History Of The Michigan Bucks

The Michigan Bucks of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) opened their first season in 1996 as the Mid Michigan Bucks, based out of Saginaw, Michigan. The Bucks qualified for the National Finals in each of their first two seasons in 1996 (Cocoa Beach, FL) and 1997 (Central Coast, CA). The Bucks were Great Lakes Division champions in each of their first five seasons, 1996-2000 and made their only appearance in the National Championship game in 2000, when they lost to the Chicago Soccers 1-0.

The minor league affiliate of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS) moved to Detroit in 2002 and as the now known Michigan Bucks, became one of the most storied franchises in PDL history with its unprecedented success in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament. The nations oldest tournament is open to all amateur and professional teams in the US, in which the more you win, the higher the level of team you play. The Bucks first eligible season in Open Cup was 1997, when they beat their first ever pro team in Wilmington, NC
(3-2) and then took the eventual champions Rochester Rhinos to overtime before being eliminated. That was the Bucks first taste in Open Cup and set the tone for what would become one of the teams main goals each season.

In 1999, the Bucks beat two more pro teams (Austin 3-2) and the A League Champion Minnesota Thunder (2-1) to earn a Third Round home game on July 12, 1999 against the Tampa Bay Mutiny of MLS. A sell out crowd of 4,887 people packed a 2,000 seat high school stadium in Saginaw, Michigan to see Carlos Valderrama and the Mutiny defeat the Bucks, 2-1.

The year 2000 was the Bucks best in history, as they went to the National Finals before falling to Chicago. It was the Open Cup that made this year special. The Bucks traveled to Foxboro Stadium to take on the New England Revolution in Second Round action. The Bucks became the first PDL team in history to defeat an MLS club, when they upset the Revolution on a goal in the 90th minute to win 1-0. The Bucks were then granted the right to host the Third Round, against the Miami Fusion of MLS. In what is touted as the greatest game ever played in Open Cup history, the Bucks played the Fusion down a man for the entire second half, came from behind twice, scored in the 88th minute to tie the game, stopped a penalty kick in the 90th minute, scored in overtime to win; only to have the goal taken away by the controversial referee (who was 40 yards behind the play). The game went to penalty kicks, where after both teams converted all 5 kicks, Miamis Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado rapids, US National Team) converted the 6th and final kick to put the Fusion into the 4th Round.

In 2001, the Bucks once again qualified for Open Cup by beating the Michigan Chaldean Arsenal 3-0 in Round One, setting up a rematch with the New England Revolution. This time out the Revs had one thing on their mind, and that was revenge. The senior squad beat the Bucks 7-1 in the Foxboro rematch.

In 2003, the Bucks defeated yet another professional team when they beat the Long Island Rough Riders 2-1 and then hosted the MetroStars of MLS. The Bucks were outclassed this year as well, losing to the MLS team 4-0 before nearly 4,000 people at Berkleys Hurley Field.

In November 2005, the Bucks and team owners Dan and Jim Duggan were inducted into the USL Soccer Hall of Fame.

In August 2006, the Bucks won their first PDL Championship in a 2-1 victory over the Laredo Heat.

Within the 59 team framework that makes up the PDL, the Bucks have established the following records:

Most overall league victories
Most overall regular season wins
Most overall playoff wins
Most consecutive winning seasons
Most playoff appearances
Most Division titles
Most PDL Quarterfinal appearances
Most MLS teams faced in the US Open Cup
Most professional teams defeated in the US Open Cup
Most MLS teams defeated in the US Open Cup
Most PDL Coach of the year awards
Most PDL Executive of the year awards
 

In addition, the Bucks have had 16 players drafted by MLS since 1999. There are Bucks players currently playing professional soccer in the US, France, Norway, Sweden and Africa.

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