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Bucks return to the Open Cup
Win over Indiana forces lottery for 2nd place
The Michigan Bucks, who owe much of their popularity to the U.S. Open Cup will return to the tournament for the first time since 2003 after a 2-1 win over the  Indiana Invaders. Dolapo Olaoye opened the scoring in the 7th minute, and Bucks veteran Mychal Turpin added another just after halftime. The Bucks controlled the majority of the game, but the Invaders’ Leonardo Peirano cut the lead in half in the 86th minute. The game looked to be headed to full time but Michigan goalkeeper Dominic Cervi was forced to make a world-class diving save in the 89th minute to preserve the three points, and keep an unbeaten Open Cup qualifying run for the home side. This was the ninth time in the last nine years that the Invaders and Bucks have met in Open Cup Qualifying, with Michigan holding a considerable 7-1-1 advantage.
Michigan’s win over their rivals from South Bend, IN sets up a unique scenerio where the United Soccer Leagues will use a lottery to determine if the Des Moines Menace or the Boulder Rapids Reserve will be the Central Conference’s second representative. The winner of that lottery will face the runner-up from the USASA’s Region II in the Qualifying Round.
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