USL LEAGUE TWO SOCCER: Flint City Bucks open up 2021 campaign with 3-1 victory over Toledo Villa
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
FLINT — Nearly two years later, an exhibition season, a delayed college campaign, and plenty of waiting — and finally the Flint City Bucks have begun their title defense of the 2019 USL-League Two North American title.
The Bucks, in their third year in Flint after relocating from Pontiac, opened up their long-anticipated 2021 season with a 3-1 victory Saturday night over visiting Toledo Villa FC at Flint’s Atwood Stadium.
Flint City, that only dressed never trailed, dominated the first half — and showcased their talents in front of fans for the first time in 22 months in recording the triumph.
“It’s been a long time and as an organization we’ve been waiting to finally get back out here. We had the exhibition season last (fall) but finally we’re able to come out and play a (league) game,” said Bucks head coach Andy Wagstaff.
“The anticipation of the game was there after winning the title two years ago,” continued Wagstaff. “While there are only a few guys who were on that championship team that are still here and a couple lads that played on our exhibition team last year, the expectations are still here as an organization and that competing at the highest level and contending (for championships) is always there. There was a lot of tension, stress and pressure because we are still the defending national champions and this program expects a lot from its players. I think we went out there and for the most part we represented the Bucks well.”
Flint City (1-0-0, 1-0-0 Great Lakes Division) opened the scoring at 17:59 of the first half. Brighton product and current Western Michigan standout forward Charlie Sharp put the Bucks on the board when he tucked in his shot from eight yards out.
Oakland University’s Noah Jensen began the play from midfield with a long pass down the right side to an onrushing Matt Fearnley, who quickly sent a pass over to Sharp and the gifted Sharp left no doubt for the 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 before the Bucks broke through again at the 82:21 mark. Just inserted into the game, Wright State’s Ids Hannema scooped up a perfectly-slotted ball from Dylan Borczak (Oakland) and laced home a shot from 10 yards out.
Flint City put the game away at 86:28 on a second goal from Ids. This time forward Mikey Ketteman (Oakland) set up the helper with his pass into the box and Ids blasted home a 15-yard shot for the 3-0 advantage.
Toledo spoiled the shutout at the 89:54 mark when the Villa caught the Bucks napping. Kainan Dos Santos was left all alone at the top of the box following a cross from Colin Clarke and Dos Santos was able to convert from 15 yards away.
“I think there are some things we definitely need to work on and I am very disappointed that we gave up that late goal,” said Wagstaff. “I don’t necessarily think its was the defense’s fault rather it being the team’s fault from letting our guard down. We need to play well until the final whistle and we don’t like to get scored on regardless of if the game is decided or not. That was unacceptable.”
Western Michigan University’s Isaac Walker gained the win between the pipes, making a pair of saves in the 71st and 75th minutes for Flint City, who have a 10-day layoff until their next game at Cincinnati on May 25.
The Flint City Bucks outshot Toledo 19-5 — not allowing a single shot during the first half — and even had a 13-3 shots on frame differential and a 5-3 cornerkicks edge in the contest.
“I thought we played really well in the first half and I thought our back line was really good for most of the game,” said Wagstaff. “I thought things changed a little bit in the second half and that’s a tribute to Toledo because they made some adjustments at halftime and began attacking us and had a few chances. I thought Isaac Walker made a couple of nice saves and our back four did a great job for most of the game.”
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