TUKWILA, Wash. - The Colorado Force extended its unbeaten string to six games late Friday night, claiming a 1-1 tie on the road against the Seattle Sounders.
The Force took the early lead when Lisa Franke sent an acrobatic bicycle kick past the Sounders keeper in the 14th minute. Colorado maintained the lead until the 58th minute, when the Force was called for a handball in the penalty area.
Michelle French, the former U.S. National Team member for Seattle, stepped up to sink a penalty kick to tie the game.
It was the second time French had hurt Colorado this season. In the Force's season opener in May, French scored the only goal of a 1-0 Seattle victory.
Colorado outshot Seattle 15-6 and Force midfielder Nikki Marshall totaled five shots for the match, including one that hit the post. Force goalkeeper Maria Del Guercio registered three saves.
The Force (1-1-5) pushed its point total to eight for the season, good for fourth place in the W-League's Western Conference. Seattle moves to 3-0-4 with 13 points. Seattle entered the week tied for first with Pali Blues, but fell back to second with the tie after Pali Blues beat Vancouver earlier in the week.
The Force travel to Vancouver, B.C. today to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps.
