By Murray Gleffe
Correspondent
ASHWAUBENON – Every team wants to win a game.
However, when you play to a draw with a team that hasn’t lost a game all season, a tie can go a long way.
The Green Bay Voyageurs FC soccer team managed a 0-0 tie with the Des Moines Menace in a USL League Two game at Capital Credit Union Park July 4
The Menace entered the contest with a 9-0-2 record but didn’t walk out with three points.
“I feel like we had the better chances today,” said Voyageurs head coach Brian Kamler. “Des Moines has been a staple in this conference for a while now. They have a tremendous organization and haven’t lost a game this season.”
The Voyageurs outshot the Menace for the game, 12-5.
With heat indices reaching close to 100 degrees, both teams were mandated to take water breaks midway through each half.
In the 12th minute, Green Bay (3-3-3) received the first good look of the game.
Louis Yuill sent in a free kick from 27 yards out that Zach Klancnik headed just wide.
“We played really hard after being up in Canada for a week,” said Klancnik. “Our team got some early looks but couldn’t get the ball to go through the net.”
About midway through the opening half, the Voyageurs Alex Welch got open in front of the Menace net and sent a piercing shot in that somehow was poked away by Des Moines goalkeeper Brendan Ledgeway.
“I thought Welchy played really well on the right side today,” said Kamler. “He had a number of looks that were brought upon by pure effort and skill.”
Klancnik then came to the forefront on the defensive end.
With less than five minutes remaining until half, Kainoa Bailey and Gerber Chavez were pushing downfield for Des Moines.
Klancnik shielded the ball handler until Jackson Yoder was able to make the save for Green Bay.
“That play by Zach was huge,” added Kamler. “It was one of a very few counter attacks Des Moines had for the game. Fortunately, he and George played an exceptional game the full 90 minutes in the back half for us.”
With no score heading into the second half, Green Bay once again had a golden chance in the 51st minute.
Anthony and Nick Markanich played a give-and-go game with Anthony finally firing a shot from 10 yards out that barely missed the right-crossbar and went out of bounds.
The final 20 minutes were dominated by the Voyageurs from a field of position and shots-on-goal standpoint.
In the 78th minute, a Green Bay corner kick slithered by everybody, keeping the game scoreless.
Then, with 3 minutes left in regulation, the Voyageurs had their best chance of the game to notch a goal.
Gabriel Kash fed Matteo Kidd on a long ball upfield.
After a Des Moines defender slipped on the playing surface, the ball squirted right in front of the Menace goal.
By the time Green Bay’s Nick Markanich got to the ball, it was too late, as Ledgeway poked it out of play.
In stoppage time, both teams got decent looks, but neither could score, ending the contest in a tie.
Each team received one point.
“From a team standpoint, I’m very proud of the performance,” said Kamler after the tie. “Our spacing, shots on goal and effort in the heat was there. We just have to go ahead now and get a win. We have a very important home and away series with St. Louis. We have to focus on the first game of that series and not look ahead.”
Box Score:
Des Moines: 0,0—0
Green Bay: 0,0—0