A contender from their first season in 1996, the Bucks have made headlines numerous times and have been perennial powers in the league, missing the postseason just once. The Bucks reached the league’s six-team championship event in their inaugural season, finished fourth the following year and again reached the final six in 1998.

After a surprising playoff defeat in the first round of a 14-2 campaign in 1999, the Bucks would go on to garner national attention in 2000 by handing the New England Revolution a 1-0 loss in the US Open Cup in 2000, the first-ever victory by a PDL side over MLS competition. They would then take the Miami Fusion to the limit in the Third Round, falling in penalties 6-5 after a 3-3 draw.

The 2000 season also saw the Bucks finish 14-3-1, but despite playing host to the championship final four, they were unable to claim that elusive championship, falling in the final.