Pontiac, MI  (June 19, 2009) -  The Michigan Bucks put on another offensive display on Thursday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas but only could capitalize twice in a huge 2-1 win over the Ft. Wayne Fever.  For the second game in a row, the Bucks came out flying and pushed from the opening kickoff.  A second minute corner kick proved to be the first great scoring chance when Julian Robles (Los Angeles, CA/ Michigan) headed Mauro Fuzetti’s (Houston, TX/ Michigan) corner kick off the cross bar.   The Bucks constant pressure would lead to the games first goal in the 21st minute when Jake Stacy (Grand Rapids, MI/ Michigan) drilled a right footed shot from 22 yards out past Fever goal keeper Phil Boerger.  Stacy’s second goal of the year came on a great pass from Piotr Nowak (Sterling Hts., MI/ Oakland).  The first half would 1-0, with the Bucks dominating by out shooting Ft. Wayne 9-2 and had a dominating edge in corner kicks, 5-0.

The second half started much the same way the game started, but the Fever had more energy in the second half and were out to prove that their 2-1 win over the Bucks in May was not a fluke.  Michigan seemed to have the game under control until one slight mistake in the defensive third would lead to a 1-1 tie.  After turning the ball over outside the eighteen yard box, hard working mid fielder Chas Parry hit a one time cross to the back post and found Keith Detel alone to head in the game tying goal in the 58th minute.  Both teams gathered energy with the score knotted and Bucks coach Dan Fitzgerald went to his bench to find the late game magic that seems to be the Bucks regular order of business this season.  Enter Bucks star forward Kenny Uzoigwe, TJ Gore (Macomb, MI/ Vermont) and Moses Aduny (Kampala, Uganda/ Lindsey Wilson).  The high energy of the Bucks fresh legs paid off in the 78th minute when Uzoigwe scored another one of his patented high profile goals for what would turn out to be the game winner.  Defensive mid fielder Tony Walls (Wauwatosa, WI/ UW-Green Bay) found striker Uzoigwe with his back to goal at the top of the penalty area, with two defenders on his back.  Kenny chested the incoming pass, headed it one time to set up the acrobatic over head kick.  Uzoigwe has hit two previous “bikes” for goals in the past three years.  This was not the prettiest, but it turned out to be the most effective.  His initial strike was slightly deflected by a defender and went into the top corner of the goal past the outstretched arms of Boerger, who had to switch directions to try and track down the difficult shot.    At 2-1, the Bucks played possession soccer the balance of the game and created a couple more chances to put the game away.  The win, combined with a Kalamazoo loss at London and a Chicago tie with Indiana moves the Bucks back into second place with a big game in Cincinnati on Saturday.  Then the focus will be on hosting Forest City London on Thursday, June 25 in the second from last home game of the season.  The three team playoff race in the Premier Development League’s (PDL) Great Lakes Division is turning into a four horse race between Michigan, Kalamazoo, Chicago and London.

The game winning goal was the first of the season for Uzoigwe, who has been battling nagging injuries the entire season.  “I feel good and am happy to finally get the first goal.  I have never gone this far into a season without a goal, so it is a strange feeling,” said Kenny from his Pontiac apartment.  “I needed to step up and show the team that I am going to be an important part of us winning down the stretch.  I know what is expected of me and this team and I am ready to put the offensive spark back into the team, in whatever role the coaches think  is most needed.”

Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early for the next home match, which will prove to have a major impact in the playoff picture.  Tickets for Thursday’s game with London are $10 Adults and $6 Youth (under 16).  Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks home games.  Pre sale tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.  For more information, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.