From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michigan Bucks are an American soccer team, founded in 1995. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and play in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference against teams from Charleston, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toronto.
The Bucks play their home games at the brand new $17-million Ultimate Soccer Arena in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, making them one of the few teams to play regularly on a full-size indoor soccer field. The Bucks were without a regular home field for several years, and played games at numerous different venues in Michigan. The team's colors are white and black.
Throughout their existence, the Bucks have been one of the most successful minor league soccer teams in the United States, qualifying for seven US Open Cups, winning six divisional championships, and a national title. In 2000 the Bucks became the first PDL team to defeat an MLS team in the US Open Cup when they beat the New England Revolution at Foxboro Stadium. They won their first PDL Championship in 2006, defeating the Laredo Heat 2-1. On April 8, 2006 the Bucks became an official minor league affiliate of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, and announced a partnership which allows Bucks players to go on training stints with the Crew, as well as having the MLS side annually come to the Detroit area to play a friendly with their sister team.
Until the 2003 season, they were known as the Mid-Michigan Bucks.
[edit] 2008 Roster
as at June 7, 2008
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 1 |
 |
GK |
Bret Mollon |
| 3 |
|
DF |
Mike Holody |
| 4 |
|
DF |
Kyle Russell |
| 5 |
 |
DF |
Fabien Lewis |
| 6 |
|
FW |
Stefan St. Louis |
| 7 |
 |
MF |
Tyiselani Shipalane |
| 8 |
|
MF |
Nate Jafta |
| 9 |
|
MF |
Mauro Fuzetti |
| 10 |
|
FW |
Kenny Uzoigwe |
| 11 |
 |
MF |
Besmir Bega |
| 13 |
|
DF |
Zac Scaffidi |
|
|
| No. |
|
Position |
Player |
| 14 |
|
MF |
Alex Morisset |
| 15 |
|
MF |
Dave Hertel |
| 16 |
|
FW |
Nik Djokic |
| 17 |
|
MF |
Piotr Nowak |
| 18 |
|
FW |
Doug DeMartin |
| 19 |
|
MF |
Luke Norman |
| 20 |
|
MF |
Spencer Thompson |
| 21 |
|
MF |
Fred Braun |
| 22 |
|
DF |
Ian Daniel |
| 25 |
|
GK |
Steven Clark |
|
|
DF |
Nosa Iyoha |
|
[edit] Year-by-year
| Year |
Division |
League |
Regular Season |
Playoffs |
Open Cup |
| 1996 |
4 |
USISL Premier League |
3rd, Central Northern |
Premier Six |
Did not qualify |
| 1997 |
4 |
USISL PDSL |
1st, North Central |
Semifinals |
2nd Round |
| 1998 |
4 |
USISL PDSL |
2nd, Great Lakes |
Regional Finals |
Did not qualify |
| 1999 |
4 |
USL PDL |
1st, Great Lakes |
Conference Semifinals |
3rd Round |
| 2000 |
4 |
USL PDL |
1st, Great Lakes |
Final |
3rd Round |
| 2001 |
4 |
USL PDL |
3rd, Great Lakes |
Did not qualify |
2nd Round |
| 2002 |
4 |
USL PDL |
2nd, Great Lakes |
Conference Finals |
Did not qualify |
| 2003 |
4 |
USL PDL |
1st, Great Lakes |
Conference Finals |
3rd Round |
| 2004 |
4 |
USL PDL |
1st, Great Lakes |
Conference Semifinals |
Did not qualify |
| 2005 |
4 |
USL PDL |
2nd, Great Lakes |
Conference Finals |
Did not qualify |
| 2006 |
4 |
USL PDL |
2nd, Great Lakes |
Champions |
3rd Round |
| 2007 |
4 |
USL PDL |
1st, Great Lakes |
Runners-up |
1st Round |
| 2008 |
4 |
USL PDL |
in progress |
|
1st Round |
[edit] Notable former players
[edit] Stadium History
- Ultimate Soccer Arena, Pontiac, Michigan (2008-present)
- Stadium at Athens High School, Troy, Michigan (2007), 1 game
- Independence Park, Canton, Michigan (2007), 1 game
- Stadium at Andover High School, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (2007), 1 game
- Stadium at Saline High School, Saline, Michigan (2007), 1 game
- Saginaw Soccer Complex, Saginaw, Michigan (2007), 1 game
- Stadium at Lake Orion High School, Lake Orion, Michigan (2007), 4 games
- Stadium at Rochester High School, Rochester Hills, Michigan (2007), 1 game
- Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio (2007), 1 game
- Stadium at Stoney Creek High School, Rochester Hills, Michigan (2006)
- Stadium at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan (2005), 4 games
- Hurley Field, Berkley, Michigan (2003-05), 14 games
- White Pine Stadium, Saginaw, Michigan (2003), 1 game
- Stadium at Plymouth-Canton High School, Canton, Michigan (2003), 4 games
[edit] External links
Benji Djeukeng
Mkhokheli Dube
