Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com
Thursday, June 13, 2013
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – One rival comes in riding a five-game winning streak and sitting atop the Premier Development League’s Heartland Division. The other is fighting for playoff contention. The stage is set for this Friday-Saturday doubleheader between the undefeated Thunder Bay Chill (5-0-0) and the Des Moines Menace (3-3-1) at Valley Stadium.
These matches come at a pivotal moment for the Menace, a team that has alternated wins and losses since a season-opening draw. With half the PDL schedule played and just a 3-3-1 record to show for it, Des Moines finds itself in a less-than-optimal position.
Taking two games and six points away from the division front-runner would get Des Moines back in the thick of the hunt for one of the division’s two playoff berths.
Head coach Mike Jeffries and the Menace are ready to put their last game behind them. The team is coming off a 1-0 loss to Springfield last Saturday – the franchise’s first non-win in eight home matches against the Demize.
ABOUT THE MENACE
- Seek to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to the Springfield Demize last Saturday.
- Have scored 11 goals in PDL play, Jimmy Tulloch (two) is the only player to net multiple scores.
- Advanced to the third round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – a run that ended with a 2-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City (Major League Soccer) on May 28.
- Finished 8-5-3 in 2012, missing the Heartland Division’s second and final playoff spot by a single point to Real Colorado (8-4-4).
- Began 2013 under the direction of a new general manager (Matt Homonoff) and head coach (Mike Jeffries).
- The updated roster: www.MenaceSoccer.com/men/roster
ABOUT THE CHILL
- Are undefeated in PDL play (5-0-0) and sitting atop the Heartland Division
- Starting June 1 against Des Moines, have gone three straight matches without allowing a goal.
- Are led in scoring (three goals apiece) by forward Sunny Omoregieby and veteran defender Nolan Intermoia, a member of the current PDL Team of the Week.
- Look to repeat recent success, including a 13-2-1 record last season and Heartland Division crowns in five of the last six seasons. Won the PDL title in 2008 and finished second in 2010.
- Head coach Tony Colistro, the only head coach in the Chill’s history (2000-present), is 118-86-22 all-time.
PREVIOUS MEETING
- The Chill opened their home schedule on June 1 by shutting out the Menace, 2-0.
- Des Moines managed just two shots on frame; Pedro Adan and Paul Dillon scored for the Chill.
ALL-TIME SERIES
- Des Moines leads the all-time series, 22-21-4.
- The home side is 9-2-1 in the rivals’ last 12 meetings, with the Menace claiming a 2-1-1 record at Valley in the last two seasons.
- Thunder Bay has been in control lately with an 8-2-2 mark and a 27-10 scoring advantage over the Menace in the last three seasons.
A .500 PATTERN
- The Menace have fallen into an up-and-down pattern in PDL play. Since a season-opening tie, the team’s PDL results have been: win, loss, win, loss, win, loss.
- The Menace have not scored in consecutive league matches since the streak began.
THIS WEEKEND’S PROMOTIONS
- On Friday, the first 1,000 fans receive a bobblehead likeness of Menace mascot Maniac.
- On Saturday, fans wearing black get in for $5. The Menace women open the action on Blackout Night, with a 4:30 p.m. exhibition against Iowa Rush.