The defending PDL champion Chicago Sockers opened their 2000 campaign by earning maximum points over Twin Cities in a rematch of last seasonÆs Central Conference semifinal. Chicago scored two late goals to secure a 3-0 victory over the Tornado in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier, which was the teamÆs first match since winning the league championship in Spokane last August. While Chicago, along with Dayton, Indiana and Kalamazoo, opened their Open Cup schedules in Group 2, six Group 1 teams were eliminated, leaving 32 teams to battle for four spots in the tournament. The Sockers, Gems, Invaders and Kingdom all earned the maximum five points in their wins, creating a four-way tie for the top spot in Group 2. San Gabriel Valley maintained its hold on Group 1 with a five-point, 3-1 victory over Nevada that eliminated six teams in the group. Behind a three-point performance from 1999 leading scorer Donald McIntosh, the Central Florida Kraze defeated Tampa Bay, 2-0, to jump to the top in Group 3. Lee Paul and Matt Hamnett combined twice in the final six minutes to give Chicago two key goals in their victory over Twin Cities. Rodrigo Costa had given the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute on a rainy day at The Hive in Forest View Park. That goal would have been enough as goalkeeper Adam Throop faced only four Tornado shots and saved each of them. But, Hamnett set up Paul for an insurance goal in the 85th minute and Paul returned the favor four minutes later when he fed Hamnett for the bonus-point goal. In league play, expansion Colorado Springs took the Rocky Mountain Division lead with a 2-1 overtime victory over Kansas City. The Ascent (2-2-0) are now tied for the league lead with 10 points. The San Fernando Valley Heroes (2-2-0) also have 10 points after their 2-1 win Sunday against Central Coast. In the Eastern Conference, the Westchester Flames opened their regular season in convincing fashion, handling the North Jersey Imperials, 4-0. Hector Naverrete, who played for the A-LeagueÆs Connecticut Wolves last season, and Radoslav Bojovic each had a pair of goals in the game. Record Iowa crowd: The Des Moines Menace set a franchise record with an attendance of 2,003 fans Saturday at Cara McGrane Memorial Stadium in their 6-1 exhibition win over the Wichita Wings. “We are very excited to kick off the season with an attendance record,” said General Manager David Nesbit. “As an organization, our goal for the 2000 season has been to entertain 2,000 fans per game û itÆs a promising start and we will continue to work toward that goal.” Special events at the opener included skydivers delivering the game ball, a magnetic schedule giveaway and a post-game fireworks show. But, there were plenty of fireworks on the field during the game as well. Although the match officially counted as an exhibition for the Menace, the team showed it means business in the 2000 season. Playing without 1999 PDL Most Valuable Player Fabio Eidelwein, who is still attending college, the Des Moines attack dominated the match, outshooting Wichita, 40-5. Seth Modersohn led the team with a three-goal hat-trick and an assist, while Fahr Muhamedagic added a goal and two assists. Besim Mustedanagic and Mustafa Arikan also scored for the Menace. Keny leaves Imperials: After two weekend losses by identical scores of 4-0 to New York and Westchester, the North Jersey Imperials announced that Coach Sean Kenny has stepped down due to family and work commitments. Assistant Coach Ian Hennessy will assume the head coaching duties. Kenny will remain with the club as a technical advisor. “It hurts leaving the Imperials,” said Kenny. “I have been with the organization for a long time and I love working with the team. Unfortunately, I have too much going on away from the soccer field and donÆt feel I can give the level of commitment that is necessary. It wouldnÆt be fair to the team.” Player of the Week: Garth Cummings, the final player chosen for the Spokane ShadowÆs 26-player roster, was named the PDL Player of the Week after scoring three goals in a win and a tie during the teamÆs opening weekend. Cummings made his debut in a 2-2 tie with Cascade when he entered the game as a substitute in the 50th minute and scored the game-tying goal with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation time. His performance earned him a starting spot in a 3-2 win against Seattle. In the victory, he opened the scoring in the 12th minute and tallied the eventual game-winner in the 74th minute. Team of the Week G Jeremy Dobay Wisconsin Rebels Faced 19 shots, had six saves in shutout over Raptors D Dan