| Michigan Bucks Press Release Tuesday, June 1st 2004
Contact: Kyle Karns (989) 781-6888 info@buckssoccer.com
SHOWDOWN WITH CHICAGO ON SATURDAY
Hurley Field The Venue For Battle Of Unbeaten Rivals Only five of the 54 Premier Development League (PDL) soccer teams remain undefeated and two will face-off this Saturday night, June 5th in Berkley. Old rivals, and perennially two of the league's top squads, the Michigan Bucks and Chicago Fire Reserves will meet in a re-match of last season's Central Conference Championship (Chicago prevailed, 2-0). The Bucks lead the Great Lakes Division at 3-0-1 while Chicago sports a 6-0-0 record, having scored 19 goals and giving up none this season. Chicago is coached by Mike Matkovich.
"The Central Conference goes through Chicago," said Bucks coach Don Gemmell. "They are well coached and haven't given up a goal all season, which tells me they are already gelling as a team, and are so good they could probably do well in the A-League (Division II). As always, they have a ton of talent - guys that you will be seeing in Major League Soccer (MLS) and other top pro leagues in the next few years. But so do we." The 2003 Central Conference Championship game featured nine players eventually drafted by MLS (Division I) teams in 2004.
The rivalry goes back to 1996, when Chicago (under different ownership) was the Division III Champion (as "Stingers") and, subsequently, the two-time PDL Champion (as "Sockers"). The Sockers knocked off the Bucks in the 2000 PDL Championship Game and (then "Mid") Michigan eliminated the Fire Reserves from US Open Cup qualifying in 2001, by identical 1-0 scores in two of the more memorable games in the series. "Even back to the days Brett Hall was coaching them, Chicago games have always been the best," said Bucks co-owner and general manager, Jim Duggan. "It is always talented guys beating the stuffing out of each other, then having a soda together afterwards. I love this rivalry - it's what soccer should be."
Fans joining the Bucks' free "Insider" e-mail newsletter (at buckssoccer.com) will receive a $2-off coupon, good for each adult in their group at the gate on Saturday (regularly $9 each). All Youth (under 19) tickets remain just $5. Hurley Field is located behind Anderson Middle School in Berkley, which is on Catalpa between Coolidge and Greenfield roads. Kick-off is at 7:30pm.
For a complete schedule, stadium location, player roster, standings, results, stadium directions, past news, and more, or join the Bucks Insider, fans may go to the official team website at:
http://buckssoccer.com
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