Springfield, Ill. – It took Menace 77 minutes to score at home against Springfield ASC, this time it only took five. It was a rough atmosphere, but the visitors were victorious 6-0 after a brilliant display of everything red and black, and a flawless performance by Diego Konincks and the back three.  

The Monarchs and coach Eliot Dickman opted to return to its usual formation, keeping Tristan Sandy active defensively, and pushing Yousef Al Shubasi to his left. A tactic that worked in Des Moines, but not on this night.  

Another dominant showing, with four goals arriving in the second half. Two Menace players obtained a brace, several added assists to their tally. A day in the office for a team carrying high expectations, climbing away from a haunting defeat that disarrayed its favoritism to win the Heartland Division.   

Summary  

There was no time to waste.  

After an Eliot Goldthorp corner and a rebound off Kori Cupid, Konincks poked the ball into the net for a quick Menace lead in the 5th minute. 

Trying to score his first goal of the season, wing-back Haruki Yamazaki stole the ball on Springfields area, placing a shot just away from goal in the 9th.  

Des Moines continued to press and force chances, many of them arriving from set pieces. 

15 minutes in, Goldthorp curled a free kick low forcing Jonathan Villacis to extend his body for the save. 

Fortunately for Springfield, offside calls were keeping Menace from scoring on several occasions, including a pass from Yamazaki to Goldthorp within the box in the 23rd minute. 

Sandy faced a tough challenge in the middle of the pitch, after a short stoppage the captain for Monarchs was back in play, but efforts from the backline were not enough to stop the ambush. 

Five minutes from the end of the first, a half clearance in the box found the feet of Konincks, who calmly stopped the ball and rattled a shot for 2-0.  

The second half was agitated, which favored Menace as the more experienced side.  

After a steady quarter hour in the second, a third goal would finally make its way. Cupid squared up a defender on the near side, opening space for a cross that found Tyrese Spicer and his diving header on goal.  

Just four minutes later, in the 64th, Goldthorp’s corner and Menace header rebounded off Villacis and Cupid, finding an eager Spicer who got his second goal of the night and extended the lead to 4-0. 

Reinforcements arrived for... Menace to continue the onslaught. Lagos Kunga exited for Cyrus Harmon, and Goldthorp would exit for Curtis De Leon.  

Via corner once again, this time by the foot of Vicente Valor, an in-swinger found Cupid chasing down and leading a header for 5-0 in the 81st minute.  

Moments later, Nico Torres-Masafierro saw Harmon on the run. Harmon received the ball, danced around Sandy, scooped the ball before Villacis, and struck it with his left to make it 6-0 for Menace.  

A comfortable win for Des Moines, who continue to make a case to be the favorites amongst a USL League Two environment fluid with surprise. 

Scoring Summary 

5’ - Diego Konincks, assisted by Kori Cupid (Menace) 

40’ - Diego Konincks (Menace) 

60’ - Tyrese Spicer, assisted by Kori Cupid (Menace) 

64’ - Tyrese Spicer, assisted by Kori Cupid (Menace) 

81’ - Kori Cupid, assisted by Vicente Valor (Menace) 

82’ - Cyrus Harmon, assisted by Nico Torres-Masafierro (Menace) 

What’s Next? 

Des Moines Menace return to Valley Stadium to host Chicago Dutch Lions FC on Pride Night. The match will be played on Saturday, June 17th at 7PM Central Time.  June 13th. 

Springfield stays at home, but will face Chicago City FC, another tough foe. Game is scheduled for Sunday June 18th from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, 7PM Central.  

Starting XI (Des Moines Menace) 

Ryan Troutman (goalkeepeer); Diego Konincks, Alberto Suarez, Jesse Williams (defenders); Haruki Yamazaki, Kori Cupid, Luka Nedic, Vicente Valor, Eliot Goldthorp (midfielders); Tyrese Spicer, Lagos Kunga (forwards) 

Substitutes: Quinn Millerd, Leroy Enzugusi, Nico Torres-Masafierro, Tyler Moss, Cyrus Harmon, Curtis De Leon.