Demize NPSL soccer team ends season with win over Dallas City

The Demize NPSL soccer team finished out the 2017 season on a positive note by recording a 5-2 victory over Dallas City FC on Sunday in Heartland Conference action at Lake Country Soccer Complex in Springfield.

“It was a great way to end the season,” Demize director of soccer operations and head coach Chris Hanlon said Monday. “I was really proud of the boys. We had a lot of new guys starting. And big picture — it showed we have a strong player pool to get a win against a playoff-caliber team.”

The contest with Dallas City was rescheduled on two different occasions because of wet playing conditions in Texas. It was finally made up on Sunday, with the Demize playing host on the Springfield’s facility turf pitch.

The Demize had a 3-0 lead by the 20th minute after goals from Kyler Moore, Dominique Salcedo and Desmond Williams.

After Dallas City (4-5-1) got on the board, Jaxn Rogers added a goal for the Demize. 

The visitors scored on a free kick in the 39th minute to cut the Demize advantage to 4-2. The final Demize goal occurred when Williams assisted on Moore’s diving header.

Sullivan Lauderdale was the starting goalkeeper for the Demize in the victory.

“I was very pleased with the result that we got,” Hanlon said. “We were missing some key guys that had played with us throughout the season. Since this was reschedule of a reschedule, they thought the season would be over and had to leave. The guys went out, worked hard, and earned it.”

The Demize finished the season with a record of 3-6-1. The team finished fifth in the National Premier Soccer League’s Heartland Conference.

Only the top four in the final standings advanced to the postseason tournament. FC Wichita, Tulsa, Little Rock and Dallas City advanced to the playoffs.

With his team’s season now concluded, Hanlon looked on the bright side.

“We were in every game that we played,” he said. “Four goals in stoppage time were the difference. If we could have beat Ozark, we would have likely been in the playoffs. They scored in the 94th minute to beat us 2-1. But we played at a high level and we’re excited about the team coming back next season.”