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

• The Heartland Division gains a team (Kaw Valley FC, a partner of Sporting Kansas City) and loses one (Saint Louis FC U23 has ceased operations).
• Like last year, the Menace will play its final road match on June 20 in Chicago. And, like last year, the team will be at home the last five weekends of the regular season.
• With 74 teams, the PDL – North America’s top amateur soccer league – comprises four conferences and 10 divisions. 
• The Menace’s Heartland Division, alongside the Great Lakes Division, is part of the Central Conference. 
• This is the Menace’s 11th straight season at Valley Stadium.
• In 24 seasons, the Menace has collected 257 wins in the regular season (227-122-37), the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (14-12) and the PDL Playoffs (16-16).
• The 2017 Menace (7-5-2 PDL) advanced to the second round of the PDL Playoffs by upsetting the defending champion Michigan Bucks on their home turf (2-0 on July 21). The next day, eventual PDL finalist Thunder Bay eliminated the Menace, 2-0.