Michigan Bucks News Release -- www.buckssoccer.com
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
PONTIAC, Mich. -- The Michigan Bucks and FC London added the Premier Development League's top two trophies to their shelves last season and face off again in the game of the season on Wednesday night at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 PM kickoff). The Bucks currently lead the Great Lakes Division of the PDL's Central Conference with a 7-1-3 record, (24 points) with London trailing with a record of 7-2-1, (22 points) with a game in hand.
An FC London victory would vault last year's North American PDL Champions ahead of last year's PDL Regular Season champs and clearly put the Canadian's in the driver's seat. A Bucks win would give Michigan a five-point lead with two games to go and a bit more breathing room. Should the two teams tie, the outcome of this year's division championship will be determined by both team's final games against division foes.
The Bucks took the first meeting of the season 2-0 in London on June 14 when new comber Gerald Ben scored his first two goals in a Bucks uniform and reigning PDL Goalkeeper of the Year Adam Grinwis played an outstanding game in net to register the shutout in a key match-up that moved the Bucks into first place, where they have remained ever since. The win was a bit of revenge for the Bucks, who defeated London twice in the regular season last year, only to be upset in the playoffs at home.
Both teams have had opportunities to open the gap and secure the division, but neither team has been opportunistic enough to get the job done. London went on the road to Chicago and came away with only one point in two games, while the Bucks have sputtered offensively in tying each of the past three games, leaving six points on the table. The intense competition from all seven teams in the division have kept the playoff picture very fuzzy, since all teams are still mathematically alive this late in the season for the first time in history.
With the PDL Playoffs less than two weeks away, both teams want to secure the division title, which would mean they would play the first playoff game against the No. 2-seeded team in the Heartland Division (currently Real Colorado) in the first game of the Central Conference Championships to be held on the weekend of July 27th. As the overall points leader in the Central Conference, the Thunder Bay Chill retain the rights to host the four team tournament that will decide which team will make it out of the Central Conference to join the other three conference champions in the PDL Final Four on the weekend of August 3.
While it looks like a return to the Central Conference playoffs (which the Bucks have hosted the past two seasons) would require a trip to Canada, it could be that the last two Bucks home games of the season will take place this week with the game on Wednesday against FC London and then Saturday's final regular season home match against the River City Rovers. The Rovers handed the Bucks their only loss of the season when they won a last-minute game at the Canton Cup on Memorial weekend. Saturday's finale will also be played at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac (7:30 PM kickoff).
Tickets for both final home games, including the huge showdown on Wednesday are $10 Adults and $7 Youth (16 and under) and are available at the door. Children 5 and under are always free to Bucks home games. Special presale discounted tickets are available for only $7 by purchasing online at www.buckssoccer.com. Groups of 20 or more can get all tickets for only $5 each by contacting the Bucks office at 248-334-7463.