Bucks honor Hall-of-Fame class with much-needed win over Cincy
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
PONTIAC — The Michigan Bucks inducted three of their own Saturday night into the PDL franchise’s Hall of Fame. Out on the soccer pitch, the Bucks displayed some much-needed inspired play in their honor.
Michigan, coming off an 0-1-1 streak, dispatched the visiting Cincinnati Kings, 2-0, at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas to all but ensure a postseason berth entering the final three weeks of the regular season.
The Bucks (9-2-2) also moved back into first place in the PDL’s Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference with 29 points, four ahead of second-place Chicago.
“I thought we played well tonight. The game was in order for the most part — we kept their chances limited,” said Bucks coach Gary Parsons. “We could’ve had another goal or two, it would’ve made it easier, but I’ll take 2-0 every night. We certainly had a lot of chances.”
The victory was a perfect way to honor Tim Richey (1996-97), Kheli Dube (2005-2007) current assistant coach Dan Fitzgerald (2002-present), all who were inducted during a halftime ceremony to become the franchise’s third Hall of Fame class.
Michigan outshot Cincy 16-5, including 8-5 with shots directly on goal in the contest and scored a goal in each half to prevail.
The Bucks took a 1-0 lead just 9:15 into the contest when Tommy Catalano (Oakland University) volleyed home a long throw in from Stewart Givens (Oakland grad) past Kings netminder Joey Barnard for his seventh goal of the season.
“Being a little guy, it’s tough to get over those big guys,” said the 5-foot-9 Catalano. “That was the first time (Parsons) actually put me in on the long throw, and it came out good.”
Despite controlling play and putting on a passing clinic, the score remained that way at the half. Michigan held a 12-2 shots edge in the opening 45 minutes.
Cincy applied more pressure in the second half and even generated four cornerkicks opportunities. The Kings nearly tied the game on a goal mouth scramble off one of those restarts, but Bucks midfielder Luke Holmes cleared a close-range shot off the goal line.
Finally, Holmes gave the Bucks a two-goal cushion win the 60th minute. Catalano picked off a pass 35 yards in front of the goal and his cross was kwelfed by Simon Omekanda to Holmes, who buried a shot from 16 yards out.
Holmes, a European transplant, has adjusted well to the Bucks’ schemes and has become one of their best all-around players in recent weeks. His play has been noticed by Parsons, who is trying to gear his team up for a late-season push which includes a division title and home-field advantage in the postseason.
“This was Luke’s best game with us,” praised Parsons. “To be fair to him, we’ve had him out on the flank more than the middle, and he’s really suited for the middle. He had a really nice game tonight. He’s been very involved in the attack.”
Goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt (Oakland) made five saves for his ninth shutout of the season. He has notched six shutouts in six starts at home this season and is one of the highest-ranking goalkeepers nationally.
“This was an important win, but we know they’re all big games now,” reminded Parsons.”We have to keep winning in order to get home-field advantage for the (divisional) postseason.”
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Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Michigan Bucks
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