Des Moines Menace Men Host Expansion Side Kokomo Mantis FC in PDL League Play In A Battle Of Unbeatens
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — It’s the first of many meetings for the Des Moines Menace and Kokomo Mantis FC
The Menace, coming off a loss in the U.S. Open Cup to USL side San Antonio FC, hosts Premier Development League Heartland Division expansion Kokomo Mantis FC Saturday night at Valley Stadium, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Des Moines is 6-0-0 against across all meetings against teams in their first season. The Menace took all four against WSA Winnipeg in 2011 and both meetings against the Real Colorado Foxes in 2009.
Kokomo, being named an expansion franchise in Sept. 2015, is off to a hot start in the Heartland Division. The Mantis is 2-0-0 in its first two games and has compiled a 6-0 scoring aggregate across those matches, including a 4-0 win over Winnipeg in its last game on May 23.
The back-to-back reigning champions Menace has also gotten off to a 2-0-0 start, with a 2-1 win at home against Chicago Fire U-23 and a 2-0 at the St. Louis Lions last Saturday.
For the Mantis, Xhovani Dokaj leads the team with three goals — all coming in the 4-0 win over Winnipeg. Andrew Chekadanov and Kyle Ihn have both gone a full 90 between the pipes for Kokomo and both have two saves on the year.
Des Moines has four different goal scorers for its four goals this season. Christian Okeke (one goal, one assist) leads the team in points, but is tied on goals with Mark Heath-Preston, Rich Hoegg and Elvir Ibisevic.
After bowing out from the U.S. Open Cup, The Menace will be able to focus on winning another championship. This is the first season Des Moines has entered as the back-to-back Heartland Division champion. Thunder Bay Chill — the Menace’s next opponent on June 10 and 11 in Thunder Bay, Ont. — reigned supreme in the Heartland Division, holding the title for six of seven years from 2007 to 2013. The only year missing in the run was 2009, when the Menace won the Heartland Division and the Central Conference.
While in Canada next weekend , Des Moines will visit Thunder Bay for two and then head across the northern country to Manitoba for a mid-week fixture against WSA Winnipeg on June 14.
Menace Women Looking For Win No. 25 In Home Opener
Just four years in existence and the Des Moines Menace women have a chance for its 25th franchise win.
With a win in the home opener against the Kansas City Courage, the Menace will be able to secure its 25th win in the team’s history.
Participating in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in the Heartland Division, the Menace is coming in off a down year. Des Moines went 3-5-2 across the 2015 season — its worst in club history and thus far only losing season.
In 2012 — the club’s first year — the Menace went 7-1-0 in the Women’s League Soccer (WLS), outscoring opponents, 41-5. The 2013 season began in a new league, the WPSL, and a berth in the league playoffs after a 6-4-0 season. 2014 saw the team improve with one extra victory (7-3-0) and another game in the WPSL playoffs.
This season, the Menace scored three first-half goals and added one more in the first minute of the second half in a 4-0 win over Quad Cities Eagles last Saturday. Nicole Pearson notched a brace — her second against the Eagles in as many games dating back to the last meeting on June 13, 2015, a 6-1 win for Des Moines.
Hannah Evans and Sarah Brandt also tallied goals in the Menace’s season-opening win last weekend. Returning goalkeeper Nicole Inskeep earned the shutout.
The Courage is off to a 2-0-0 start in the WPSL with wins over the Minnesota TwinStars (2-0) and Quad Cities Eagles (1-0). Stats are not available for individual goalscorers or goalkeepers.
After the Kansas City match Saturday, Des Moines will have just one game over the next 20 days. June 11, the Menace will travel to Minnesota for a WPSL Heartland Division matchup against the Minnesota TwinStars. The next game will feature a two-game home stand June 24 and 25. WSA Winnipeg will travel to Valley Stadium for exhibition contests against the Menace.
Leave a Reply