West Des Moines, IA - The Des Moines Menace kicked off its 31st season on Saturday, playing host to USL League Two newcomer, the Santafé Wanderers in a Great Plains Division showdown.

It marked the beginning of new era for the Menace, now led by head coach Charlie Latshaw III. Things got off to blistering start for the home side, with the Menace capitalizing on an errant ball from the Wanderers in the fourth minute. Yoshi Okawa (M | Tokyo, Japan) linked with a hard-charging Dominick Bachstein (F | Malvern, PA), who struck a clinical ball in the left corner for the Menace’s first goal of the season.

Applying pressure on Santafé for much of the opening half, in the 27th minute the Menace would find the back of the net again. Given enough space to create outside the box, a ferocious strike from Cade Hagan (M | Chicago, IL) pierced the upper right shelf to give Des Moines a 2-0 advantage.

Santafé would respond early in the second half. Intercepting the Menace in its own half, the Wanderers’ Murilo De Oliveira snuck a ball through to cut the lead, 2-1. In the latter stages of the second half is where the Menace would put the finishing touches on a successful night. Orchestrating a quality run, Yoshi Okawa placed a perfect pass for fellow countrymen Rentaro Miyakawa (M | Hakodate, Japan) to chip-in the game sealing goal.

Menace Marks

Metronet Man of the Match: Paul Jones (D | Columbia, SC)

Goals: 4’ (Bachstein), 27’ (Hagan), 74’ (Miyakawa)

Assists: 4' & 74' (Okawa)

Up Next

The Menace (1-0-0) begin a two-match road swing in the Gateway City and face another USL League Two newcomer, the St. Louis Ambush (0-3-0) on Saturday, May 24. Kick-off from Spartan Field is scheduled for 7:00 pm. The Menace return to Valley Stadium on Saturday, May 31 and face Sunflower State FC.