MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349
CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
PEORIA, Ill. – For the first time, Peoria City SC is moving on to the Final Four.
Peoria, ranked 14th entering the postseason in the USL-League Two Power Rankings, stunned four-time North American champion and fifth-ranked Flint City Bucks 1-0 in the USL-League Two Central Conference finals Friday night at Shea Stadium on the campus of Bradley University.
The Bucks had won the previous two Central Conference titles and had earned 10 conference championships in their 29-year history. The Bucks lost in the North American semifinals the last two years and was the North American champion as recently as 201
The franchise also won North American titles in 2006, 2014 and 2016 while finishing as the runner-up in 2000 and 2007.
Peoria City SC had only two shots on goal just seconds apart in the second half but broke the stalemate courtesy of a 62nd-minute goal. The defense held on down the stretch to help the side claim its first Central Conference championship in franchise history and earn its spot in the coveted Final Four of a league that features a record 128 franchises this season.
Peoria City is only in its third season of USL-League Two competition, reaching the postseason in 2022 in its inaugural campaign in the league. The team finished third in the Heartland Division and did not qualify for the postseason in 2023.
This time around Peoria City SC finished second in the Heartland Division just two points behind the Des Moines Mance (the Menace had 29 points and Peoria finished with 27 points). Peoria City lost in the opening round of the postseason back in 2022 but are making the most of its stay this time around with a 3-0 postseason record in 2024 and just two wins away from a potential North American championship.
On the game’s only goal, forward Lucas Persemico (Clarke University) got ahold of the ball inside the box and slipped a close-range shot into the net from around eight yards out. Justin Wilson (Longwood University) had the initial shot blocked by Bucks goalkeeper Jakub Grzesiak (Oral Roberts University) but the rebound came back to Wilson, who quickly slotted the ball back over to an onrushing Persemico on the left side.
It marked the team-leading 14th goal of the season for the talented Persemico, who now ranks well inside the top 20 in the USL-League Two in scoring.
The Bucks, who were making their 19th appearance in the Central Conference finals since first entering the league in 1996, saw their season end with a 13-2-3 overall record and 12-2-3 record against USL-League Two competition. Flint City outscored the opposition 43-18 overall and 42-18 in the USL-League Two but could not find the back of the net this time around.
The Bucks, who lost in the North American tournament to Ballard FC 1-0 in the 2023 semifinals, were one win away from making the semifinals for the third straight year but could not convert. Flint City’s grand goal of advancing to an 11th Final Four appearance must be put on the shelf for another year.
The Bucks outshot Peoria City 14-9 overall, including 3-2 with shots on frame, and held an 8-5 edge on cornerkicks. It marked just the second time all season that the Bucks were shut out, the previous time coming in the third game of the season on May 25 against Lansing City FC in a 0-0 draw.
Goalkeeper Sami Slimi (Campbell University) notched the shutout on three saves. Grzesiak had one save for Flint City,
USL-LEAGUE TWO: Flint City-Peoria City matchup could be one for the ages:
(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.)
ALL-STATE SOCCER LINKS 2024 -- GIRLS SOCCER
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 4 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-4-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 3 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-3-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/2024-mihssca-division-2-all-state-teams
2024 MIHSSCA DIVISION 1 ALL-STATE GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS:
MIHSSCA DREAM TEAM REVEAL SHOW 2024: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/girls-soccer-all-state-dream-team-offensive-defensive-players-of-the-year-are-a-talented-bunch
GIRLS SOCCER: All-State Dream Team, Offensive, Defensive Players of the Year are a talented bunch: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/girls-soccer-all-state-dream-team-offensive-defensive-players-of-the-year-are-a-talented-bunch
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
(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 involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. 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.)
GAME RESULTS FOR ALL LEVELS
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan Soccer Network, Premier Media Group and all affiliates, will continue to compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in game and tournament results (game wraps, box scores, statistics, coach’s quotes, photos, video clips) from high school varsity, collegiate, youth club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for teams within Michigan’s borders or with ties to Michigan players, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com.
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(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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