Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com
Friday, June 3, 2011
WEST DES MOINES, Ia. – The Des Moines Menace will play an exhibition tomorrow as the final preparation for a weeklong road trip.
The Menace (4-1-0) takes on Des Moines International tomorrow night at 7:30p.m. at Valley Stadium. The team heads to Canada on Monday for a trip that includes four Premier Development League matches in five days. The Menace will face Heartland Division foes WSA Winnipeg (June 7-8) and the Thunder Bay Chill (June 10-11).
“The hope (in Canada) is to go 4-0 and stay on top of the league. It would build great momentum for the Open Cup game on Tuesday (June 14). With a 16-game schedule you can’t lose a game and make the playoffs,” head coach Laurie Calloway said.
Calloway’s squad has momentum on its side, coming off a 5-2 win Wednesday night over the Kansas City Brass. Des Moines raced to a 4-0 lead after only 32 minutes.
“The team played incredibly well in the first 30 minutes of the game. We kept the ball out of our half for the most part the second half. We got back on track with the results; it was good for their spirits,” Calloway said.
Tomorrow’s exhibition gives Calloway the chance to play some of his underutilized players who are vying for time in the lineup. Fans can expect to see a mix of youth and experience in the starting 11.
“Now we’re gearing up for to Canada trip and trying to figure out our line-up. We need to keep our momentum. I’m looking at players that we haven’t been featuring to see if they can stake a claim on the bus for Canada,” Calloway said.
Upon returning to the United States, the team will have only one day to prepare for their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday, June 14. The Menace hosts the Chicago Fire PDL team at 7:30p.m. at Valley Stadium.
RECAPPING WEDNESDAY:
Des Moines came out firing against the Kansas City Brass on Wednesday at Overland Park Soccer Complex.
Four goals in a twenty minute span were scored in the first half. Deshorn Brown scored twice, first in the 15th minute and another in the 32nd. Diego Marroquin scored in the 18th minute off a ricocheted ball in the box and Bryan Perez tallied his first goal of the season during the 25th minute with an assist from Lebogang Moloto.
Des Moines entered halftime with a 4-2 lead. The lone second-half goal came from Uriah Polley in the 67th. The Brass kept the Menace from qualifying two teams in the Open Cup after handing Des Moines their only loss (2-1) of the season on May 25.
SCOUTING DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL: Saturday’s opponent goes by the name Ecuador Des Moines. The team is coached by Roberto Triana and features local players from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Sudan and Zambia.
MENACE PLAYERS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS: John Sosa is second in the league with six assists; Deshorn Brown is tied for second in goals (six), tied for third in points (13) and listed fifth in shots (19).
SATURDAY’S PROMOTIONS: Saturday is Youth Soccer Night, presented by Powerade and Vitamin Water. All youth-soccer players and coaches receive free admission at the gate, when they wear their team’s jersey or present a coach’s pass.
The Menace welcomes special guest Alberto Garcia Aspe, a former captain for the Mexican National Team who played in three FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2002). Garcia Aspe will sign autographs at Valley Stadium from 7p.m. until 7:45p.m. His appearance is sponsored by Coca-Cola and Kum & Go.
UPCOMING HOME ACTION: Des Moines is back at Valley Stadium on Tuesday, June 14 hosting the Chicago Fire PDL in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. Fans can save $2 by purchasing advance tickets at tomorrow’s game, or by purchasing online.