THUNDER BAY, Ontario, Canada – Saturday, June 11, 2011 – The Des Moines Menace’s struggles against rival Thunder Bay continued with a 3-0 loss tonight at Chapples Park.

The Menace (6-3-0) is winless in its last six meetings with the Chill, after being shut out in consecutive regular-season matches for the first time since 2000. Thunder Bay (3-1-0), the defending Premier Development League runner-up, won 2-0 last night and has outscored Des Moines 17-4 since the Menace’s last win in this heated Heartland Division rivalry.

“We’re frustrated and disappointed,” said Menace head coach Laurie Calloway, whose road-weary team started this Canadian tour with wins at WSA Winnipeg on Tuesday and Wednesday. “You can’t play four games in five days and expect to beat a team like Thunder Bay.”

For the second straight night, Thunder Bay took a two-goal lead into the locker room. Brandon Swartzendruber, the PDL’s defending scoring champion, opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Gustavo Oliveira, the league’s 2010 assist champion, set up Swartzendruber’s fourth goal of the season.

Skander Babaye scored in the 24th minute, and Nolan Intermoia padded the score with a stoppage-time goal in the closing minutes.

The Menace’s coaches and players try to put these losses behind them, as they return to Des Moines to host the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night. They’re preparing to face the Chicago Fire’s PDL side on a quick turnaround, with kick-off set for 7:30 at Valley Stadium.

“I think we’ve got a good chance (on Tuesday),” Calloway said. ‘We’ve got to find a couple guys to step up for us, and we’ve got to tighten things up on defense.”

Though only one game past the midpoint of its regular season, the Menace does not play another PDL road match until the final day of the season – July 24 at St. Louis. Des Moines still has nine matches on the home schedule, including Tuesday’s Open Cup match, six regular-season contests and two exhibitions.

The Menace hosts Thunder Bay for a doubleheader on July 8-9, looking for its first victory over the Chill since a 3-1 road win on June 13, 2009. Des Moines leads the all-time series, 20-16-3, including an 11-5 advantage at home.

MR. B MAN of the MATCH goes to: Midfielder Bryan Perez, who had two shots in 56 minutes of action. Perez, who was born in Costa Rica and calls Miami his home, was a four-year standout for UMKC and played professionally last season for the Missouri Comets (Major Indoor Soccer League).

UP NEXT: The Menace is back at Valley Stadium on Tuesday, hosting Chicago Fire PDL in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Visit this “Fans’ Guide to the Open Cup.”

The team resumes its regular-season schedule on Saturday (June 18) against Kansas City, starting a string of six straight weekends at home. All of the team’s home matches start at 7:30 p.m.

Match: Des Moines Menace at Thunder Bay Chill
Date: Saturday, June 11, 2011
Competition: Premier Development League regular-season match
Venue: Chapples Park in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Weather: Low 60s and clear


Scoring Summary:     1   2   F
MENACE                      0    0    0
TB                                2   1    3

MENACE – None
TB – Brandon Swartzendruber (Gustavo Oliveira) 17:00; Skander Babaye (Farahani) 24:00;Nolan Intermoia (Swartzendruber) 90:00

Stats Summary: MENACE / TB
Shots: 9 / 13
Saves: 5 / 6
Corner Kicks: 6 / 3
Fouls: 19 / 16
Offside: 1 / 2

Misconduct Summary: Menace Yellow Cards: Finn Jor 40:00; Husref Jupic 90:00 TB Yellow Cards: Farahani 3:00; Pedro Pereira 29:00; Anthony Putrus 75:00; Farahani (second) 83:00