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BUCKS OPEN WITH 4-0 EDGE OVER WEST MICHIGAN
The Premier Development League (PDL) Champion Michigan Bucks (1-0-0) opened the 2007 season last night in familiar fashion, as they jumped on the West Michigan Edge early and never let up. It took the high powered scoring machine from Detroit only eight minutes to light up the scoreboard, as Khelli Dube (Coastal Carolina) converted a pass from last year's PDL assist leader Nate Jafta to take a 1-0 lead. Both teams battled evenly for the remainder of the half, until Doug DeMartin (Michigan State) fed Jafta, who went the distance and slotted a ball past Edge goalkeeper Eric Pogue. The 2-0 lead looked solid until right before halftime, when the Bucks were whistled for a foul in the penalty area and West Michigan were awarded a penalty kick. Just about the time that the fans were counting on a 2-1 deficit at the break, Bucks goal keeper Steve Clark (Oakland) made a great diving save and denied the Edge the goal.
The second half opened as a battle in the midfield until Dube stole a pass at the top of the eighteen and went in alone to give the Bucks a 3-0 lead and put the game away in the 52nd minute. Bucks leading scorer last year, Kenny Uzoigwe added an insurance tally in the 90th minute off of a pass from Pete Nowak (Oakland) to round out the scoring. Clark didn't see a whole lot of action in the second half, but did what he had to do to maintain the clean sheet for the Bucks. Second year head coach Dan Fitzgerald was pleased with the effort from his newly assembled squad. "We were a bit concerned going in to the game tonight. West Michigan had already played two games (against Toronto) and we just had four players show up for training on Tuesday. We know we have plenty of talent, but chemistry is so important in this game and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. We saw a lot of good things, but (assistant coach) Brett and I identified several areas that need immediate attention," said Fitz.
The Bucks continue their quest to qualify for the 2007 US Open Cup when they play their home opener on Friday at 8:00 PM against the Cleveland Internationals at Troy Athens High School. The Bucks game is the second of a double header, following a W League game between the Michigan Hawks and the Ft. Wayne Fever women�s teams (5:30 kickoff). Tickets for both games are $10 Adults (16 and over) and $5 Youth (under 5 free) and are available at the gate.
For further information, go to the Bucks web site at