[Delklb99]

After 7 division titles in 10 seasons, the Michigan Bucks wanted to create a forum where fans, current and former players, and media types can post their recollections of the top 10 games in club history. Over the next two plus weeks, the club will be counting down its own list of top 10 games and having them posted here so that others can discuss, reminisce, and create their own list. Last night's tense 1-0 win over the Indiana Invaders put the Bucks in control of their own destiny ahead of the last weekend on the regular season, but did not make the cut. Most Bucks fans remember the epic Open Cup match against the Miami Fusion in Saginaw and recall that the Bucks are currently the only PDL team that has beaten an MLS team (New England) in the Open Cup. Those are just two examples of the classics. Several former Bucks players have been contacted to contribute: Stephen Armstrong, Knox Cameron, and Eric Pogue among them. So watch this space for regular updates and remember the Bucks final home game is Friday night at 7:30 against Toledo at Hurley Field in Berkley.

[olujosh]

Well, there's no question that you have to start with the Open Cup games.

I don't think there's any question that the win over New England, (AT NEW ENGLAND) in the Open Cup was the greatest win in Bucks history.

I would say a close 2nd would be the Miami game (Bucks got robbed in that one)....the Metrostars and Mutiny games were good games as well, but I'm sure in terms of QUALITY of GAMES, you could probably recall some regular season games that topped them. But in terms of IMPACT on the club....put the Mutiny 3rd and Metrostars 4th (or you could flip them).

They played the Metros VERY WELL, it was 1-0 for the majority of the match, but when John Wolyniec scored to make it 2-0 (I still say he was offside) the Bucks were pushing forward and got a couple more scored on them. Credit them for fighting to the end.

Can't wait for the results.

I've seen video of TWO of these games...I'm sure there are more. I know people who could help make that available on the Bucks website if there was an interest.

[Knighthawk]

For a non-Open Cup game, I'd say the 2-0 playoff win over Detroit in 1998. The Dynamite looked awesome that year with Rodrigo Costa, Ryan Mack, Eric Pogue and several other future Bucks, and thought they were going to roll through the postseason.

Didn't happen. The Bucks dominated the game and got one of the best goals I've ever seen in the PDL. Sadly, seven years later, I can't remember who scored it.

[Delklb99]

The Cup games were brilliant. Olujosh, if you have video of the Cup games, especially something that shows the Bucks should have had that OT goal against the Fusion, you can contact Jim Duggan at the Bucks e-mail address: info@mmbucks.com. He has been looking for some of that stuff to use, too.

Knighthawk--that is fantastic recall. It's before I started following the team closely, so that is the kind of game that might make the list. I am hoping to get #10 and probably #9 soon, too and post them.

[SJJ]

Can the Bucks post all of their game results on their web site? The games since 2003 are http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/run...6++22344+23810

Can the Bucks get a bid to the "USL Hall of Fame" (whatever that is) by the 10-year team rule? Just about the only thing they DON'T have on their resume is a PDL champoinship.

[formerintern]

Potentially overlooked game: The 1-0 playoff win over Grand Rapids (was it Grand Rapids??) in 1996 in a shootout. Placek made the game-winning save as a creepy fog enveloped the field.

Think that was the same night I got kicked out of the hotel and slept in my car. Good times.

How can you work Burns-as-Buckster into this list? It needs to be retold.

[olujosh]

Originally Posted by Delklb99

The Cup games were brilliant. Olujosh, if you have video of the Cup games, especially something that shows the Bucks should have had that OT goal against the Fusion, you can contact Jim Duggan at the Bucks e-mail address: info@mmbucks.com. He has been looking for some of that stuff to use, too.

Knighthawk--that is fantastic recall. It's before I started following the team closely, so that is the kind of game that might make the list. I am hoping to get #10 and probably #9 soon, too and post them.

Actually, I saw those videos courtesy of Jim Duggan...I know he has the video from the Revs game. I think the video of the Miami game was from a local TV station who used the footage in a package they did. I wish I had something to contribute.

[phzlnp]

Pretty good, Bucks fans - coming up with the 1998 Division title game against Detroit and the 1996 shootout for the team's first Division title against Lexington (it was actually in Kalamazoo, not GR). The Miami and New England Open Cup games are obvious, but can anyone predict all ten on the list? #10 went out to Bucks Insiders last night: 2001 Regular Season 1-0 win at Chicago Fire Reserves, to send the Bucks back into Open Cup.

[AnotherFormerIntern]

Excellent idea to recap the ten greatest games, brings back some wild memories. I may have some of the name a liitle mixed up but I will do my best. In my opinion the 10 greatest games are not necesarily the 10 biggest wins...so here goes:

1. Miami Fusion 2000 Tie 3-3: This is probably one of the greatest games I have ever seen, in person or TV. 4000+ people were on the edge of thier seats for 120 minutes. The Bucks came from behind on 2 seperate ocassions to tie the game before the Bucks Boniventure Maruti scored the winning goal with just minutes left that was called back with a hand ball call. (I still say they were robbed). The teams even had to go to a sixth round of PK's where the Bucks GK Eric Pogue sailed his shot over the crossbar to move the Fusion on to the next round.

2. New England Revolution 2000 1-0: Although I didn't attend this game (nor did anyone in Boston from what I heard) and many of the Revolution regulars did not play a majority of the game...any time an amateur team knocks off an MLS team it has to be one of the greatest games in franchise history. I believe it was Chad Shoemaker who scored the game winner with Pogue coming up huge and stopping an early PK. ( Even earned a tryout with the MLS club). I think this win alone earned the Bucks the respect they now recieve from thier foes in the PDL as one the great franchises.