Huet Spokane Shadow Rookie opened season with solid 200 minute weekend D Luiz Machado Yakima Reds Organized back line in 1-0 win over Surge D Yimy Chirinos Miami Breakers Scored in return from serious knee injury M Nilton Resende Yakima Reds Game-winner in narrow victory over Cascade M Mazen Kayali Colorado Comets Scored clincher in mid-week Open Cup win M Donald McIntosh Central Florida Kraze Goal, assist in season debut M Seth Modersohn Des Moines Menace Seven points in blowout over Wichita F Andy Rodriguez Indiana Invaders Second of game was winner against Dayton F Garth Cummings Spokane Shadow Game-winner and equalizer in weekend victory and tie F Lubain Joseph South Florida Future Both goals in overtime win over Bradenton Upcoming: The PDL schedule for Week 4 includes 21 Open Cup qualifiers and could be the final chance for several teams to make their claim for one of the four allotted openings. San Gabriel Valley, in control of the Western Conference, plays a pair of regular season only games this week. Six of the 14 teams in the conference have been eliminated, while San Fernando Valley has lost its hopes of winning the conference, but retains the possibility of going through as the wild card. Expansion teams in New Brunswick and Thunder Bay open their inaugural seasons, while Provisional sides Louisiana and Alabama face each other Saturday in their first action of the season. Wednesday, May 10, 2000 41 — Boulder @ Colorado 9:00 Friday, May 12, 2000 42 — Brooklyn @ New Brunswick 7:30 73 — Mid Michigan @ West Michigan 8:00 43 — Des Moines @ Twin Cities 8:00 45 — Wichita @ Boulder 8:00 46 — Chicago @ Wisconsin 9:00 47 — Colorado @ Colorado Springs 9:30 48 — Cascade @ Seattle 10:00 49 — Willamette Valley @ Yakima 10:05 Saturday, May 13, 2000 50 — Bradenton @ Central Florida 8:00 51 — New Brunswick @ North Jersey 7:00 52 — Cocoa @ Broward County 7:30 87 — Louisiana @ Alabama 7:30 55 — Dayton @ Mid Michigan 7:30 89 — Indiana @ Kalamazoo 7:30 56 — Tampa Bay @ Miami 7:30 57 — Vermont @ New York 7:30 58 — Twin Cities @ Des Moines 8:05 59 — Central Coast @ Nevada 8:30 60 — Thunder Bay @ Rockford 8:30 61 — Willamette Valley @ Spokane 10:05 62 — Utah @ San Gabriel 10:30 Sunday, May 14, 2000 63 — Cape Cod @ Westchester 5:00 64 — Cocoa @ South Florida 2:00 65 — Tampa Bay @ Broward County 2:00 66 — Thunder Bay @ Chicago 2:00 67 — Vermont @ Brooklyn 2:00 68 — Wichita @ Colorado 4:00 69 — Kalamazoo @ Dayton 5:00 70 — San Gabriel @ San Fernando 8:30 71 — Yakima @ Abbotsford 5:00 All times listed are Eastern On the move: The Colorado Comets have signed goalkeeper Richard Sletvold, who made three appearances for the A-LeagueÆs Hershey Wildcats last season. The club also signed Bernard Brodigan and midfielder Wade Fischer from the University of Dayton. Notable: Santa Maria Rivera became the Yakima RedsÆ youngest player, at 18 years, eight months, to ever appear in a game in the clubÆs six-year history. à Kalamazoo Kingdom goalkeeper Carl Whitehouse was credited with a game-tying assist when he sent a long punt to team owner Chris Keenan who scored to force overtime in the waning seconds of the match. à After sitting on the sidelines for 10 months with a serious knee injury, Miami Breaker defender Yimy Chirinos scored in his return, a 3-1 loss to Palm Beach. à Donald McIntosh, who led the Central Florida Kraze in scoring last year, returned from his first year at Duke Univ. and tallied a goal and an assist in the teamÆs 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay. à The Bradenton Academics started eight players from last yearÆs team in their 2-1 overtime loss to South Florida. à The Des Moines Menace notched their first home-opening victory in the franchiseÆs seven-year history. Off the field: The Central Coast Roadrunners have joined forces with Promega Biosciences of San Luis Obispo in a program to distribute soccer shoes to needy children around the world. The club will provide drop off points for the collection of shoes and offer a dollar off on game tickets for each pair of shoes donated à The Spokane ShadowÆs home opener against Willamette Valley will be a rematch of their 1999 PDL National Championship semifinal meeting. The first 500 kids 12-and-under will receive soccer balls courtesy of Baden Sports à The Wisconsin Rebels open their home schedule with “Safety Seal” night, sponsored by Affinity Medical Systems. The first 200 kids in attendance will receive a free ticket and pep phone that doubles as a popcorn holder courtesy of Affinity. In addition, Westra Construction has joined the Rebels for the third straight year as the title sponsor of the mini-ball halftime giveaway.