Pontiac, MI ( June 20, 2010)-   The Michigan Bucks players and coaches have been watching nearly every minute of this summers 2010 World Cup in South Africa, especially following the progress of the US team as they try to move on to the round of 16 this week.  For coach Gary Parsons, perhaps they have been paying a little too much attention.  As in the US game against Slovenia on Friday, the home team gave up a 2-0 lead and had to scramble back for a late game tie (and the go ahead goal, which was called back).  The Bucks, in similar fashion spotted the Indiana Invaders a 2-0 lead in the first eight minutes of Saturday’s Premier Development League (PDL) match at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, before scoring three second half goals to take a last second 3-2 win and move back into second place in the Great Lakes Division, three points behind the Chicago Fire (with a game in hand).

The Bucks defensive lineup was relatively new, as three normal starters were absent and new comer Kofi Opare (Niagara Falls, ONT/ Michigan) made his first start in the back line.  While the back four took their time in getting situated, the Invaders jumped out early and put their first two shots past goal keeper Mitch Hildebrandt (Livonia, MI/ Oakland).  While most teams would have found the ugly start devastating, the Bucks decided to settle in and start playing.  Bucks leading scorer and player of the game, Kenny Uzoigwe notched his fifth goal of the season on an assist from Simon Omekanda (Rochester Hills, MI) in the 21^st minute to pull the Bucks back to within a goal.  Although they would outshoot the Invaders 9-6 in the first half (23-10 for the game), they could not get the equalizer before halftime.  Although the crowd was excited by the first half of play, nobody could imagine what was in store for the final stanza.

The Bucks came out firing again in the second half and controlled most of the play but were frustrated to not have the score tied until very late in the match.  It wasn’t until the 89^th minute, when Indiana was called for a hand ball in the penalty area when the game changed.  Tom Catalano (Shelby Twp, MI/ Oakland) stepped up to take the spot kick, but his effort to tie the game was nullified by a nice save by Invaders goal keeper Avery Steinlege (MichiganState).  While the frustration of not being able to convert a game tying PK might have drained the spirits of most teams, the Bucks just kept attacking.  Coach Parsons came out looking like a genius when he made his last two substitutions in the last five minutes of the game, bringing in new combers Latif Alashe (Northville, MI/ Michigan) and John Dreshaj (Clinton Twp., MI/ Oakland).  Following a long Bucks throw in from Stew Givens (Troy, MI/ Oakland), the ball bounced around in the box until Dreshaj got his first touch of the game and buried the game tying goal in stoppage time.  Just when you thought it was safe to exhale and enjoy the 2-2 come from behind draw, Uzoigwe pressured the Invaders and created another loose ball scramble in the box.  This time after a mad scramble in the 93^rd minute of the game, Alashe snuck in and tipped in the winning goal as time expired.  The Bucks suffered the reverse fate in a similar last second loss to Chicago earlier this month.  The win brings the Bucks record to 5-2-1 (16 points) at the halfway point of the season.

Parsons was at a loss for words afterwards, as he knows his team continues to play well in the second half of each game.  “We must be watching too much US Soccer.  We start out slow, fall behind and then rally to try and tie and win games.   We have a ton of offensive talent, but this is not a good recipe for success in this division.  Every team is so talented, you have to find a way to get on the scoreboard early and try and play from ahead.  We don’t seem to do that very often.  It might provide great excitement for the fans, but it wears on the coaches and players nerves,” concluded the first year head coach. 

The Bucks now turn their attention to the Kalamazoo Outrage, who come to town for a game on Thursday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas (7:30 kickoff).  The Bucks took the first game of the two game series in Kalamazoo with a 3-1 come from behind win last month.  This will be the last Bucks home game until July 10, as they go on a three game road trip beginning July 1 in London.  Tickets for Thursday’s match are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (15 and under).  Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks home games.  For more information on the Bucks in the standings and the balance of the 2010 PDL schedule, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com 

FUZETTI NAMED TO PDL TEAM OF THE WEEK

Bucks forward Mauro Fuzetti (Houston, TX/ Michigan) was named to the PDL team of the week this week for his outstanding game against London last week.  Fuzetti scored the first of the two Bucks goals and set up the go ahead goal in the 2-2 draw, when his creative work in the penalty area resulted in a converted Bucks penalty kick.  Fuzetti graduated from Michigan last year and was drafted by the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer this past January.   The Texas native was not offered a contract with the Wizards and decided to return to the Bucks for his third season, while auditioning for additional pro soccer opportunities.   Fuzetti is the second Michigan Bucks player to make the PDL Team of the Week, after Rubin Bega (Harper Woods, MI/ MichiganState) earned the honor three weeks ago.