3a. Minnesota Thunder 1999 1-0: Knowing that this victory would earn them a shot at an MLS team for the first time, the Bucks upset the then undefeated and A-League leading Minnesota Thunder in Minnesota. I can't recall who scored the goal but if I remember correctly, not only were the Thunder undefeated in league play the they were also riding a rediculous shutout streak.

3b. Tampa Bay Mutiny 1999 1-2: This is the game that really started it all in my opinion. So many soccer fans in Michigan were clueless as to the level of soccer in the area until 4,800 people witnessed some team named the Bucks nearly knock off the MLS Tampa Bay Mutiny, led by international star Carlos Valderamma. My memories of this one are somewhat vague but I remeber Stephen Armstrong shutting down Valderrama and the huge crowd with many Colombians banging drums and cherring on Valderama. The crowd was like being at an international game. I was a great time.

5. Michigan Arsenal 1996 3-2 OT: ALthough the final against Lexington was a great win as it sent them to the "Sizlin Six" in Cocoa, FL I think the semi-final game the night before was much better. The Bucks who bearly made the playoffs with I think had a .500 record upset the division leading Arsenal led by former Detroit Rockers star Dennis Brose. Another one where I think the Bucks came back from behind before Scott Weiger aka "Papa Buck" scored the game winner in OT. The thing I remeber about this game was the arsenal goalie...I think it was Reid Fredericks, complained that Scott was standing on his feet so he couldn't get the ball. Everyone got a hoot out of that one. Oh yeah.....Scott never denied it!! This team definately over achieved when it counted, the leading scorer only had 5 goals.

6. Detroit Dynamite 1998 2-0 : A great game by sunb Lamar Peters against an extremely potent offense. Didn't make it to this one but sounds like it was a great game.

7. Rochester Rhinos 1997 2-3 OT: Led by Mali Walton the Bucks took the league leading Rhinos to the edge before bowing out on OT. Another back and forth game that definately earned the Bucks loads of respect in only thier second year. The Rhinos were definately impreased as they signed Mali shortly there after. If I'm not mistaken the Rhinos also went on to the quarter finals or semi's of the tournament that year.

8. Chicago Sockers 2001 1-0: Youve already covered this one....a great game and an exrelemely important one in qualifying for the cup.

9. NY/NJ Metro Stars 2003 0-4: The Bucks played there hearts out in this one in what was a much closer game than the score shows. The Bucks held tight after the first goal but opened it up after the seconed which caused the big score. Once again a great game in a wonderful environment.

10. Des Moines Menace 2005 3-2 OT: The Bucks win the conference championship against the home team Manace in overtime on a goal by Chris Edwards in a great game which saw the Bucks come from behind on two different ocassions. Kevin taylor shuts down the Menace leading scorer Thomas Boltner and recieves player of the tournament awards. Ok....lets hope thats the way it goes. lol

[Delklb99]

Here is #9 fresh from the Bucks newsletter with commentary by former coach Steve Burns (U of Michigan):

Today's feature: #9: Mid Michigan Bucks 2, Detroit Dynamite 0
1998 Division Championship Game - Saginaw, Michigan.

The "Mid" Michigan Bucks (as the franchised was called in 1998) entered the division playoffs as the second seed behind the Detroit Dynamite and both teams won semifinal matches to set the stage for an exciting Championship match at White Pine Stadium in Saginaw, Michigan. The Bucks suffered what appeared to be a major blow when one of their starting defenders went down in the semifinal match. But coach Burns had a little-used card up his sleeve named Lamarr Peters.

RECOLLECTIONS FROM HEAD COACH, STEVE BURNS (now Head Coach at The University of Michigan):

An emotional and energy packed 2-0 Bucks win over the Detroit Dynamite to send us off to play the undefeated Jackson (MS) Chargers in the playoffs! The owners offered an incentive prior to the game, mostly because Benji Djeukeng and some other players hated long bus rides, that if we won the game AND scored in the first fifteen (15) minutes of the game, then we would fly to Mississippi! The boys were supercharged as we went through the warm-up. Part of my pre-game speech before the game was meant to motivate Lamarr Peters, who had not played much all year, to shut down Detroit's leading scorer, Rodrigo Costa. We told him to apply the "Costa Rules"; wherever Costa went, Lamarr followed and fouled. It worked brilliantly as Costa was frustrated all game long and ineffective, taking himself out of the game with 10 minutes remaining. I took out Lamarr a minute later and he received a well-deserved ovation from the home crowd. Lamarr had given up a pro contract on the east !
coast because he wanted to play for us so badly, but then he couldn't crack our starting line-up. But he never complained and then shined when his moment came, making that day particularly memorable.

Ten minutes into the game, Benji Djuenkeng makes a probing run out of his left back position and through combination play and powerful running, he's rewarded with a ball in front of the net that he coolly slots underneath their GK, Eric Pogue. The crowd goes nuts. The bench goes nuts. The Bucks go nuts. Benji goes nuts. His celebration was perfect - to show ownership that we were going to be flying to our next game, Benji struts back to our bench with both arms out doing the "airplane".

Of the greatest goals of his life, Chad Shoemaker hits one of his top five against Pogue in the second half. He gets a ball laid back to him from over 30 yards out and he catches all of it. From the moment it leaves his foot, everyone in the stadium knows it's going in. He tattooed it into the upper left corner over a sprawling and outstretched Eric Pogue for one of the sweetest Bucks victories in our history as a team.

STEVE BURNS


I have to agree that we will probably see the Fusion game at or near the top. I made a 2 hour (each way) drive to see that one and it was worth every second. That was a thrill ride like no other game.