Defending MASL 2 champion Iowa Demon Hawks will debut MASL W team in January

TAMPA, Florida – The Iowa Demon Hawks – undefeated champions of Major Arena Soccer League 2 in 2023-24 – will be bringing their winning pedigree to MASL W this coming season.

Owner Darwin Salas said it made sense for the Iowa Demon Hawks, who have been considering a women's squad for a while now, to join Major Arena Soccer League Women this year and not wait until the 2025-26 season.

“Women's soccer in Des Moines is very big. There are  a lot of club teams, so it's a great opportunity for us to provide that talent a showcase for the indoor game, which our fans here have quickly learned to love” Salas said. “We expect to be very competitive from the start, but we know that other teams in our division have plenty of talent, and experience, so we will have to work very hard for our success.”

The women's team will play all doubleheaders with the men's MASL 2 team at the 3,500 seat Buccaneer Arena in Des Moines.  Their first home double dip is set for Friday, January 24, when they host Indiana United FC while the MASL 2 Demon Hawks will host the Muskegon Risers.

Iowa will play in the Great Lakes North Division along with Detroit City FC, Kalamazoo United, and the West Shore Ambition. Each team plays a 10-game regular season, with a national playoffs to conclude the 2024-25 season next spring. Their season opener will be on the road January 4 at Detroit City FC. 

Their addition brings the total number of Major Arena Soccer League Women teams competing this year to 22.

“The Demon Hawks are proven winners on the field and in the Des Moines community,” MASL W Commissioner Chris Economides noted. “They will put a very competitive team on the field right away and should be serious contenders for the postseason, based on the history of the club in MASL 2. Darwin is a visionary owner driven to elevate the indoor game to new heights in Des Iowa beyond and beyond.”

The MASL 2 Demon Hawks turned in the fifth perfect regular season in league history last year, and finished things off with three straight wins in the post-season to claim their first championship trophy,

Thiago Coutinho, who coaches the MASL 2 team, will serve as the women's head coach as well, with assistance from Luis Arredondo and MASL and MASL 2 veteran Rapha Nascimento. The team has already held three open tryouts, and expects to fill its roster with college players from the greater Des Moines area.

For more information, visit www.iowademonhakws.com or www.maslw,com.