Des Moines Menace News Release - www.menacesoccer.com
Friday, July 31, 2009
DES MOINES, IA -- The season ended Friday night for the 2009 Heartland Division champion Des Moines Menace. The Menace’s playoff run came to a close with a 1-0 loss to Cary in front of 3,633 fans.
Des Moines’ (12-2-4) only other loss came by the same score, against defending PDL champion Thunder Bay, on July 4.
The playoffs continue Saturday for the Chicago Fire and the Cary (N.C.) Clarets, who advanced to the Premier Development League’s semifinals with victories tonight at Valley Stadium.
Chicago extended its unbeaten streak to 10, dispatching the Ocean City (N.J.) Barons, 3-0, in Friday's opener. The Fire and the Clarets battle Saturday night at 7:30 at Valley Stadium. The winner marches on to the PDL championship match, to be played on Aug. 8.
Cary’s Vince Petrasso assisted Cole Grossman in the 70th minute. Grossman’s shot from 10 yards out was enough to keep the Menace from advancing beyond the Elite Eight.
“It’s sad. A hard way to go out,” said Casey Mann after his final match as the Menace’s head coach. “I wish we had more opportunities.
“This is a great group of guys. They did everything we asked,” Mann continued. “You can see it, just looking at their faces, the tears in their eyes. They gave it their all – their energy, their passion. They played their guts out, and that’s the standard that I’m most proud of. This group was just as capable as winning the national title as any other group we’ve had here.”
Mann guided the Menace to the 2005 PDL title in his first year as the team’s coach. His five-year run in this role ends with an overall 53-21-13 record, three trips to the playoffs and two appearances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2005 and 2006, when the team also reached the postseason).
“I’d like to thank all of the people who’ve supported us. We’ve got the best fans in the league. Can’t thank them enough,” Mann said. “I really appreciate all the people in the community who have supported me.”
Mann’s side had its chances tonight, outshooting Cary, 14-9, including a 10-4 edge in the first half. The home team’s best opportunities came in the 37th minute, when Samuel Asante and Jacob Schmoker rifled back-to-back shots at Akira Fitzgerald. The Cary goalkeeper rose to the occasion each time and lowered his GAA to less than 0.50 with tonight’s shutout.
The Clarets improve to 12-4-3. Their playoff run also includes wins against the Mid-Atlantic Division’s top two seeds, Carolina and PDL regular-season champion Reading.
