Gameday Recap

CHICAGO LOSES HOME OPENER

May 21, 2007

Contact: George Howe, Media Relations (773) 368-4848
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO , IL . A good gauge for measuring a team's success is how well they play against the best. In 2006, the Force didn't score a single point in three contests with the Detroit Demolition. This season, Chicago took the four time national champion to the brink, falling short 23-20 in Detroit . Facing each other just one week earlier, both teams knew what to expect, a tough hard fought battle in the trenches. The only real surprises could come from the respective coaching staffs, as they try to throw in a new wrinkle.

Last Saturday in the home opener at the beautiful Holmgren Athletic Complex on the campus of North Park University, in front of 700 cheering family and friends, the Force weren't able to avenge that defeat, going down 20-6 to drop their record to 1-2 and risk missing the post season for the first time in franchise history.

The final score wasn't indicative of how tough of a game this was. In the first quarter Detroit had the ball on three occasions and went four and out. Led by the strong defensive play of game day Defensive MVP Jennifer Dulski, who recorded ten tackles. Linda Bache had eight, Becky Thuestad, seven, Erica Bell Coleman, six. Detroit opened the scoring on their first possession of the second quarter, when QB Kim Grodus hooked up with WR Miaya Tolbert for a 37 yard td strike. The extra point made it 7-0 and that's how the first half ended.

Both teams came out of the locker room and looked to take control. Chicago gained a little momentum. Game Day Offensive MVP, Melissa Smith, grinded out tough yards on the ground, as it took two or three Demolition defenders to bring her down. Chicago's only score came at 4:17 of the third, when QB Sami Grisafe found WR Chrissy Fowler behind the Demolition defense who were in an all-out blitz. Fowler then scampered 45 yards to pull Chicago within one, 7-6. Grodus and Tolbert combined for a 30 yard TD strike late in the fourth quarter to go up 13-6, after missing the PAT. With 27 seconds remaining, Detroit CB Bridget Porter picked off a Grisafe desperation pass and scored to put the game on ice.

It wasn't so much of what Detroit did rather what the Force didn't do. They were plagued by mental mistakes, missed opportunities and couldn't get into any kind of rhythm offensively. Some of the Force players were exhausted from playing both sides of the ball in the extreme heat. "I saw a lot of empty tanks out there when the final horn went off", said a beleaguered head Coach Jim Stahl. "As a coach that's all I can ask for. We are very close to turning the corner. We need to fine tune."

The Force looks to get back to .500 when they host the Kansas Storm this Saturday. Kickoff is 3pm.