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| Luis Medina handles the ball for the visiting Chicago Fire! |
Last Saturday night, Saline High School hosted an outdoor professional soccer match featuring the Michigan Bucks against the Chicago Fire. Both teams play in the PDL (Premier Development League) and represent a high quality level of soccer. The Michigan Bucks are the official minor league affiliate of the Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer), and have already sent up four players this season. The Bucks are a combination of unpaid professional players, along with college all-stars, and in their brief history have had 50 players drafted by Major League Soccer clubs, and 85 former Buck players have gone on to play some form of professional soccer.
The Michigan Bucks played their first PDL season in Saginaw back in 1995, and were known as the Mid-Michigan Bucks. The Bucks have won three regular season PDL Championships (2000, 2008, 2012), one North American PDL Title (2006), and are the only PDL team with over 200 team victories. The Michigan Bucks are the most successful soccer club in the history of this state, and also represent the highest level of soccer being played in Michigan.
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| The Bucks #25 Zach Steinberger shadows Chicago's Luis Medina! |
This was the first professional soccer game that I have ever attended, and it was way more fun then I ever would have anticipated. The Bucks usually play their home games indoors at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, but it was nice to be able to experience the event outside in its natural form. The weather was more then cooperative (76%, sunny with a cool breeze), and the visiting bleacher section was nearly empty. I sat in the fourth row at the 50 yard line, and even got involved in the action by defensively smacking the ball away when it came directly for the Mitten State Sports Report.
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| Chicago's #95 Anthony Torres takes a seat near midfield! |
As for the actual game itself, the Michigan Bucks were able to defeat the Chicago Fire 4-1, and improve to 4-1-0 on the season with 12 points. The PDL's leading scorer Zach Steinberger scored two goals, while Thomas Catalano, and Jason Stokes each added a goal for the Bucks. Daniel Keller scored the lone goal for the Chicago Fire. The Bucks are currently tied for first place in the PDL Great Lakes Division, while the Chicago Fire fell to last place in the division with 3 points and a current record of 1-4. The Michigan Bucks are 6-0-1 against the Chicago Fire in their last seven meetings.
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| Chicago's #74 Trevor Wheeler looks to impress the pro scouts! |
For more info on the Michigan Bucks click on http://www.buckssoccer.com/
For more info on the PDL click on http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/
Leave a comment! Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com
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