PDL Game Report
Saturday, July 5, 2014
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – No need to sweat this one out. With five matches left on its schedule, the Des Moines Menace have secured a berth in the PDL Playoffs.
Extending their winning streak to five matches, the Menace downed WSA Winnipeg 2-0 on Saturday night at the Winnipeg Soccer Complex. The Menace’s 8-1-0 mark – the best start in franchise history – solidifies one of the Heartland Division’s two postseason spots.
“It’s a mixed blessing. Clearly, we’re delighted to clinch the playoff spot early,” Menace head coach Mike Jeffries said. “It’s important to keep improving and keep re-upping our goals. We want to clinch the division and keep pushing forward and keep improving with every game.”
A win or a tie in Sunday’s 7 p.m. rematch with WSA Winnipeg (2-6-2) would put the Menace in prime position for capturing the division crown in front of the home crowd. One week from today, Des Moines hosts St. Louis (4-3-3) – the only Heartland Division team still challenging the Menace for the regular-season title.
Des Moines is riding its longest regular-season winning streak since 2006. The streak continued thanks to second-half goals by Lynn University teammates Javi Lopez and Chris Hellmann.
Lopez broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when he headed home Hellmann’s corner kick. Hellmann sealed the victory in the final two minutes of regulation. After Winnipeg goalkeeper Josh Partaker denied his penalty-kick attempt, Hellmann followed his shot and scored on the rebound.
“When you clinch the playoffs, it’s an awesome feeling,” said Hellmann, the current PDL Player of the Week. “Everyone’s focused, and it’s an extra motivation for us, to know we are in the playoffs, and we’re playing for the division title.”
“We have a group of guys pushing each other real hard every day. Competitively, it helps make the team better,” Jeffries said. “We’ve always tried to go one step at a time. You have to take small steps to reach the bigger goals.”
In the last five outings, Des Moines have outscored foes 12-3. The Menace backline have collected six PDL shutouts this season, and the team holds a 14-goal differential – tied for fourth-best in the league.
The Menace can now start planning for the franchise’s 12th playoff appearance – its first in three years.