Des Moines remains alone atop the divisional standings, thanks to weekend draws by the second- and third-place clubs. Real Colorado and St. Louis each had an opportunity to climb to first place with a win. Colorado (7-4-3, 24 points with two matches remaining) tied Rochester on Saturday and St. Louis (6-2-5, 23 points, three matches left) drew with Kansas City on Sunday. 
 

The Menace needs six points (two wins) to reach the playoffs and nine points to win the Heartland Division, depending on the outcomes of Friday and Saturday matches between St. Louis and Thunder Bay (6-3-3, 21 points, four matches left), on the Chill’s home turf. 

The division’s top three teams at the end of the regular season will march on to the PDL playoffs.


SCOUTING SPRINGFIELD: The Demize (2-10-1) is in last place in the Heartland Division standings. Springfield’s wins came against Kansas City and Rochester last month, following a 25-game losing streak that dated back to the franchise’s inaugural 2007 season.
 

The Menace has won all seven meetings with the Demize, including a 3-1 rally on May 13 at the Cooper Sports Complex, and a 3-0 win on June 27 at Valley Stadium.

Springfield plays at Kansas City on Thursday, before traveling to Des Moines for Saturday’s match. Chris Hanlon’s team has been inactive since its 3-0 loss to Thunder Bay on June 30.

 Micah Whorton, a Drury teammate of Menace midfielder Ben Taylor, is Springfield’s leading scorer. All 8 of his points come from goals, including one against the Menace.
 

COMING UP: After this weekend, the Menace has just two more regular-season matches. The team plays the Kansas City Brass (2-8-3) on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. 

Two days later, the Menace battles the St. Louis Lions in its last regular season game. The July 18 regular-season finale kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium, on Fan Appreciation Night presented by Frito Lay. Fans get in for $5 by wearing red. There will also be free fan photos courtesy of Joe’s Photo Booth and free Menace cowbells.