By virtue of a 3-0 win this afternoon in Toronto, the Bucks have clinched the top spot in the Central Conference as well as the PDL Regular Season Championship as the league team with the most points.

The Insider should be out soon.

BUCKS CLOSE OUT LYNX, EARN TOP SEED AND FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF BYE
Central Conference championship to be held at Ultimate Soccer Arena next Saturday, Sunday

Toronto, ON (July 20, 2008) - The Michigan Bucks finished off their thirteenth regular season in the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League by finishing off the Toronto Lynx Sunday by a 3-0 scoreline. With the win, the Bucks (13-1-2, 41 points) avenge the only regular season loss to the Lynx and secure the #1 seed in the PDL playoffs beginning this week. The top seeded Bucks will relax this week while they wait to find out who their opponent will be from the three midweek games from the three Central Conference divisions. In the Midwest Division, the Chicago Fire will take on the Kalamazoo Outrage. In the Heartland Division, the Thunder Bay Chill will host the Colorado Rapids U-23’s and in the Bucks home Great Lakes Division, the Lynx will travel to Cleveland to take on the Internationals. The winners of these three games will join the Bucks for the Conference Final Four, which will begin with two games on Saturday night (5:30, Bucks at 7:30) and concludes with the two winners facing off on Sunday, July 27th (7:00 kickoff).

In Toronto, the Bucks jumped out on the Lynx early and first struck in the 29th minute with Doug DeMartin (Mason, MSU), tallying his 7th goal of the year. Billy Weaver (Lake Orion, Indiana University) would make the game 2-0 with a rocket into the top corner for his second goal of the season just four minutes later. Bucks striker Kenny Uzoigwe accepted the role of playmaker on the day, as he was credited for assists on each of the first two Bucks strikes. The hard fighting Lynx out shot the Bucks 13 to 9, but Bucks goalkeeper Steve Clark (Mason, Oakland University) would be the difference maker. Clark finished his third regular season campaign for the Bucks and went undefeated for the second year in a row. Clark’s record in 15 games this season is 13-0-2 with six shutouts. Clark’s final statistics should have him in line for post-season honors as possible Goalkeeper of the Year or PDL Player of the Year. Several of his six saves against Toronto were first class. Uzoigwe would put the final stamp on the match in the 71st minute when Jake Stacy (Michigan) put him through on a break away that Kenny finished for his tenth goal of the season.

Bucks head coach Dan Fitzgerald was pleased with the overall effort of his team all season long, but especially over the past month. The Bucks have suffered their worst season in history with injuries to key players that have forced Fitzgerald to use 25 different players and 14 different starting lineups this season. “These guys all fought hard from the first game on May 17 and they deserve the top seed and the much needed week of rest that goes with it,” said a fatigued Fitzgerald. “We made it hard on ourselves down the stretch with a couple of late season ties, but when I look at the quality players that have not played much in the past month, it is a wonder we finished the season as strong as we did.”

Individual day tickets to Saturday’s two semifinal matches and Sunday’s Conference Final are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on Tuesday at Ultimate Soccer Arenas or online through Ticketmaster. The Bucks front office is only processing ticket orders now for those fans who want to take advantage of the huge discounts on the weekend pass tickets, which get you the same reserved seat for all three games for one low price. VIP reserved tickets for each day are $14, Adult reserved tickets are $10 and Youth reserved tickets are $5. For those wishing to buy the weekend pass, VIP reserved are only $15 ($28 value), Adult reserved $13 ($20 value) and Youth reserved only $8 ($10 value). To inquire about the weekend passes, which will be available ONLY until Monday evening, please e-mail Bucks President of Operations, Kyle Karns at kkarns@buckssoccer.com and someone will contact you on Monday. Please mention the tickets you are requesting and the best place to contact you and we will reach you on Monday. For further information about the upcoming PDL playoff scenarios, please visit www.uslsoccer.com or the Bucks web site at www.buckssoccer.com.