After winning its first three matches, the Des Moines Menace has tied three in a row.

Des Moines (3-0-3) takes over sole possession of second place in the Premier Development League’s Heartland Division after a 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Brass tonight at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.

The Brass (1-4-1) evened the match in the final minute of regulation. Eddie Edward, who played for the Menace briefly to start the 2008 season, dashed the visitors’ hopes of securing their first win since May 16. Edward capitalized on a rebound when Menace goalkeeper Sean Molony stopped Michael Thomas’ shot but was unable to corral it.

“I thought we played better tonight,” said Menace head coach Casey Mann. “Six games in, nobody’s beaten us. We’re a young team, and we’re one step away from being a pretty darn dangerous team.”

Sterling Copeland gave the Menace the early lead, finding the back of the net following a long ball from Ben Taylor in the 20th minute. With the assist, Taylor has recorded at least one point in five of the team’s six matches.

It looked like Des Moines might go up 2-0 off a corner kick in the 41st minute, but the Brass was able to clear it after two headers hit the cross bar.

“We’ve got to put the games away so that we don’t find ourselves in close calls late in the game,” Mann said. “We’re still trying to put the pieces together, still working on finding depth. This is a good group of guys. They’re battling every game.”

The division’s only undefeated team, Des Moines is on a 10-match unbeaten streak, dating back to a 3-0 loss to Thunder Bay on July 4, 2008. The Menace has not lost a road match since a 2-0 setback at Colorado on May 23 last season, going 4-0-5 away from home since then.

The Menace gets out of a tie with St. Louis (3-1-2) in the division standings and is four points behind 5-2-1 Real Colorado – the team that the Menace defeated 1-0 on May 16.

THIS WEEKEND: The Menace takes a break from divisional competition, hosting the Winnipeg Lions on Saturday. The exhibition kicks off at 7:30 at Valley Stadium.

The Lions, who play in the premier division of the Manitoba Major Soccer League, are coached by Tony Nocita, who played eight seasons for the Canadian national team and was a player and assistant coach for Winnipeg’s national-championship team in 1992.

The Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corp. will provide halftime entertainment this Saturday. The Isiserettes are comprised of Des Moines area youth who promote self expression and creativity through music and dance. They were in the national spotlight last January, when they performed at the Presidential Inauguration Parade.

Saturday's game is presented by CB Richard Ellis/Hubbell Commercial & Hubbell Realty Company.

COMING UP: The Menace will see more Canadian competition on June 12 and 13, playing at defending PDL champion Thunder Bay.