PDL SOCCER: Michigan Bucks burn Inferno
WHEATON, Ill. — New season, same winning habits.
The Michigan Bucks picked up in 2013 where they left off last season when they opened the campaign with a 5-0 victory over the Chicago Inferno Friday night at Wheaton College.
The defending Premier Development League (PDL) regular season champions dominated the season opener from the beginning and applied continuous pressure for a full ninety minutes.
Second year Bucks player Zach Steinberger (San Diego, Calif. / Butler University) combined with first year striker Adam Montague (Sylvania, Ohio / Michigan State) for all five goals on the evening, including a couple of highlight reel finishes. 
Steinberger got the Bucks first goal of the season when he took a pass from Montague at the top of the eighteen yard box and ripped a rocket into the top corner in the 19th minute. In the game’s 40th minute, Steinberger would return the favor when he set up Montague for his first goal in a Bucks uniform, a low shot from twelve yards out that just slipped inside the far post.
Steinberger’s helper was compliments of Will Walker (Cincinnati, Ohio / Xavier) who stole the ball at midfield and started the counter attack. Montague would finish his brace right before the stroke of halftime when he poked home a shot after receiving another assist from Steinberger to take home a 3-0 halftime lead.
Defensively, the Bucks were sound all across the back line and midfield. Reigning PDL goalkeeper of the year Adam Grinwis (Ada, Mich. / University of Michigan) continued his dominance in the PDL, where he led the league in shutouts last season. Grinwis was not tested often on the evening but was forced to make two of his trademark leaping saves during the game.
Inferno forward Isaac Kannah found himself loose around the penalty spot and ripped a shot destined for the upper corner only to be saved by a diving Grinwis in the 26th minute. The Bucks keeper would be called to action in the first minute of the second half when he robbed the Inferno of a sure goal, leaving them only with a corner kick.
Steinberger, in his bid to become PDL Player of the Week, continued to press in the second half and got on the end of a Stew Givens throw in at the penalty spot. The San Diego native had a ten yard run up and caught the throw in at full speed and dropped a full volley bomb on Inferno goal keeper Jeff Gal, who had no chance to react. Steinberger would finish his hat trick in the 72nd minute when he finished another goal with the assist from Montague.
Bucks head coach Demir Muftari was happy to get his first win as the team’s manager. “It’s always nice to win, but it was very important for us to get off to a good start this season and to win on the road is never an easy task in this division. I was happy with our energy and our pressure throughout the game. We still have a lot to work on and our roster will continue to be a work in progress as the players get to know each other, but this was a huge step in the right direction. Zach was on a mission tonight, but there was solid play all over the park for us. We will have a great week of training and be ready for our home opener next Saturday,” said Muftari.
Presale tickets are available on line by visiting the Bucks website at www.buckssoccer.com and clicking on the TICKETS link.
Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Featured Articles, High School, Michigan Bucks, Oakland University
