WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – June 10, 2009 –The Des Moines Menace heads to Ontario, Canada for two matches against the defending Premier Development League champions.  The Thunder Bay Chill hosts the Menace on Friday and Saturday at Chapples Park, with each match set to start at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

The rivalry between these Heartland Dvision arch-rivals has intensified in recent years, and the Chill (2-1-1) is seeking revenge after the Menace was the only team to defeat the eventual PDL Champions. Des Moines beat Thunder Bay not once, but twice in 2008 – 3-1 at Thunder Bay on June 8 and 5-1 at Valley Stadium on July 5. 

The Menace (3-0-3) is hoping to add a win to its record after tying its last three Heartland Division matches.  Des Moines is in third place in the division behind Real Colorado (6-3-1) and St. Louis (4-2-2). 

These teams will also face off at Valley Stadium on July 4 – exactly one year after the Chill shut out the Menace, 3-0, on the same field. Since then, the Menace has gone on a 10-game undefeated streak. 

RECAPPING LAST SATURDAY: The Menace comes into this weekend’s matches following 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Lions in an exhibition match at Valley Stadium.

Ben Taylor led the way with three goals and one assist. Taylor assisted Sterling Copeland in the 8th minute before scoring his hat trick in a 10-minute span (31st, 36th, and 39th minutes).  Jacob Schmoker assisted Taylor’s first goal. 

Cameron Jordan scored Des Moines’ other goal in the 9th minute with a perfectly driven shot from 20 yards out. 

Ryan Dyck put the Lions on the board four minutes into the second half, and he assisted Nolly Sanchez off a corner kick in the 82nd minute.

SCOUTING THUNDER BAY: The Menace has a 13-10-1 record against the Chill since 2003, after taking the 2008 series with a 2-1-1 record.   

The 2008 PDL Champions took first place in the Heartland Division with a record of 17-2-2. The Menace was the only team to defeat the Chill during its title run, winning both at home and at Thunder Bay. 

The Chill, which started its season only two weekends ago, is in fifth place in the Heartland Division after four matches.  Midfielder Christian Fernandes leads Thunder Bay with three goals after scoring in the 81st and 89th minutes of a 3-1 win at Rochester last Saturday.   

Tony Colistro is 37-26-10 as Thunder Bay’s head coach.