Unbeaten since joining the W-League in 2008, the Pali Blues will put that impressive streak on the line tonight when they visit the Colorado Force, 7 p.m. at Loveland Sports Park.

While many of the names have changed from last year’s championship side, the new names are equally impressive for Pali, which won its season opener Saturday over Santa Clarita, 1-0. Pali has restocked with a long list of international stars, including national team players from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Japan, as well as former Los Angeles Sol WPS defender–and team captain–Christie Shaner.

Through its first 30 matches, Pali has amassed a record of 27-0-3. One of those ties came in Pali’s last visit to Colorado in June 2009. The two sides also met in the first round of the W-League playoffs last July, when the Force nearly broke the streak, leading 2-1 with less than 20 minutes to go. But Pali surged late on its home pitch to win 5-2.

Pali’s lineup this season includes Finnish National Team defender Tuija Hyyrynen and Belgian National Team forward Janice Cayman, both of whom play at Florida State University. Members of Denmark’s National Team include midfielders Cathrine Paaske-Sørensen and Julie Rydahl Bukh, both of whom played with the Australian W-League champion Sydney FC last season. Also, the Blues will arrive with members of Japan national team program, including Emi Yamamoto and Hikari Nakade. Yamamoto played on Japan’s senior team in the 2003 World Cup, while Nakade played for Japan in the 2008 U-20 World Cup.

Holdovers from the 2009 championship who are expected to travel to Colorado include goalkeeper Adelaide Gay and midfielder Ella Stephan, who is a teammate of Hyyrynen and Cayman at Florida State. Pali continues to be coached by Charlie Naimo, who has headed the club throughout the unbeaten streak.

The Force will look to counter Pali’s star power with a side that’s poised to break into the win column after three ties and one narrow loss on the road. At 0-1-3, a win over Pali would position the Force for another playoff run midway into the season, and cause the rest of the W-League to take notice.

Meanwhile, the Force will be rolling its own brigade of international players, including Jamaican midfielders Yolanda Hamilton and Hishamar Falconer, defenders Zoe Avner from France and Anne Houliston from Scotland, goalkeeper Maria Del Guercio from Canada, and midfielder Taylor Patterson from Canada.

Defense has become the watchword early in the season, and the Force has put together a scoreless stretch going back to the 11th minute of the June 4 match against Seattle. After Seattle got up 2-0 early in that match, the Force – backed by goalkeeper Lauren “Taz” Robertson – has held opponents scoreless for 169 minutes.

Colorado is coming off of a rugged 0-0 draw against Vancouver on Sunday night. For Force fans, Thursday’s match is the last chance to see the Force until late June. Colorado will be off until June 26, when it hosts Santa Clarita. Tickets are available at www.forcesoccer.org or at the gate. Family passes are $19 for two adults and two children.

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