May 13, 2008 8:01 PM

Fort Collins Force lineup: an early look

Craig Deacon, coach of the Fort Collins Force, is a busy man.

He's preparing for Thursday's doubleheader against the Washington Freedom at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (the Rapids host Real Salt Lake in the nightcap; the women's game starts at 4:30, and the MLS match begins at 7:30).

He's also the owner of Core Soccer Academy and the director of coaching.

So he trains with the Force players in the morning and youth players in the afternoon. I THINK he gets lunch in between.

Deacon took a few moments to fill us in on some basics of what the Force will look like in Thursday's game.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Force's roster for Thursday:

Goalkeepers: Sarah Prendergast (a two-time NAIA national champion), Kara Linder (plays for the University of Colorado).

Defense: Carly Peetz (University of Nebraska, member of the U.S. U-20 pool), Nikki Marshall (CU and the U.S. U-20 pool), Sally Cole (NAIA All-America selection), Katie Sturges (Northern Illinois), Mo Smunt (Northern Illinois), Sara Aspinwall (University of Montana).

Midfield: Jenni Annicchiarico (first team NAIA All-American), Lisa Kosena (Cal State-Fullerton), Cayla Deacon (St. Gregory's University), Marci Miller (U.S. national team), Maggie Doe (Loyola Marymount), Alex Cousins (CU), Kira Sharp (Metropolitan State College of Denver).

Forwards: Julie Williford (Arkansas University), Katie Erickson (Northern Illinois), Emmalie Phankuch (North Carolina), Jenny Kehl (Saint Louis University).

Deacon didn't want to predict a starting lineup for the exhibition against the Freedom, but he said players to watch would include national teamer Miller at center mid and central defender Peetz, who is in her first season with the Force.

CU's Marshall, a Skyline High School graduate from Mead, is at the U.S. U-20 training camp and will miss the exhibition. "But (she) will be here to play the first five games," Deacon said. She's "young, very fast and dangerous anywhere on the field."

(You can read a story that the Rocky's B.G. Brooks wrote about Marshall here.)

Deacon is a native of London and attended St. Gregory's University. He played at Barnsley FC for four years (in England's Division 1), at Chesterfield FC (Division 2) and for Doncaster Rovers (Division 3). He has a coaching license from England's Football Association, and two teams from his Core academy have won national championships. He has coached at academies in England, Spain, Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania and Colorado.

Deacon is in his second year with the Force.

"It is an honor to be associated with a team as special as the Force," he said. "The Force is not just a W-League team, it is a great organization that provides a great service to the women's game. I really enjoy the coaching the girls at this level and being a part of the league."

And he's always on the lookout for good players.

"We typically keep a close eye on collegiate soccer and look to make connections with coaches to find and recruit players. Players that are looking to play at the next level can go to the Force Web site and send in a playing resume with references."

Posted by George Tanner at 8:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack