Bucks overwelm Kalamazoo 5-1

The Michigan Soccer Net

UZOIGWE HAS OUTRAGOUS NIGHT AGAINST KALAMAZOO TO LEAD BUCKS
Veteran adds three goals and two assists in 5-1 win

Pontiac, MI (June 24, 2010) - Earlier in the day, Michigan Bucks veteran forward Kenny Uzoigwe found out he was a part of the prestigious Premier Development League (PDL) Team of the Week with his one game performance against Indiana last Saturday. Knowing that the Bucks only had one game again this week, the crafty forward knew this would be his only chance to try and add to his team’s scoring lead, and more importantly to try and catch the Chicago Fire Premier in first place in the Great Lakes Division. The thirty three year old, eight year PDL veteran put on a clinic at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Thursday and led the Bucks to a 5-1 win over the Kalamazoo Outrage. The win brings the Bucks record to 6-2-1 on the season (19 points) and still a game behind the Chicago Fire Premier for first place (with a game in hand).

The home side started the scoring first for once, when Stefan St. Louis (Trinidad/ Oakland) made a nice individual effort, beat two defenders along the base line and crossed a ball into the goal mouth that Uzoigwe nodded home for a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Although the Bucks would continue to press offensively, the only mistake they would make on the night was in the 32nd minute, when an inadvertent hand ball penalty was called on the Michigan defense inside the box. Matt Schmidt stepped up to take the PK for Kalamazoo. Bucks keeper Mitch Hildebrandt guessed right and saved the PK, only to have the rebound cleared by his defender back into his own goal to tie the score. The insult to injury only seemed to motivate the Bucks to continue to press the balance of the first half. Outrage goalkeeper Jeremy Clark made several good saves to keep the score level going in to the break and was fortunate to see a Uzoigwe bicycle kick attempt sail just over the crossbar just before halftime.

In the second half, Uzoigwe turned up the intensity and pressured the Kalamazoo defense from the opening whistle. Seven minutes into the second stanza, Kenny played a nice ball to Simon Omekanda (Rochester Hills, MI), who cut into the middle of the field on his left foot and ripped a twenty yard shot into the top corner that left Clark with no chance.   Seven minutes later in the 59th minute, Uzoigwe took another pass from St. Louis and slid a low shot into the right hand part of the net to give Michigan a comfortable 3-1 lead. In the 65th minute, Omekanda crossed in a corner kick that Uzoigwe found a way to convert for his third goal of the game and team leading eighth of the season to make the score 4-1.   Second half sub John Dreshaj (Clinton Twp, MI/ Oakland) and a hero from last Saturday’s last minute victory against Indiana closed out the scoring by taking a Uzoigwe pass and slotting home the fifth and final goal of the game for the home side.

The Bucks now have a few days off and make their annual trip to northern Michigan to do some volunteer work and clear their heads for the upcoming three game road swing that will take them to London, Dayton and Cincinnati between July 1-7. The arduous stretch of games against three division contenders will not only give the Bucks a good idea of where they stand in the playoff hunt, but will also help to put some separation between themselves and the other contenders with positive results. The Bucks next home game will be their annual showdown with the Chicago Fire Premier at Ultimate Soccer Arenas on Saturday, July 10 (7:30 kickoff).   To keep up with all the team’s results on the road, please visit our web site at www.buckssoccer.com and sign up for the Michigan Bucks Insider.

LAST CHANCE FOR DISCOUNTED BUCKS JULY YOUTH CAMP AT ULTIMATE SOCCER ARENAS

The Michigan Bucks will be hosting two summer week long soccer camps in the air conditioned confines of Ultimate Soccer Arenas, beginning with the July session (July 12-16). The camp will be conducted by the Bucks coaches and players and will go from 9:30-3:00 Monday thru Friday. Campers of all ages and skill levels are welcome (boys and girls).   Campers will receive tickets to a Bucks home game, certificate of completion, Bucks campT shirt and first rate instruction from some of the top professional and college players in the area.   Registration fee is $209 for the camp, but anyone who registers before July 1 will get the Bucks VIP rate of only $189. Campers can register on line at www.buckssoccer.com click on the camp link.   The last Bucks summer camp at Ultimate Soccer Arenas will be held August 2-6.   The same discount applies for any camper who registers for the August camp prior to July 1.   After July 1 all camper fees are $209 per attendee. The Bucks do offer a 15% discount for the second camper in each family. For further information, please feel free to call Dawn Fitzgerald at the Bucks office at 248-334-7463.