PDL Game Report
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
PITTSBURGH -- In the inaugural PDL game played at Highmark Stadium, the Michigan Bucks took a 4-0 victory against the host Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23 on Wednesday night. The win moved the Bucks into a tie for first place in the Great Lakes Division, and kept the Riverhounds U23 looking for their first win of the season.
The Bucks broke a scoreless tie in the very late stages of the first half as Nicholas Kolarac drilled a right-footed, low lining shot, from the top of arc, just inside the right post and a diving Riverhounds goalkeeper Ryan Hulings. Kolarac received a nice cross from the right flank from Brandon Beresford, who was credited with the assist.
"You've got to play whistle to whistle, and that was a tough letdown at the end of the half," said Riverhounds U23 Head Coach Oz Bakirdan.
In the 53rd minute, Michigan's Drzenan Catic challenged Hulings for a ball played deep into the penalty area. As the ball bounced away from the goal, Zach Steinberger reacted to the rebound, putting a first-time shot into the net to give the Bucks a 2-0 lead.
The Bucks, who outshot the Riverhounds 22-9, kept bringing pressure, and added another goal in the 63rd minute, as Gerald Ben sent a nice pass into the goal box, that Catic finished with ease.
"We had some critical mistakes in some critical parts of the game, at critical parts of the field, and that results in goals given up," said Bakirdan. "That's how you lose a match."
The Riverhounds' best opportunity in the second half came during a sequence in the 80th minute, when consecutive shots from Luca Campos and Steve Munn were turned back by Bucks goalkeeper Adam Grinwis, which earned the 2012 PDL Goalkeeper of the Year a clean sheet for the evening.
Michigan finished off the night with another goal in the 87th minute, from a corner kick, deflected in by Zach Carroll.
Michigan controlled possession through much of the first half, and held the edge in shots (12-4). It was also a very physical 45 minutes, as both teams combined for 14 fouls (Riverhounds with 8). The Riverhounds had a few, counter-attacking opportunities with advantages in numbers, that fizzled with poor shot attempts, and inability to control the ball.
The Riverhounds U23 team, comprised top collegiate players, and talented high school prospects are in the beginning of a stretch of a grueling fourteen match, eight-week season. They are competing in the PDL's Great Lakes Division and have only been training and playing together for a few weeks.
"It's a big challenge. Getting used to each other, it's a tough transition," said Bakirdan.
The Hounds U-23s (0-2-1) resume PDL play on Wednesday, June 11 at Highmark Stadium, in a return match against the Chicago Fire U-23 squad. The Fire U-23 defeated the Hounds 2-1 in their opening match.
"There's a lot of games coming up," said Bakirdan. "We have to stay healthy. Guys are going to have to step up, we have a full roster and we're going to have to utilize that roster going forward.
"We'll get back at it tomorrow in training. We've got a lot of work to do."