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Force hosts Ventura County tonight
Colorado Force striker Nikki Marshall holds off Ella Stephan of the Pali Blues on Sunday during a 0-0 tie at the Loveland Sports Park. (photo by George Tanner/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)
The Colorado Force will attempt to win its first game of the season tonight as Brazilians Fabiane Nascimento and Paula Pires and the rest of the Ventura County Fusion visits the Loveland Sports Park.
Pires played for Brazil’s U-20 national team in the U-20 World Cup last fall, a tournament that also featured Force midfielder Nikki Marshall.
The game, which starts at 7 p.m. at the Loveland Sports Park, will be the Force’s fifth match of the season and the Fusion’s fourth.
Ventura County had played only two games this year before beating Real Colorado 1-0 on Monday night. The Fusion now sits at 1-1-1.
The Force, which held the Pali Blues to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, sit at 0-1-3.
Colorado hopes to continue its run of success against Ventura County. Last year the Force swept the season series, winning 2-0 at home and 4-1 in Ventura, Calif.
It’s possible the Force could benefit from the return of striker Shay Powell, who missed Sunday’s draw because of an injury to her left knee. Powell made the all-league team last year with the Ottawa Fury and was the leading scorer last year for the University of Nebraska.
IDENTICAL GOAL DIFFERENTIAL: The Force and Fusion each have scored four goals and allowed five.
ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK: Wednesday’s match will be a reunion of University of Kansas players. Two members of the Force, defender Estelle Johnson and midfielder Monica Dolinsky, will get to square off against KU teammate Emily Cressy.
ROCK CHALK KAY HAWKE: Fusion goalkeeper Kay Hawke is a veteran of the English national team.
PLAYERS OUT: Defender Carly Peetz, training with the U-23 national team, and forward Emmalie Pfankuch, who is competing at a regional tournament with her U-19 Rush Nike club team, will miss their second consecutive W-League match.
CONSISTENCY IN NET: With Sunday’s shutout, Force goalkeeper Kara Linder lowered her goals-against average to 1.25. Linder has played all four matches and is the only Force player to be on the pitch for every minute of the season.
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