Continuing the punk end of season form, the CFR lost their third straight. This time the loss was to the Boulder Rapids Reserves 3-1 in the opening round of the PDL Central Conference Playoffs at Des Moines. Season over. As small consolation, the Des Moines Ringers (err, Menace), undefeated regular season champs, had their season ended by the Mid-Michigan Bucks. http://www.unitedsoccerleagues.com/...y&type=Story&command=setSelectedId&id=1602106 http://www.dmmenace.com/
Well thats a disapointment. We seem to always have great seasons but just can't get in the Open Cup or win the entire PDL title. Theres always next year though.
Willy, why the rip on the Menace? I'm truly ignorant here. I don't grok the D-3/PDL league structure. I've thought about going to see a Menace game or two but the drive to DM is about the same as the drive to Chicago. So... why bother? Just askin'
I started a thread on my reasons b4 the BS meltdown. It's a well known fact the Des Moines owner would love to make the jump to the A-League. The PDL is by design a league where U-23 and, or college eligible (amateur) players can get a high level of off season competition. There are limits on overage & professional players. I've seen Des Moines play twice in person and you will have a hard time convincing me more than 2-3 players on the field were under 23 (more so last year than this). They also have a lot of players from NAIA colleges, where eligibility & ages can be dodgy at best. I'm glad the Des Moines ownership draws a lot of fans and are planning on building a first class soccer specific facility. They should be at least a D-3 outfit (if not A-League), but there are no other teams at that level in the midwest. They must not have the balls or the bucks to step up to the A-League (not unlike the Chicago Stingers several years ago) so they hang a shingle out as a PDL side. It's easy to look good on the field when you misrepresent the level of play.
willydonc, I taped the CFR v. CES game from cable this past Saturday. It made me feel even worse that I was never able to get to a CFR game this season. Do you happen to have a copy you could send me of this year's program - the one with us on the cover? If so, kindly PM me. Thanks!
The Des Moines Menace started 3 overage players (1, a local guy who coaches in their academy, another is an ass't coach of the PDL team & coaches in their academy) versus the Boulder Rapids Reserves. The played the full 5 subs, of which 1 was overage. Three of the 16 are or were NAIA players, one overage, the other 2 U-23. I'm not sure where your misrepresented perceptions are derived. The facts are at www.dmmenace.com
Your point is well taken, this year's squad has less ringers than last year. I still have a hard time believing most of the players on the field last year were U-23.
2001 team based on minutes played included 3 overage players, of those 3, 2 started on the 2002 team. I don't believe any of the starters were from a NAIA school. I will conceed that the one overage player who didn't return in 2002 was VERY overage.
I don't know what the rules for PDL are, but according to the bio's posted on the Menace's web-site eight of the 26 players are 23 or older (and a couple very much older including one ex-MLS player).
The PDL rules are that you can have 8 overage players & at least, 3 U-19 players on your 26 man roster. Des Moines had 6 overage players, three that started & 2 that came on as subs (I did the math wrong on one of the subs in my earlier post). The 6th overage player in one of the backup keepers.