On a night when the Colorado Force used every available substitution, it was fitting that two substitutes connected on the only goal Monday night, as the home side topped the visiting Colorado Rush 1-0 at Loveland Sports Park.
The win means the Force came out on top of the 2010 Colorado derby, with a 1-0-1 record against the in-state rivals this season. The two sides tied 1-1 last week on Rush’s home pitch at Englewood High School.
Former Fort Collins High School star Emmalie Pfankuch knocked in the game-winner in the 67th minute when she re-directed a searing crossing pass from Shay Powell, who had entered the game just one minute earlier. Pfankuch had come on in the 52nd minute, as Force Coach Craig Deacon used up the W-League maximum of seven substitutes by game’s end.
While Powell and Pfankuch entered the scorebook, the goal actually grew out of a period of sustained pressure that started in roughly the 60th minute. After a back-and-forth affair through the first 60 minutes, the Force began to take control of the midfield and apply pressure on Rush. In the 65th minute, Force midfielder Yolanda Hamilton created a scoring chance after dribbling from the right wing toward the middle of the penalty area. Hamilton let loose with a left-footed shot that cleared the crossbar, but indicated signs of chances to come.
Powell replaced Hamilton a minute later, and suddenly found herself in the middle of the action. The scoring play was triggered by Force defender Erica Griffen, who sent a penetrating pass deep down the right wing to the speedy Powell. The University of Nebraska star beat the defender to the ball and snapped a centering pass to Pfankuch, who was unmarked near the far post. Pfankuch calmly placed the ball into the open net for the goal.
The Force had to withstand a rally by Rush, including a near miss in the 82nd minute when Rush forward Lindsey Horan found herself one-on-one with Force goalkeeper Maria Del Guercio. As Del Guercio moved off her line to pressure Horan, the Rush forward tried to slide the ball around the approaching keeper toward the far post. The shot barely missed to the right of the post, releasing a collective exhale from the home crowd.
Two minutes later, Powell nearly tacked on the Force’s second goal when she attempted to volley a shot from approximately 12 yards out. Powell’s shot missed just to the left of the far post.
The victory put a positive cap to an occasionally frustrating regular season, in which the Force collected five draws en route to a record of 2-3-5. The resulting 11 points currently puts the Force in a second-place tie in the W-League’s Western Conference with Rush and the Seattle Sounders. However, Rush has two games remaining and Seattle has one. Vancouver leads the conference with a 6-0-3 record and 21 points.
