MSN PRESENTS THE MICHIGAN BUCKS VS. KALAMAZOO FC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBCQjkg0lc8
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
FLINT, Mich. – If the Flint City Bucks advance to the USL-League Two postseason again this season, the Bucks could look back at their late-game comeback against Kalamazoo FC as a key game to save their season.
After all, it was a comeback for the ages in the Michigan soccer circles.
Trailing 3-2 late and in an uncharacteristic style being out-possessed and outshot by an opponent, the Bucks scored a goal in the 88th minute to tie the game and then scored the game-winner in the 92nd minute of stoppage time Saturday night to lift Flint City to a dramatic, come-from-behind, 4-3 victory over visiting Kalamazoo FC in a USL-League Two Great Lakes Division contest featuring two of the top three teams in the league. and played at Kettering University's Atwood Stadium near downtown Flint.
Flint City (8-0-2) moved into second place on points (26) behind Great Lakes Division leader Midwest United FC (28 points, 9-3-1) and just ahead of Kalamazoo FC (24 points, 7-3-3), as the Bucks also have four more USL-League Two games remaining.
The win also keeps Flint City in the dwindling ranks of the USL-League Two unbeatens, joining the Little Rock Rangers, Asheville City SC, Salem City FC and Brave SC as the only franchises in the North American league to not taste defeat this season.
Flint City came into the match in third place on total points with 23 points – with Midwest United FC (28) and Kalamazoo FC (24) ahead of the Bucks in that department.
The victory almost wasn’t meant to be.
Kalamazoo FC (7-3-3) grabbed a 3-2 advantage in the 72nd minute when Owen Smith (Western Michigan University) converted a penalty kick after a handball was called in the box.
The Bucks only had two shot attempts at that point of the second half and seemed destined to suffer their first loss of the season.
Applying some late pressure, Flint City finally netted an equalizer on its first shot on frame of the second half. Schinieder Mimy (Oral Roberts University) scored an unassisted goal in the 88th minute – as he turned from outside the left corner of the box and uncorked a low laser of a shot that sailed through heavy traffic and curled into the far post.
The Bucks were not done.
A pair of Akron University teammates hooked up for the game-winner two minutes into stoppage time. Malik Henry slipped a through pass on the right side to Dyson Clapier and the talented Clapier buried his opportunity just inside the box into the back of the net just moments before the final whistle was blown to compete the comeback with a heroic effort.
Flint City took a 2-0 advantage before the contest was nine minutes old.
Henry set up Abdul Al-Rashed (Spring Arbor University) on the right side and he blasted his shot into the back of the net just 4:02 into the contest. The Bucks made it 2-0 in the eighth minute when Palmer Ault (Butler University) set up Devin O’Hea (Simon Fraser University) with a chance up top and O’Hea scored his first goal of the season.
Flint City went nearly 20 minutes without a shot after the second goal and Kalamazoo FC upped the tempo and pressure in the attack to score a pair of goal before the halftime break.
In the 25th minute, Collin Innes (Boston University) corralled a pass from Greyson Mercer (Michigan State University), cut back and laced a low shot into the goal and trim the deficit down to 2-1.
Kalamazoo FC tied the game at 2-2 in the 45th minute when Mercer received a cross over the top from Pepe Martinez (Northern Illinois University), cut back with a Bucks defender draped over his shoulder and ripped a shot into the webbing of the net.
Kalamazoo outshot the Bucks 20-12 overall in the contest, including 11-5 with shots on frame, and even held a 5-4 edge on cornerkicks. Kalamazoo couldn’t not keep Flint City from rallying back from the depths.
The Bucks scored on four of their five shots on frame in the contest – their first two shots of the game and their final two shots of the contest to prevail.
Jakub Grzesiak (Oral Roberts University) recorded eight saves on the night on 11 chances to record the win between the pipes. Andrew Cooke (Penn State University) made just one save for Kalamazoo FC.
MSN PRESENTS THE MICHIGAN BUCKS VS. KALAMAZOO FC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBCQjkg0lc8
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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