Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com
Friday, July 4, 2014
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – With a win and a draw, the Des Moines Menace can punch a ticket for the PDL Playoffs.
To earn a postseason berth for the first time in three years, Des Moines (7-1-0) needs just four points over its remaining six games. A Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at WSA Winnipeg is the Menace’s first chance to clinch.
The Heartland Division’s top two teams qualify for the PDL playoffs. Fresh off a weekend sweep of Thunder Bay, Des Moines leads the division with 21 points. Thunder Bay (6-5-1, 19 points) sits in second; all three of the defending PDL finalists’ remaining matches come against St. Louis (3-2-3, 12 points). St. Louis hosts Thunder Bay on Saturday.
The Menace have held WSA Winnipeg (2-5-2) in check over the past four years. Des Moines leads the series 7-0-1 against Winnipeg, whose only standings point against the Menace came from a 2-2 draw on June 12, 2012.
If things go the Menace’s way in Winnipeg, Des Moines could clinch the Heartland Division title at Valley Stadium on July 12 against St. Louis.
ABOUT THE MENACE
- Under second-year head coach Mike Jeffries, is 7-1-0 in its 21st season of PDL play.
- Has conceded only six goals in PDL play (all scored by Thunder Bay) – second best in the league (Seacoast United Phantoms, five).
- Holds a 6-0-0 record when leading at half; has outscored PDL teams 11-1 in the first half.
- Chris Hellmann leads the team with 13 points and six goals – all coming in the last six games.
- After assisting three Hellmann goals last weekend, Sean Dong is tied with Nico Wright for the team’s assists lead (three).
- Has more wins through just eight games compared to all of 2013 (6-6-2 record).
- The team has more points in eight games (21), compared to 2013 (20).
ABOUT WSA WINNIPEG
- 2-5-2 in its fourth season.
- Returner Moses Danto has four goals in six games to lead the team.
- Comes off an idle weekend; in its most recent action, settled for a pair of 3-0 losses to Thunder Bay on June 20 and 21.
- Best season in franchise history was 2012 (3-8-5, 14 points).
- Eduardo Badescu leads the team as head coach for the fourth year.
ALL-TIME SERIES
- Des Moines leads the overall series, 7-0-1.
- The Menace took two in 2013, 1-0 on May 18 at Valley Stadium and 4-1 on May 30 in Winnipeg.
- The Menace leads the aggregate scoring in the series: 24-8.
- Des Moines has scored four goals in a game on four occasions against Winnipeg.
UP NEXT: MENACE EYES PLAYOFF BERTH
The Menace will be at home next Saturday (July 12) against St. Louis. The 7:30 PDL match is preceded by the final 2014 action for the Menace women, who host Fire and Ice S.C. at 4:30 p.m.