PDL Game Report
Friday, July 18, 2014
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Chris Hellmann added to his team-leading totals, four players scored their first goals in a Des Moines Menace uniform, and a 5-0 victory against WSA Winnipeg on Friday night at Valley Stadium stretched the Menace’s unbeaten streak to nine.
The 11-1-1 Menace can clinch the PDL’s regular-season championship with a victory in Saturday night's 7:30 p.m. CT rematch.
Hellmann put the Menace on the board less than four minutes in on Friday match as he slotted home Ralphie Lundy’s through-ball. After scoring his ninth goal of the season, Hellmann set up Grant Bell and A.J. Jeffries for his sixth and seventh assists.
Jeffries’ one-time in the 81st minute opened the floodgates for a three-goal outburst in the match’s final 10 minutes. Jonny Macadam struck in the 86th minute and Michael Semenza capped the scoring three minutes later.
“Tonight was an all-in team performance,” said Macadam, a Grand View University grad in his third season with the Menace. “We’ve worked hard all season. Every day at practice, we’re pushing each other. It’s not just the starting 11; we’ve got a lot of players who are ready to step in.
“Being a Grand View boy, it means a lot to score in front of the fans,” Macadam continued. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to.”
In its final action before hosting the PDL Playoffs next weekend, the Menace is poised to add to its resume. In the last week, Des Moines has seized the regular-season titles for the Heartland Division and the Central Conference.
“We’ve put together a really special team,” said Jeffries, whose father, Mike Jeffries, is the Menace’s head coach. “Our confidence is high, and our enthusiasm is high. We’re going to come out tomorrow with guns blazin’. We have a calm confidence, and we keep working hard. We’re getting ready for what’s next.”
Friday night’s win was the team’s largest goal-differential since a 6-0 triumph over Kansas City on July 17, 2010 – the last time five Menace players scored in a game.
The Menace's defense added to its franchise record for shutouts in a season. Des Moines has nine clean sheets, and goalkeeper Paul Blanchette is undefeated (6-0-1) with five shutouts. His goals-against average is a staggering 0.286.