Milk Cup Match Preview: Battle of the Oak

Written by Robert Kerr, Staff Writer

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Oakland County FC heads to beautiful Ann Arbor, MI tonight for one of the club’s biggest matches to date. County will take on the reigning NPSL Great Lakes Division champion, AFC Ann Arbor, in a Michigan Milk Cup semifinal matchup. Wednesday night’s winner will face the victor of Tuesday night’s other semifinal, the Flint City Bucks. The Bucks defeated Grand Rapids FC in an extra-time bout that saw the home team pull off the 2-1 victory. 2019 is the third edition of the Michigan Milk Cup, a summer spanning knockout tournament, which featured 12 clubs from across the state.

The 2019 Battle of the Oak takes place this Wednesday at @cuaa at 7PM for the @michiganmilkcup Semifinals. The winner will advance to the final to take on the winner of Flint City/GRFC #COYMO #AFCAAFamily #MichiganMilkCup

?️https://t.co/hgS6i059ih pic.twitter.com/ZsjYXB4Bwr

— AFC Ann Arbor (@AFCAnnArbor) June 24, 2019

OCFC have it all to play for in the single elimination game. The Purple Gang will have to produce their most complete performance of the year to earn passage to the cup final. It is fitting, as two of County’s finest performances, so far, this season have come in the cup competition. In early May, OCFC defeated Force FC, 3-0, in the first round, and then beat Kalamazoo FC, 2-1, on Memorial Day weekend. The quarter final win, in Kalamazoo, was a clinical, stout, and resolute performance, which featured a brace from striker Fred Prest.

Tonight’s MOTM: Bobby Harris! #BleedPurple pic.twitter.com/NiX9aFsIXx

— Oakland County FC (@OaklandCountyFC) May 27, 2019

County midfielder, Bobby Harris, who played a big part in the win over KZFC, relishes the challenge ahead. “We are up against a solid team, on Wednesday, but if we play together as a unit, we give ourselves a chance.” Harris has been a regular in the purple colored midfield, and has been a standout performer in multiple matches, in 2019.

Following Monday night’s training session, in Clawson, assistant coach Derek Peters felt good about what he saw from the team. “Everyone played with great intensity tonight, I think we are all excited for Ann Arbor. I feel we are going to bring a strong 18, out there. To beat them, we will have to play defensively, with intensity, and we will have to keep up our levels of intensity [through the whole game].”

Coming Home

County’s next home game is set for Friday June 28, at Clawson City Park Stadium. The Oakland County FC experience, presented by Diversified Members Credit Union, continues beyond the final whistle. Zeoli’s Italian, in downtown Clawson, at 110 E 14 Mile Road, is the official OCFC match day bar. Zeoli’s is serving $1 beers, during every match day, in 2019! Socialize, dine, and cheer with your fellow fans, before and after the game. Tickets can be purchased HERE.