TAMPA, Fla – The Iowa Demon Hawks, now in their hometown of Des Moines,  will open North Division play in Major Arena Soccer League 2 on Friday December 8 in an intrastate battle with the Iowa Raptors at 3,450-seat Buccaneers Arena..

The two rivals played four times in the regular season last year, with the teams splitting those games, The Demon Hawks took wins of 10-9 and 7-6, while the Raptors triumphs came by scores of 7-6 and 8-6. Amazingly, for the four games, the total differential between the teams who shared the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids was just one goal.

The two Iowa teams will be joined by the Muskegon Risers and the first-year St. Louis Ambush 2 to make up the North Division. Muskegon will host St. Louis in the Risers home opener on December 8, while the Raptors will open at the 9,000 seat “Powerhouse” on Friday, Dec. 22 when they host the Ambush 2.

“The Iowa rivalry was one of the best stories in M2 last year, and I know fans can’t wait to see it rekindle this year, especially since Demon Hawks fans will be able to see games in their own city of Des Moines now,” Commissioner Chris Economides said. “Having Muskegon and St. Louis as part of the division as well should make for many entertaining evenings of indoor soccer for fans in all those cities.”

Muskegon had the toughest luck in M2 in 2022-23, and it won’t take much to turn the Risers record around. They lost two one-goal games to both the Raptors and Demon Hawks last season, and another to the Raptors by just two goals. 

By mutual agreement of the four teams, Muskegon, the Demon Hawks and Raptors will all play seven home games against their divisional foes, while the Ambush 2 will play three games at Family Arena, hosting each of their divisional foes once. Those games at the 10,500 seat Family Arena in St. Charles – home to their parent MASL St. Louis Ambush -- include visits by the Iowa Demon Hawks on Feb. 10, Muskegon Risers on Feb. 25 and Iowa Raptors on March 17.

The M2 regular season will once again be 12 games, with eight teams advancing the the league’s “Championship Weekend” April 4-7 at Hartman Arena in suburban Wichita, Kansas. Following is the complete schedule for each North Division team:

IOWA DEMON HAWKS

Friday, Dec. 8 vs. Iowa Raptors

Friday, Dec. 22 vs. Muskegon Risers

Saturday Dec. 23 vs. Muskegon Risers

Saturday, Dec. 30 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Sunday, Dec. 31 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Iowa Raptors

Friday, Feb. 2 @ Muskegon Risers

Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Muskegon Risers

Saturday, Feb. 10 @ St. Louis Ambush

Sunday, Feb. 25 @ Iowa Raptors

Friday, March 8 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Friday,. March 15 vs. Iowa Raptors

IOWA RAPTORS

Friday, Dec. 8 @ Iowa Demon Hawks

Friday, Dec. 22 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Saturday, Dec. 23 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Thursday, Dec. 28 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Muskegon Risers

Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Iowa Demon Hawks

Friday, February 9 vs. Muskegon Risers

Saturday, February 10 vs. Muskegon Risers

Sunday, February 25 vs. Iowa Demon Hawks

Saturday, March 9 @ Muskegon Risers

Friday, March 15 @ Iowa Demon Hawks

Sunday, March 17 @ St. Louis Ambush 2

MUSKEGON RISERS

Saturday, Dec. 9 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Friday, Dec. 22 @ Iowa Demon Hawks

Saturday, Dec. 23 @ Iowa Demon Hawks

Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Iowa Raptors

Friday, Jan. 19 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. St. Louis Ambush 2

Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Iowa Demon Hawks

Saturday, Feb. 3v s. Iowa Demon Hawks

Friday, Feb. 9 @ Iowa Raptors

Saturday, Feb. 10 @ Iowa Raptors

Sunday, Feb. 25 @ St. Louis Ambush 2

Saturday, March 9 vs. Iowa Raptors

ST. LOUIS AMBUSH 2

Saturday, Dec, 9 @ Muskegon Risers

Friday, Dec. 22 @ Iowa Raptors

Saturday Dec. 23 @ Iowa Raptors

Thursday, Dec. 28 @ Iowa Raptors

Saturday, Dec. 30 @ Iowa Demon Hawks

Sunday, Dec. 31@ Iowa Demon Hawks

Friday, Jan. 19 @ Muskegon Risers

Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Muskegon Risers

Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Iowa Demon Hawks

Sunday, Feb. 25 vs. Muskegon Risers

Friday, March 8 @ Iowa Demon Hawks

Sunday, March 17 vs. Iowa Raptors