Michigan Bucks News Release -- www.michiganbucks.com
Friday, February 17, 2012
PONTIAC, Mich. -- 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 I 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 U.S. 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-GreenBay/ 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 15th pick of the second round by the Seattle Sounders. Sodade was also named First 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 (LakeOrion/ 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 RealSaltLake, where formed MLS standout goal keeper 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 WolvesAcademy under Parsons, before signing a pro contract with FC Molde in Norway. Gatt's recent success in Scandinavia has him in camp with the U.S. National U23 Team attempting to qualify for the London Olympic Games this summer.
Joining Gatt in U.S. Olympic team camp are former Bucks standout 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 2nd 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 2nd team Big Ten selection. Goalkeeper Dan Withrow (Rochester/ MarshallUniversity) was named 1st 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 2nd team as well as to the NSCAA All Great Lakes 2nd team. Barson is a part of the ColumbusCrewAcademy 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 1st team, the NSCAA All American 3rd team and the NSCAA Great Lakes 1st team. The Braintree, MA native is part of the New EnglandRevolutionAcademy.
The Michigan Bucks prepare for their 17th 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.