WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 – Start planning the party for the Des Moines Menace’s 25th-anniversary celebration.
The team’s 2018 Premier Development League schedule opens Thursday, May 24 against WSA Winnipeg at Valley Stadium. In a busy stretch from June 15 to July 14, Des Moines’ nine remaining home matches are packed into the final five weekends of the season.
There will be two regular-season showdowns between the Menace and the arch-rival Thunder Bay Chill. In the 19th year of the PDL’s longest-standing rivalry, the Menace and the Chill clash on June 8 in Canada and on June 16 at Valley Stadium. For 11 straight years, Des Moines or Thunder Bay has finished atop the Heartland Division standings; the Chill ended the Menace’s three-year title run in 2017.
Also in the division this year are newcomer Kaw Valley FC (Kansas), second-year side Chicago FC United and the St. Louis Lions, a PDL staple since 2006. The Menace will host exhibitions against a trio of United Premier Soccer League clubs: Nebraska Bugeaters FC (Lincoln), Union Dubuque FC and Aurora (Ill.) Borealis.
SILVER-ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES
In the works for this season are a “Party Like It’s 1994” theme night and a reunion event for Menace alumni. An upcoming promotion will give fans the opportunity to design and vote on a new Menace logo – to be unveiled during halftime of the season finale.
This is our 25th season, and we’re just getting started!
NEW LEADERSHIP
A first-year general manager – Tiley Nunnink – and a first-year head coach – Alen Marcina – are guiding the Menace. Marcina led the San Antonio Scorpions to the 2014 North American Soccer League championship and headed up Rayo OKC (Oklahoma City) in the 2016 NASL season. From 2002 to 2009, Marcina scored more than 70 goals with 14 professional teams in seven countries.
GET YOUR TICKETS
Fans can click here to purchase season tickets for admission to all home matches for the Menace men’s and women’s teams, including exhibitions and postseason action. Also, while supplies last, season-ticket members receive a commemorative scarf celebrating the Menace’s 25th season.
DES MOINES MENACE 2018 PDL SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 24 WSA Winnipeg 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Saturday, May 26 at St. Louis Lions 5 p.m. at Tony Glavin Complex
Friday, June 1 at Kaw Valley FC 7:30 p.m. at Rock Chalk Park
Saturday, June 2 at St. Louis Lions 5 p.m. at Tony Glavin Complex
Friday, June 8 at Thunder Bay Chill 6:30 p.m. at Fort William Stadium
Sunday, June 10 at WSA Winnipeg 7 p.m. at Ralph Cantafio Soccerplex
Friday, June 15 ^ Nebraska Bugeaters FC 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Saturday, June 16 Thunder Bay Chill 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Tuesday, June 19 at Chicago FC United 7 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park
Wednesday, June 20 at Chicago FC United 7 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park
Saturday, June 23 Kaw Valley FC 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Friday, June 29 Kaw Valley FC 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Saturday, June 30 ^ Union Dubuque FC 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Friday, July 6 Chicago FC United 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Saturday, July 7 Chicago FC United 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Friday, July 13 St. Louis Lions 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Saturday, July 14 ^ Aurora Borealis 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium
Friday, July 20 Premier Development League Playoffs
Saturday, July 21 Premier Development League Playoffs
Saturday, July 28 Semifinals, Premier Development League Playoffs
Saturday, Aug. 4 Premier Development League Championship
All games are listed in Des Moines time. ^ = Exhibition
FOOTNOTES
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