WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – June 20, 2009 – Sterling Copeland, Samuel Asante and Armin Mujdzic led the way tonight for the undefeated Des Moines Menace, which scored a season-high four goals and shut out the Kansas City Brass at Valley Stadium.
 

The trio has emerged as the leading scorers for the Menace (5-0-4), whose unbeaten streak reaches 13 with the 4-0 win.

Copeland wasted little time finding the back of the net to open each half, scoring in the second and 47th minutes.

“It feels incredible,” Copeland said after the Menace won its second straight match, following four straight ties. “It feels like we’re really starting to come together. We’re gelling at the right time.

“We’ve almost had a chip on our shoulder,” Copeland continued. “We feel like we should be 9-0, and we feel like we still have something to prove.”

Asante assisted Copeland’s second score, then set up Armin Mujdzic in the 65th minute. Mujdzic, the Premier Development League’s reigning Player of the Week, once again gave the team a spark off the bench, entering the match in the 53rd minute.

The fleet-footed Asante capped off the scoring, notching a goal in the 81st minute.

Copeland has taken over the team lead for goals (four) and points (nine), while Asante has a team-high four assists to go with a pair of goals (eight points). In just three games, Mujdzic has tied Ben Taylor’s seven points, reaching this mark with three goals and an assist.

The resounding win was a taste of redemption for the Menace, 16 days after these Heartland Division teams tied, 1-1, on the Brass’ home turf.

The Menace has had its way with the Brass (2-7-2) at home, where it has won five straight against Kansas City and eight of the last nine.

Casey Mann’s team sits in a tie for second place in the Heartland Division standings, after first-place Real Colorado (6-4-2, 20 points) and the St. Louis Lions (5-2-4, 19 points, like the Menace) each tied tonight. The Menace can thank the Thunder Bay Chill (a 1-1 tie with Real Colorado) and the Springfield Demize (a 2-2 draw against St. Louis).

COMING UP: Des Moines continues this stretch of five straight Saturdays at home, a week from today (June 27), when it hosts Springfield. The 7:30 p.m. match is preceded by the 2009 Iowa High-School All-Star Games, hosted by the Menace. The girls contest starts at 3 o’clock, followed by the boys at 5 o’clock. The triple-header is sponsored by Kum & Go.

The Menace hits the road the following day, visiting the Rochester (Minn.) Thunder.

The team welcomes the Thunder Bay Chill on July 4. Sponsored by Powerade, the Independence Day Celebration kicks off with a free picnic at 5 p.m., and fireworks follow the 7:30 match.