If the season opener is any indication, the Chicago Force appears unstoppable again this year.
Then again, at the beginning of the game, that wasn't so clear. Coming off of an undefeated season last year, the women's pro football team may have been a little too smug going into the game as they took on new competitors, the Bay State Warriors hailing from Massachusetts. As a stadium of dedicated fans looked on, the Force appeared stymied at the half when the score was 7-6 in favor of the Warriors. However, true to their town's reputation, the energy and enthusiasm of the fans may have helped carry the team out of their daze and despite the chill in the air as the sun began its descent from the daytime sky, the stadium remained full and the bundled fans cheered and rallied for their Force as the team regrouped. Whatever it was, the second half was a whole new ball game and Chicago was ultimately victorious with a score of 12-7.
MVPs for the season opener were #26 Sally Beaumont who ran for a total 106 yards and #27 Linda Bache for nine tackles and the game-winning interception in the end zone during the last few seconds of the game.
Beginning with the 2005 season, the Independent Women's Football League [ IWFA ] reorganized the divisions. In the shuffle, Chicago wound up joined with a couple of teams they have never faced before. In addition to Bay State, Chicago will also square off against Atlanta this year. However, it appears that no matter who is on the other side of the ball, Chicago will be a force to be reckoned with.
See www.chicagoforcefootball.com .
— Text and photo by Mel Ferrand