By Sidney Binger
Lansing United played not only their first regular season PDL game, but their first competitive match against the Michigan Bucks. The two teams have met only one other time in program history during the … season in a friendly match.
Lansing United and the Michigan Bucks tied in a close, hard-fought match, 2-2.
“Michigan Bucks are a great opponent. They have really quality players from around the country and I’m just proud of our team’s fight,” Captain midfielder DeJuan Jones said. “To go down a goal against a good team like this and to fight back and get a goal back is awesome and it just shows how much fight this team has.”
After some back-and-forth action, the Bucks were able to get the ball in front of Lansing United’s goal where Captain forward David Goldsmith shoots the ball past goalie Joe White. The ball went just wide of the right post.
With multiple shot attempts coming from the Bucks, DeJuan Jones responded with a goal just over the head of Bucks goalie Jimmy Hague. Jones goal in the 31st minute was assisted by Michigan State teammate defenseman John Freitag.
In the 37th minute, the Bucks were rewarded a freekick after Lansing United was called for a handball. Forward Giuseppe Barone took the freekick and aimed for the top right corner of the goal. White, with an amazing read, made the save keeping the Hoops 1-0 lead.
“I just read his language and knew where he was going so I just moved my feet over quick enough to get there and make the hold and try and stop the counter attack for our team,” White said.
Another tough break for the Hoops on a foul in the box awarded a penalty kick to the Bucks. Midfielder Afonso Pinheiro Neto sent the ball into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1 just before halftime.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Bucks scored on a hard shot from Goldsmith to give them the 2-1 lead.
It did not take long for Jones to tie the game back up at 2-2. In the 53rd minute, Jones scored unassisted after dribbling into the box past the Michigan Bucks defensive line.
“I’m feeling really good. I’m just happy for my team that we got the tie and got a result and hopefully I can just keep building on that confidence and get more goals next game,” Jones said.
Still tied 2-2, in the 88th minute, Lansing United defenseman Michael Wetungu was given a red card allowing the Bucks a corner kick. Fortunate for the Hoops, the Bucks were unable to score.
After three extra minutes ran off the clock in a game that could have went either way, the final score at Archer Stadium was 2-2.
“I mean I’m pleased. I think we could’ve won the game, should’ve won the game, but we were unlucky with a penalty call in the first half,” White said. “I don’t think it was a penalty. We could’ve got ourselves a penalty at the last minute, but it’s a good point to start the season, don’t lose. It’s good for us. They are supposed to be the best team in the country and we matched them all over the place, so we’ll take it.”
