Against the odds, the Mid Michigan Bucks and two-time PDL champion Chicago Sockers knocked off Major League Soccer’s top two clubs at the time to advance to the Third Round of the US Open Cup, grabbing headlines around the nation.

Mid Michigan traveled to Foxboro Stadium to take on the New England Revolution on their home turf and came away victorious 1-0 courtesy of Chad Schomaker’s game-winning goal just before the final whistle. Boniventure Maruti, the PDL’s Goal Scoring Champion, set up the play when he intercepted an errant Revolution pass and played it to Schomaker, who put it in the back of the net from 18 yards out. Mid Michigan’s other hero was goalkeeper Eric Pogue, who save a New England penalty kick attempt.

The Bucks played host to the Miami Fusion several weeks later at White Pine Stadium, losing another close-fought match decided by penalty kicks after finishing tied 3-3. Even in the loss, Mid Michigan showed great strength despite being a man down since stoppage time in the first half. Player-coach Joe Malachino gave the Bucks the lead in the 53rd minute, but Miami followed with two goals of its own for a 2-1 lead. Maruti set up Salvatore Piraine for the equalizer with 11 minutes left, only to have the Fusion tally again to retake the lead. But in the closing moments of regulation, Maruti scored to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless 30 minutes, Miami edged Mid Michigan 6-5 in penalty kicks.

The defending 1999 PDL champion Chicago Sockers echoed Mid Michigan’s stunning Second Round win over the Revolution the same night by eliminating the future MLS Cup champion Kansas City Wizards in penalty kicks at Forest View Park in Chicago. After 120 minutes of scoreless action between the two defensive stalwarts, the game went to penalty kicks, and in the eighth round, Chicago came away victorious 7-6.

The victory pitted the Sockers against their Windy City MLS counterpart, the Chicago Fire. The Sockers nearly staged another upset over the tournament’s 1998 champion, but fell 1-0 to the Fire, who went on to win the Open Cup for the second time.

The two teams grabbed headlines again when they met in the PDL championship match in Saginaw, Michigan after decisive semifinal victories.

In one of the most exciting PDL championship matches ever, the Chicago Sockers claimed their second straight title shutting down Mid Michigan’s potent offense for a 1-0 victory.

The shutout gave the PDL Championship Most Valuable Player and 2000 PDL Goalkeeper of the Year Adam Throop, and his defensive unit, a clean slate through all four playoff matches. Throop and the Sockers allowed just two goals over eight games in their two championship playoff runs.