Following a spectacular season with a record (11-1-4), the 2009 Heartland Division Champion Des Moines Menace will host the first round of the playoffs this weekend. The division champion status earns Des Moines a bye for Friday night; the number two and number three ranked teams in the division will compete for the right to play the Menace on Saturday night.Friday's game will feature our perennial rival from Thunder Bay, Ontario, The Chill, playing against the first year Real Colorado Foxes from Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Defending PDL champion Thunder Bay won the division and emerged as the division's playoff winner in both of the past two seasons. The Foxes inherited many players and recruiting paths from now defunct Boulder Rapids (one of our primary rivals).
Tickets to either game are $9.00 for adults or $7.00 for kids ages 4-12. The team is offering a reduced rate for a two night package: $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for kids ages 4-12. This package gets you into the games on both Friday night and Saturday night. The games kickoff at 7:30 pm.
Next week the eight division playoff winners advance to the league quarterfinals (July 31) and semifinals (August 1). The Menace have put in a bid to host this round should they win on Saturday night. Teams from the Great Lake, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic Divisions will be participating against the Heartland Division's winner. There will be two games on July 31 with the winner of each playing for a spot in the Premier Development League championships the following night.
The Championship game will be held a week later on August 8 at the home stadium of one of the semi-finalists. The game will also be televised on Fox Soccer Channel (MediaCom 212). In 2005, MediaCom also aired the game on channel 22 since the Menace were playing (and won).
