PONTIAC, Mich. – It was a quick and quiet playoff exit for the Thunder Bay Chill.
The Premier Development League Club held the powerful Michigan Bucks to a scoreless draw through the first 45 minutes on Friday, but were overpowered in the second half and fell 3-0, eliminated in the Central Conference semifinal.
Benjamin Fitzpatrick opened the scoring for the Bucks in the 60th with a volley from the top of the box. Nick Wyson fed Adam Najem with a perfect cross in the 68th that led to Michigan’s second goal and Tom Owens sealed the deal with a strong finish in the 80th minute.
The Bucks, the PDL regular-season champions, will take on the Des Moines Menace in Saturday’s conference championship.
The Menace pounded Kitchener-Waterloo, the defending league title-holders, 5-1 in the other semifinal.