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vs.
CHICAGO FORCE - @Iowa Crush
[4/28/2007]
Result: 27-6 W

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CHICAGO FORCE WINS OPENER

April 29, 2007

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

DES MOINES, IA. Head coach Jim Stahl had a lot of unanswered questions going into last Saturday's first game of the season. Half of his roster was filled with first year players. Most teams would have considered it a rebuilding year. Yet the rookies stepped onto the field at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines and played like anything but rookies, as the Chicago Force continued their dominance against the Iowa Crush. The Force handed them a 27-6 loss in front of the largest home crowd in Iowa franchise history. "We expected eyes to be wide open in the first quarter from our rookies," said Stahl. "Our execution was fair – we need to cut down on the penalties. But, overall I thought we played really well."

Wearing their new white road jerseys, Chicago established a consistent offensive attack. On their second series, rookie wide receiver Chrissy Fowler took a handoff from starting quarterback Angie Bandstra, and after two nice moves ran 25 yards for the Force's first score. Tricia Charbonneau successfully completed the PAT. Running back, Melissa Smith, (last season's offensive MVP), shouldered the majority of the running game (17 carries for 74 yards with 1TD), and with nearly four minutes left in the second quarter blasted over the right side for a 13-0 lead. Rookie running back, Esther Henigan, was impressive. She carried the ball four times for a hard fought 19 yards and added a two point conversion. Rookie standout Kim Marks, who plays on both sides of the ball, recorded two sacks, and caught a two yard touch down pass from quarterback Sami Grisafe, for Chicago's third score to put the contest all but out of reach for Iowa. Grisafe, an impressive 6' foot rookie, connected with Fowler for a 62-yard touch down strike and put everyone on notice as she vies for the starting quarterback position. Fowler, who ran back punts, played special teams, ran and caught passes, is already emerging as a leader. "Fowler is a significant part of our whole on-field package", said Stahl.

Defensive coordinator Chris Maniatis" biggest concern going in was the lack of experience of his lineman: Luella Gesky, Erica Bell Coleman, Kenshira Traylor, and Marks. But, all four along with veterans, Jennifer Dulski, Jessica McPeake, Shelly Picha, Linda Bache, and TaShaunda Shumpert stymied any serious offensive threat by Iowa, limiting them to only two first downs. "Our defensive team speed is phenomenal," explained Maniatis. "I know that it is early, but our young players followed the lead of our veterans, stepped up, and as a result, I have a lot more confidence in our defense."

The Force have a bye week, then hit the road on May 12 to play the first of three games against the 2006 conference champion Detroit Demolition.