WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Saturday, May 14, 2011 – Round one goes to the Des Moines Menace.

Second-half goals by Deshorn Brown and Lebogang Moloto propelled Des Moines to a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Lions in tonight’s Premier Development League season opener at Valley Stadium.

These Heartland Division rivals, whose all-time series was tied (3-3-8) heading into tonight, will go head to head back here next Saturday, in another qualifier for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

On this night, the Menace overcame a halftime deficit to extend its unbeaten streak against the Lions to nine (3-0-6). Brown scored the game-winner in the 84th minute, after Moloto tied the match 11 minutes into the second half.

“Pretty exciting,” said Brown, who arrived into town late Thursday. “Coming off the bench and getting the job done. It’s a good feeling. I like it so far. My first time here. (The team has) Good abilty, good communication.”

Brown, a substitution in the 69th minute, sidestepped St. Louis goalkeeper Israel Becerra and drilled the ball far-post for his first PDL goal.

One year after tying for the team’s lead in goals, Moloto picked up where he left off in 2010, when he scored a pair of goals against the Lions.

When a shot bounced off Becerra’s foot, Moloto opportunistically put the Menace on the board with a diving header into the open net.

“It’s awesome to be back,” Moloto said. “The team is looking good. I think we have good players who all work as a team. Great start. Hopefully, we can carry on as we started.”

The visitors grabbed the halftime lead, thanks to Ernad Cavka’s header in the 30th minute. David Flores assisted on a corner kick.

The Menace defenders held their own in the second half of this physical battle. Goalkeeper Jordan Kadlec preserved the win with a save in stoppage time – his only save in the final 45 minutes.

Laurie Calloway’s side outshot St. Louis 21-5, including a 10-1 edge in the second half.

These teams meet again in one week (May 21), on the same field, hoping to keep their hopes alive for a return to the Open Cup. The Menace earned the division’s berth last season; the Lions did so the previous two years.

MR. B MAN of the MATCH goes to: Deshorn Brown, whose game-winning goal gave the Menace the win on opening night. Brown, a Jamaican, looks to add some punch to the team’s offense, after scoring 21 goals for Mobile in its run to the NAIA Final Four.

UP NEXT: The Menace visits Missouri to take on the Springfield Demize on Tuesday. Cooper Complex is the site for the 7:30 p.m. match – the only one between these teams during the 2011 regular season. Des Moines and St. Louis return to Valley Stadium next Saturday (May 21) for a 7:30 p.m. match on “Blackout Night,” presented by CBRE/Hubbell. The first 300 fans receive vuvuzelas.

Mach: St. Louis Lions at Des Moines Menace
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011
Competition: Premier Development League regular-season match
Venue: Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, Iowa
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CDT
Attendance: 3,267
Weather: Overcast, a little rainy, windy and temps in the 40s


Scoring Summary:     1   2   F
MENACE                       0   2    2
StL                               1   0    1

MENACE – Lebogang Moloto (56:00); Deshorn Brown (84:00)
StL – Ernad Cavka (30:00, assisted by David Flores)

Stats Summary: MENACE / StL
Shots:  21 / 5
Saves: 4 / 8
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 6 / 7
Offside: 0 / 1

Misconduct Summary: StL Red Card: Dean Lovegrove (84:00)

DES MOINES MENACE 2011 SCHEDULE

(1-0-0 regular season; 1-0-0 at home and 0-0-0 on the road)

** = exhibition match

# = U.S. Open Cup qualifying match

Saturday, May 14       vs. St. Louis Lions #                         W, 2-1

Tuesday, May 17         at Springfield Demize#                      7:30 p.m. at Cooper Complex

Saturday, May 21       vs. St. Louis Lions #                         7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium 

Wednesday, May 25   at Kansas City Brass #                       7:30 p.m. at Overland Park Soccer Complex                       

Wednesday, June 1    at Kansas City Brass                          7:30 p.m. at Overland Park Soccer Complex                       

Saturday, June 4       vs. Des Moines International**       7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium

Tuesday, June 7         at WSA Winnipeg                               7:30 p.m. at Winnipeg Soccer Complex

Wednesday, June 8    at WSA Winnipeg                               7:30 p.m. at Winnipeg Soccer Complex

Friday, June 10           at Thunder Bay Chill                           7:30 p.m. at Chapples Park

Saturday, June 11       at Thunder Bay Chill                           7:30 p.m. at Chapples Park

Saturday, June 18     vs. Kansas City Brass                      7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium

Saturday, June 25     vs. Winnipeg Lions**                        7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium               

Friday, July 1             vs. WSA Winnipeg                            7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium               

Saturday, July 2         vs. WSA Winnipeg                            7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium               

Friday, July 1             vs. WSA Winnipeg                            7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium               

Saturday, July 2         vs. WSA Winnipeg                            7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium               

Saturday, July 16       vs. Menace Alumni**                                    7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium               

Saturday, July 23       vs. Kansas City Brass                      7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium

Sunday, July 24           at St. Louis Lions                                5 p.m. at Tony Glavin Complex