| Mid Michigan Bucks Press Release July 28, 2002
Contact: Amy McLachlan (989) 781-6888 info@mmbucks.com
BUCKS DROP CONFERENCE FINAL
Boulder Advances With 0-0 (7-6 PKs) Victory
The Mid Michigan Bucks' first shutout of the season was not enough to carry the minor league soccer team to the Premier Development League (PDL) Semifinals as the Boulder Rapids Reserves prevailed 7-6 in penalty kicks in the Central Conference Championship game. Both teams battled to a scoreless tie for 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of sudden-death overtime on Saturday night in Des Moines, Iowa. Boulder had upset the Great Lakes Division Champion Chicago Fire Reserves and the Bucks had knocked off the Heartland Champion Des Moines Menace on Friday to set-up Saturday's match-up.
"Both teams showed the effects of having played a difficult game the night before," said Bucks co-owner, Dan Duggan. "I was proud of the heart and discipline we displayed this weekend. You have to give Boulder credit, they really shut us down." While goalkeeper Eric Pogue needed to come up with several big saves early in the first half, Mid Michigan carried the play for most of the second half and the two overtime sessions, but could generate few good scoring opportunities, thanks to a stingy Boulder defense. "Boulder really knew how to clamp down in their defensive third," said Duggan. The Bucks came the closest to scoring in overtime, but Boulder keeper Curtis Spitari came up huge with a great save on Simon Omekanda's 25-yard laser shot with just minutes remaining in the second overtime. Spitari and Pogue each made two saves and the Bucks hit one goal post during penalty kicks, which went to nine shooters.
The Bucks started the same eleven players who upset the undefeated Menace the night before: Eric Pogue, Phil Presser, Adam Heinemann, John Swann, Doug Rice, Stephan David, Tino Sccluna, Boyzzz Khumalo, Paul Snape, Ryan Mack and Pat Noonan. Substitutes making contributions on Saturday included Will Kletzien, Omekanda, Benji Djeukeng, Kellen Kalso and Mychal Turpin. "The loss is disappointing because we really thought we could win it all this year, but I was proud of how all of our guys gave it everything they had to the end," said Duggan. Mid Michigan (12-6-2) finished in the final eight of the (47 -team) PDL for the fifth time in seven seasons. Boulder will face the Western Conference Champions, while the Eastern Conference Champions will take on the Southern Conference Champions in the PDL Semifinals next weekend.
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