Flint City Bucks find right ‘Channell’ to sail past Inter Detroit FC
DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
FLINT — Apparently, Tyler Channell still has his touch. His scoring touch that is.
Channell, a 2011 Troy Athens graduate and 2016 Saginaw Valley State University grad, was back to his old ways Sunday afternoon at Flint’s Atwood Stadium.
Channell scored what proved to be the game-winner in the Flint City Bucks 2-1 triumph over Inter Detroit FC in an exhibition match hosted by Kettering University.
“I was hanging out, out wide and trying to see the play developing. I kind of picked up the ball in a good spot, made some good eye contact with Elliott (Bentley), got the ball and just put the ball into the net,” said Channel of the game-winner. “Those are the plays you look forward to (as a forward) and I was able to put it into the back of the net when I had the chance.”
With his team holding a slim 1-0 advantage, Channell broke free in the penalty box and rifled home a shot from eight yards out in front of the net at the 74:04 mark. Bentley drew the assist on the play with a perfectly-slotted through ball in tight traffic and helped stake the Bucks to a 2-0 advantage.
“I am not all surprised,” said Bucks head coach Andrew Wagstaff of Channell’s scoring prowess. “”He’s a very good player and I have a lot of history with Tyler, dating back to his days of club soccer (Bloomfield Force) and when he played for me at SVSU. He had an incredible senior year At Saginaw Valley and was All-American. He had 19 goals and 20 assists that season and was top five in the nation in points. So I am not surprised that he still has that ability to score big goals. I’ve watched Tyler do that in his career many times.”
Flint City Bucks only dressed 15 players for the game, unexpectingly losing several college players for various reasons just before the holiday weekend. The Bucks adapted quite well in recording their third straight win of the short campaign.
“We lost some guys, but I understand that they have commitments to college and their safety is of utmost importance,” said Wagstaff. “We just found out late last week that we were losing some guys for this match and we had to make many changes and bring in a couple of new players. But we have a lot of very good players still that have played at such a high level. They adjusted well and had another strong game.”
Inter Detroit FC’s Danilo Milacic cut into the two-goal deficit with a close-range, unassisted goal in the 84th minute. But the Bucks defense held on for the win and lowered the team’s goals-against-average after three matches to a sterling 0.67.
Flint City, which has outscored its opponents 12-2 this exhibition season, improved to 3-0-0 during its six-game schedule. The Bucks have yielded only two goals in three matches spanning over 270 minutes — and once again allowed single digits when it comes to shots directly on frame.
Flint City held a 10-7 overall shots edge over Inter Detroit, including 7-5 with shots on frame, and only gave up the late goal. Both of the goals Flint City has allowed this season have come in the final 10 minutes of the last two games.
“Our defense was very good again,” added Wagstff. “We had four very talented players back there. Spencer Nolff is coming off a very good season at OU, and the same for Elliott Bentley. They are both alums and finished top their eligibility at OU. We have Dom Hart from Northwood and he has been very good for us. We also brought in Owen Turner to help us and he showed us that he can fill in that spot (in the backfield).”
After a scoreless first half, Flint City broke the stalemate in the 71st minute. Mitchell O’Neill’s cornerkick to the top of the box was corralled by Callum Ashmore (Schoolcraft), who blasted the ball into the net from 20 yards straight out from the goal at 70:50.
“That was all the players on that one,” said Wagstaff. “They designed that and we were able to finish on that corner.”
Bucks goalkeeper Elliott Tarney, four years after graduating from Oakland, picked up the win between the pipes, stopping four of five shots. He punched a shot over the crossbar with 20 minutes to play Sunday to aid the victory.
FAST FACTS
— Several current college players on the Bucks’ roster got called back to their respective college campuses just before the weekend. Therefore, the Bucks lost five current Oakland University players and two incoming freshman at OU. The NCAA had originally moved the NCAA Division I, II and III seasons to the spring, but colleges across the country are starting to call players back to train in a tight bubble under campus restrictions.
— The defending US Soccer-League 2 North American champions have only yielded only 21 shots on frame in three matches.
— Although the Bucks were unable to defended their North American crown this year due to the regular season and postseason tournament being shelved, they are still one of the most successful programs in USL-League 2 (formerly Premier Developmental League) history. The franchise won North American titles in 2006, 2014, 2016 and 2019 while finishing as the runner-up in both 2000 and 2007.
— Flint City Bucks will next host Livonia City FC on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 12 p.m. The game will be telecasted live on CW46 out of Flint.
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