Pontiac, MI (June 30, 2009) - The Michigan Bucks enter the final three weeks of the 2009 season sitting in a very unusual situation. The 2008 Premier Development League (PDL) Regular Season Champions have their backs to the walls after only coming away with one point in the past two games to position them in a third place tie with the Chicago Fire for the final playoff spot. 
Ironically enough, the Bucks travel to play the Fire on Wednesday, July 1 at Toyota Park and then return to Pontiac for the home rematch when the Fire come to play at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Saturday, July 11 in the Bucks final regular season home match. Sandwiched in between the two Chicago games is a difficult road trip to Cleveland on Wednesday, July 8.
The Bucks (6-3-2, 20 points) go into Wednesday’s match with Chicago (5-1-5, 20 pts) following a 0-0 tie in Cincinnati and a devastating 3-1 loss at home to FC London. The win moved London into second place in the Great Lakes Division behind the Kalamazoo Outrage. With five games left to play, the division title is still up for grabs for any of the four contending teams, but for the Bucks or Chicago to win the division they would probably need to win their final five matches.
If either team would sweep the two game home and home series, it would probably be the end of the playoff hopes for the losing side. Everyone on both squads knows what is at stake, so it should provide for some very interesting soccer on Wednesday. Bucks head coach Dan Fitzgerald knows first hand how dangerous Chicago can be.
“In all my years in the PDL, the Bucks/Fire games have been physical, emotional and hard fought defensive battles where all the players seem to be playing for more than just a win. The two games over the next ten days with the Fire will be no different. We both have rosters loaded with individual talent and have both struggled to score goals and find the right chemistry on the pitch. I couldn’t begin to predict an outcome with our team this year, as the final score could be 0-0 or 3-3. Normally a game against Chicago means beating them for the right to clinch a division title. For the first year ever, we are both fighting for our playoff lives,” concluded Fitzgerald.
The Bucks have only missed the playoffs once in their previous thirteen seasons -- a record among PDL clubs. Chicago has never missed the playoff in their first eight seasons in the PDL.
Following the 0-0 tie in Cincinnati, the only game of the season the Bucks have been shutout, they returned to Ultimate Soccer Arenas to play unbeaten FC London. The Bucks jumped on the first year club 1-0 in the third minute when team scoring leader Dave Hertel converted a nice pass from Jake Stacy to walk in and finish the Bucks first chance of the match.
The Bucks seemed to have the game in hand and continued to pressure London and should have put the game away mid way through the second half. Striker Kenny Uzoigwe was stopped on a breakaway and then minutes later smashed a laser shot off the goal post. Meanwhile, the young team from Canada continued to press and scored three goals between the 70th and 80th minute to take a 3-1 lead. Two of the goals scored came on set pieces, including a nicely slotted free kick that beat goalkeeper Steve Clark.
Coach Fitzgerald knows what lurks ahead unless the Bucks sort out the mental lapses.
“If you give Chicago those same opportunities, they will bury their chances and us along with them,” warned Fitzgerald. “We know if we go back to playing attacking Bucks soccer and keep our heads in the game defensively, we should be able to contain them. If we keep them off the scoreboard, we have a chance to come away with three points at Toyota Park.”
To keep up with all the Bucks action both on and off the field this season, please visit the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.
TWO BUCKS SUMMER SOCCER CAMPS FILLING UP FAST
The Michigan Bucks only two summer soccer camps this year are filling up fast. The first session is Monday, July 6 to Friday, July 10 from 9:00AM-2:30 PM at Ultimate Soccer Arenas. The camp includes training from the Bucks professional and college players, lunch at the World Cup Grill at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, a t-shirt, certificate of completion and two tickets to the Bucks final home game against the Chicago Fire Premier on Saturday, July 11 (7:30 kickoff). All campers will also be recognized before the game or at halftime with the entire Bucks team. Registration fee for campers is $199 for the first child in a family and $169 (15% discount) for each additional camper from the same family. Campers can register online or at the Bucks office at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.
The final week of camp will be held Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7. All the camp details are the same as the July camp. Any August camper paying their registration prior to July 11 will receive the two tickets to the Bucks/Fire match that evening.
For further information, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com.
