Michigan Bucks News Release -- www.buckssoccer.com
Monday, May 14, 2012
PONTIAC, Mich. -- The Michigan Bucks open their 17th Premier Development League (PDL) season with a twist. For the first time in team history, the Bucks will open with a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game, which will be played on Tuesday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 p.m. kickoff). In the first round of the nation's oldest sporting tournament, the Bucks will take on the New Jersey Boca (USUSA) with the winner heading to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, May 22 to play the USL PRO Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round.
The Bucks berth in this year's prestigious tournament comes compliments of its 2011 Great Lakes Division title and their ninth appearance in the Open Cup adds to their lengthy list of PDL records.
Following Tuesday night's huge match, the Bucks will turn around and host the expansion Chicago Inferno on Saturday night (Ultimate Soccer Arenas, 7:30 p.m. kickoff) for their opening match of the 2012 PDL season. The first of 16 PDL matches this term will have the Bucks facing off home and home with the other Great Lakes Division rivals FC London, River City Rovers ( Louisville), Toronto Lynx, and the Hamilton FC Rage. The Bucks will have three matches this season against the Cincinnati Kings and perennial powerhouse Chicago Fire Premier.
As most seasons, the Bucks will have a fair amount of player turnover, having five players taken in January's MLS draft. The good news for Bucks fans this season is that there will be several familiar faces to lead the organization with the most wins in PDL history, starting with current PDL Coach of the Year, Gary Parsons (4th season). On the field, reigning PDL Defender of the Year Stewart Givens is back along side the legend and all time leading scorer in PDL history, Kenny Uzoigwe. Joining these veterans are other players with professional experience including Sebby Harris (England) and Simon Omekanda ( Belgium). The key to the Bucks success over the years has been the mix of experience at the highest level to play along side some of the top college players in the country. This year will be no different.
Returning for their third season at Ultimate Soccer Arenas for the summer are two of the top college prospects in the country and current MLS homegrown players. Chad Barson (Akron/ Columbus Crew academy)) and Scott Caldwell (Akron/ New England Revolution academy) return to lead the Bucks this summer before heading back to Akron to lead the Zips this fall before both start their MLS careers in January. Other standouts that Bucks fans will recognize are Tom Catalano, Adam Grinwas (Michigan), Justin Sass (Butler), Stefan St. Louis, Ryan Keener (MSU) and Kofi Opare (Michigan).
Rejoining this year's team will also be a couple of familiar faces that were away from the Bucks but have come back to join the team in a quest for a deep US Open Cup run and a chance to earn a second PDL championship in August. Kevin Cope (MSU) returns to anchor the back line after a year in Chicago and Bim Ogunyemi returns home after two seasons with the Portland Timbers, where he helped the Timbers U23 to the PDL title in 2010.
Following the Bucks first two games this week at Ultimate Soccer are two home games in local communities, where the Bucks will travel to Canton to be a part of the prestigious Canton Cup on Saturday, May 26 (noon kick off) and then to Novi where the Catholic Central Shamrocks will host the Bucks when they take on the Chicago Fire Premier in the first of three matches that will feature some of the country's top players. There were 16 players drafted by MLS last January from previous Bucks/ Fire matches and this year could produce even more.
Tickets for all Bucks home games are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under). Kids 5 and under are always free to Bucks games. The Canton Cup game is free to the public, compliments of the Canton Cup tournament organizers. Tickets for all other Bucks home games, including the game at CC can be purchased online for a discounted rate of only $6 per ticket. Please visit www.buckssoccer.com and click on the TICKET link to purchase your presale tickets today.
For more information about the Michigan Bucks and the United Soccer Leagues, please visit the league web site at www.uslsoccer.com for scores, standings and schedules for all 73 teams in the 2012 PDL season.