  The Bucks also have discounted rates for return campers and campers who register with other siblings or team mates ($10 discount for each camper).  To sign up for Bucks camp, go to our web site at www.buckssoccer.com and click on the CAMPS link and register on line.  For further information, please contact the Bucks office at Ultimate Soccer Arenas at 248-334-7460.

May 28, 2011

Alex Dropkin

CANTON, MI –– After tallying two goals in the Michigan Bucks 4-0 win over the Indiana Invaders on Saturday, forward Kenny Uzoigwe now stands as the United Soccer League (USL) Premier Development League’s (PDL) all-time leading goal scorer.   Uzoigwe’s scores were No. 77 and 78 of his career, the most in PDL history surpassing Des Moines Menace Legend Tomas Boltnar.

“Setting the record is a great achievement, not just for myself but for the organization,” Uzoigwe said.  His first goal, which set the record, put the Bucks on the board in the 14^th minute. Defender Stew Givens hurled the ball into the Indiana box, where Uzoigwe headed it past a diving Invaders goalkeeper Avery Steinlage.

“One of the things that we wanted to accomplish in the first 15 minutes was to get a good start; get a goal, and then we would build on that…. I thought that’s what we did. But it wasn’t just my goals; we had a team effort,” Uzoigwe said.

In the 36^th minute, Uzoigwe struck again. After Steinlage blocked but failed to corral an incoming shot from defender Tony Walls, Uzoigwe tucked the rebound into the back of the net for his second of the game.

The goal gave the Bucks a 2-0 lead, which they would carry into halftime. Michigan outshot Indiana six to three in the first half and had a four to zero advantage in corner kicks.   “I thought we played sloppy in moments, but overall, it was crisp, clean and we finished our chances,” Givens said. “Finishing our chances just makes the game a lot easier.”

In the 66^th minute, on another powerful Givens throw-in man-of-the-match, Walls headed home to extend the Bucks’ lead to three.

The Bucks (1-1-1) will host the Chicago Fire Premier on Monday night in what is expected to be a thriller.  Tickets for the Memorial Day match at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 kick off) are $10 Adults and $7 Youth at the door but can be purchased for only $5 by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKET link.

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CINCINNATI, OH --   The Michigan Bucks finished a disappointing season opening road trip by conceding two late goals in defeat to the Cincinnati Kings 3-2 late Monday night.  The second match of the season saw another long weather delay, which delayed kickoff two and half hours.   Once the game started the Bucks came out the aggressor and pounded the Kings goal with aggressive play that resulted in seven first half corner kicks and several dangerous throw ins that should have put the visitors on top.   Kings goal keeper Kaido Koppel made several great saves and relied on his goal post and cross bar for a couple more to keep the early score at 0-0.  

The Bucks were caught napping on what looked like a harmless restart when a ball fell between two Bucks defenders and onto the foot of Branden Stelmak, who beat Bucks goal keeper Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, MI/ Oakland) on the short side for a 1-0 lead in the 23^rd minute.   The Bucks continued to force the action with the attacking trio of Kenny Uzoigwe, Victor Costa (Oklahoma Baptist) and Simon Omekanda (Rochester Hills, MI).   Omekanda was continuously electric down the right flank whipping in dangerous crosses and serving corner kicks into the Cincinnati penalty area.   The Bucks looked to have an opportunity to tie the game when a Uzoigwe header was cleared off the line by a defender’s hand ball, but the infraction went unnoticed.  Several minutes later Michigan scored its first goal of the season right before halftime when Omekanda placed a perfect ball onto the foot of Sean Grisham (Marietta, GA/ Southern Poly Tech) who tied the score at 1-1.

The second half wasn’t much different, with the Bucks coming out the aggressor.   In the 57^th minute, the Bucks took their first lead of the season when Uzoigwe found Costa open on the right side of the box.  The Brazilian striker took one touch and calmly slotted home for a 2-1 lead.   The next twenty minutes went back and forth with both teams getting quality chances. Hildebrandt made another terrific point blank save off the foot of Stelmak to keep the Bucks lead until the 80^th minute.  Defender Justin Sass (Butler) was ruled to have fouled a Kings player in the penalty area and Stelmak converted the PK to knot the score at 2-2 with ten minutes to play.

