Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com
Friday, July 29, 2011
PONTIAC, Mich. – The Michigan Bucks overcame two deficits to oust the Des Moines Menace from the Premier Development League Playoffs. With a 3-2 overtime win tonight inside Ultimate Soccer Arenas, Michigan advances to host Thunder Bay in tomorrow’s PDL Central Conference final, set for 7:30 p.m. EDT.
The underdog Menace went down fighting. With John Sosa delivering both of the team’s goals, Des Moines led 1-0 for nearly the entire second half, and took a 2-1 lead in the first of two extra periods. Michigan came back each time – countering with goals in the 90th minute and the final minute of the first extra period – and came out on top after these PDL powers battled for 120 minutes.
“It’s disappointing to give up goals like we did, and to end the season this way,” said Menace head coach Laurie Calloway. “It was a gutsy performance. The guys played really well. The stats don’t show it, but they played a very good defensive game. At the end of the day, though, we just couldn’t prevail.”
Sosa provided the visitors’ scoring in the 45th and 103rd minutes. Before being sent off late in the first overtime, the Menace’s captain notched the only goals the mighty Bucks have allowed in nine home matches. Michigan, the Great Lakes Division champion (13-2-2) outscored foes 24-0 here during the regular season.
Lebogang Moloto set up Sosa’s header, five days after Sosa set up Moloto’s header in a 1-0 win at St. Louis that sent the Menace to the playoffs. Sosa’s second goal tonight came on a penalty kick set up when Charlie Bales was taken down in the box.
The Bucks got timely goals from Tommy Catalano and Latif Alashe. Catalano, who collected a team-high 10 goals in the regular season, tied the match in the final minute of regulation, and he scored the game-winner in the 111th minute.
Catalano made the most of a controversial corner kick. In the 105th minute, he set up Alashe, whose first goal of the season made it a 2-2 match heading into the second overtime period.
Des Moines’ coaches and players did not agree the Bucks should have received the corner kick, and Sosa was sent off when he received back-to-back yellow cards from disputing the call. Michigan’s Kafi Opare had been ejected just moments before the Menace lost Sosa.
The Menace’s season ends at 12-5-0. The team finished with the second-most regular-season wins in franchise history, tying the 2003-2005 clubs.
Heading into the season’s final weeks, the Menace’s playoff picture was uncertain. Des Moines finished on a high note to earn one of the Heartland Division’s two postseason berths.
“I’m proud of the guys,” Calloway said. “Their character’s shown throughout this last month. They kept fighting.”
This was the Menace’s 11th playoff appearance in the franchise’s 18 seasons. Michigan is the only PDL club with more trips to the playoffs. The Bucks have been to the postseason in 14 of their 16 seasons.
MR. B MAN of the MATCH: Goalkeeper Jhojan Obando, who kept the Menace in the match with nine saves. Obando enters his senior season at Providence.