Pontiac, MI (July 31, 2009)- Michigan Bucks leading scorer Dave Hertel was selected to the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) All Conference team, representing the Central Conference. Hertel started his second season for the Bucks in his familiar left back position and quickly worked his way up the field to play outside midfield, attacking mid and striker throughout the Bucks 2009 summer season. The crafty graduate of Michigan State University, where he was first team all Big Ten last fall, led the Bucks with eight goals and two assists on the season. Since the Bucks season ended last week, Hertel has joined a host of Bucks players that have moved on to begin playing professional soccer for the balance of the summer. Recently signed by Real Maryland (USL 2), Dave will join two familiar faces currently playing for the Monarchs, his back line partners with the Bucks last season Fabien Lewis and Mike Holody (on loan from the Colorado Rapids). The trio of Bucks defenders will have their hands full this Sunday when another former great Bucks player, Ty Shipalane and the Harrisburg City Islanders come to play in Maryland. Bucks goal keeper Steve Clark has signed with the first place Charleston Battery (USL 1), while striker Sebe Harris is set to sign in England, Piotr Nowak in Poland and Nate Jafta still healing in Belgium.
Hertel’s selection by the coaches and general managers of other PDL clubs keeps a string of seven consecutive seasons the Bucks have had representation on what head coach Dan Fitzgerald calls, “without a doubt the most competitive conference in North America.” Fitzgerald is referring primarily to the history of the Bucks, Chicago Fire and Des Moines Menace, who together have produced more Major League Soccer (MLS) draftees than another trio of teams in the 68 team league. Additionally, the winner of the Central Conference has gone on to win the PDL North American Championship in three of the last four years.
BUCKS FINAL SUMMER CAMP FILLING UP FAST!
The Michigan Bucks final camp for the summer is quickly becoming one of the hottest soccer camps in the area- the only one conducted in the comfort of the air conditioned home of the Bucks at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. Camp goes from Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7 (9:30-3:30 PM) with lunch included each day. All campers will receive a special Bucks camp t-shirt, certificate of completion and high level training from top professional and college players, led by Bucks camp director Kenny Uzoigwe. Space is limited and both boys and girls campers ranging from age 5 to 16 years of age are welcome. Players will be placed with coaches at their playing level, not just at their age group. Campers who cannot make the entire five day camp due to conflicts in family schedules are welcome to come and sign up on a daily basis. The registration fees for camp is only $199 for the first camper in each family. Any additional camper will receive a 15% discount, paying only $169. Campers can be signed up on line at the Bucks web site or by visiting the Bucks office at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac.
For more information, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com or call the office at 248-334-7460.