The Bucks squandered several opportunities to close the game out but continued to press for the game winner when they were caught on a counter attack in the last minute of play.  The Kings went end to end and second-half-sub Marc Miller finished the play and the game with the winner for Cincinnati.  Bucks head coach Gary Parsons was disappointed with only one point after the first two games.  “I really feel like we could have and should have won both of those matches.  I can give you all kinds of excuses as to why we couldn’t get it done, but the bottom line is that this young group of players has got to learn to play together for 90 plus minutes."

"There was a lot of good soccer to build on but you have to finish your chances and you have to protect the lead.  We knew we were only one bad call or penalty kick away from disaster and needed to get that third goal.  Unfortunately we could not connect the final pass.   Give Cincinnati credit, those kids worked hard the last ten minutes and earned the game winner.  We will hopefully get some more bodies healthy and ready to go for this weekend’s two games, which are very important ones,” concluded Parsons.  Lost in the score line of the two game road trip was consistent outstanding play by veterans Omekanda, Stew Givens (Troy, MI), Alex Morisette (Shelby Twp, MI) and Hildebrandt.

The Bucks return home for a two game Memorial weekend home stand beginning on Saturday at the Canton Cup Soccer Tournament at Independence Park against the Indiana Invaders.   Admission is free to the general public compliments of the organizing committee of the Canton Cup, who are sponsoring this event for the fourth consecutive year.   Kick off is a scheduled for 12:00 noon highlighted by a special fly over of World War II planes in honor of all our area veterans who have and are currently serving our country.   The focus quickly shifts to the Chicago Fire Premier on Monday, Memorial Day in the final game of US Open Cup qualifying at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 PM kick off).  Tickets for the Fire game are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $7 Youth (5 and under free) at the door but all tickets are on sale now for only $5 when buying in advance.  Discounted tickets for Monday’s match can be purchased at the Bucks booth at the Canton Cup, Ultimate Soccer Arenas or on line by visiting the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.

LOUISVILLE, KY --   The Michigan Bucks opened their sixteenth Premier Development League (PDL) season with a scoreless draw against the River City Rovers of Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday night.   The Bucks offense fired nearly 20 shots at the Rovers goal but could not find the winner in a game delayed by more than an hour due to weather.  The Bucks had several chances in both halves of the match and outshot Louisville 18-9 on the game.  Offensively, Simon Omekanda (Rochester Hills) and Victor Costa (Oklahoma Baptist) created most of the chances but failed to put a ball past Rovers keeper Matthew Soyna. Luke Holmes (Akron) put extensive pressure on the home side for the first 65 minutes, before being sent off for retaliation foul.  Although the Bucks played a man down for the last third of the game, they continued to create chances right up to the final whistle.   Defensively the squad was solid and didn’t allow a shot on goal in the first half.   Bucks goal keeper Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, MI/ Oakland) didn’t have much to do in the first half but came up big during the final half hour with the team pushing forward trying to get the game winner, while playing short handed.  Hildebrandt made an outstanding point blank save in the 86^thminute on what would have been the decider had he not deflected the chance over the cross bar.

Bucks coach Gary Parsons was not enthused with the result but found some positives in the team’s first game.  “Given the weather conditions and playing down a man for a half hour, I will take the result.  It is not what we expected, but we have been around long enough to know that the first game of the year always produces a learning curve.   You hope you can still find a way to win, but if you don’t finish in soccer you don’t win.   I liked a lot of what I saw from our defenders, especially playing a man down.  Offensively, we have talent and I believe it will all come together.  We know we need at least four points on this road trip (a win and a tie) so it makes Monday’s game at Cincinnati a game we have to find a way to win. “

The team doesn’t have much time to regroup, as they prepare for the Monday night showdown with the Kings (7:30 kick off). While the Bucks sit at 0-0-1 (1 point) in the Great Lakes Division standings, Cincinnati holds a record of 0-1-1 in its first two games.  Following the Bucks game on Monday night, the team returns home for two games on Memorial Day weekend.   The Indiana Invaders visit the Bucks at the Canton Cup Tournament on Saturday, May 28 (12:00 kick off) and the Chicago Fire Premier close out the 2011 US Open Cup qualifying with a Memorial Day game on Monday, May 30 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 kickoff).  Michigan will most likely have to win all three of their next three matches to secure a coveted spot in the US Open Cup tournament this June.