Chicago Force News

Archived News/Events
Latest News

[2/18/2018]
Chicago Force Finale – Team Ends Operations
...read more

[2/17/2018]
Coach Konecki and QB Grisafe Inducted into Chicago Force Hall of Fame
...read more

[2/14/2017]
2017 Calendar Raffle
...read more

[2/3/2017]
2017 FORCE Season Kicks Off!
...read more

[1/5/2017]
Join the 2017 Chicago Force
...read more

[11/10/2016]
Join the 2017 Chicago Force
...read more

[2/5/2016]

...read more

[1/18/2016]
2016 Tryouts Ongoing
...read more

[11/8/2015]
2015 Force Banquet
...read more

[11/7/2015]
2016 Tryouts 2
...read more

[9/20/2015]
2016 Tryouts 1
...read more

[2/20/2015]
2015 Calendar Raffle
...read more

[12/10/2014]
2015 Tryouts 2
...read more

[10/29/2014]
2015 Tryouts 1
...read more

[10/19/2014]
2014 Force Banquet - A Night of Celebration
...read more

[9/24/2014]
Coach Konecki and Wide Receiver Jeanette Gray Receive WFA Honors
...read more

[7/23/2014]
Chicago Force Inspires Girls in the Game
...read more

[6/9/2014]
2014 National Conference Playoff Bracket
...read more

[6/9/2014]
Congratulations to the 2014 Force All-Americans
...read more

[6/9/2014]
2014 Alumni Day and a Hall of Fame Induction
...read more

[6/4/2014]
MELISSA SMITH INDUCTED INTO CHICAGO FORCE HALL OF FAME
...read more

[5/11/2014]
This spring the Chicago Force have been busy on and off the field!
...read more

[5/1/2014]
The Swagger of a Star Quarterback
...read more

[4/5/2014]
Two Force Players Honored with Cook County Unsung Heroine Award
...read more

[2/14/2014]
Buy your ticket here to win!
...read more

[1/6/2014]
Chicago Force Receive Championship Rings, City and State Proclamations.
...read more

[12/17/2013]
Buy your 2014 Chicago Force calendar here!
...read more

[12/1/2013]
A Wonderful Night for an Exceptional Season.
...read more

[9/3/2013]
Laura Ricketts Keeps Promise
...read more

[9/3/2013]
QB Sami Grisafe Sings Anthem at Wrigley Field
...read more

[7/26/2013]
2013 SILVERSPORT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
...read more

[7/15/2013]
FORCE SET FOR REMATCH WITH BOSTON
...read more

[7/6/2013]
TEAM USA WINS GOLD, Defeats Canada in IFAF World Championship
...read more

[7/1/2013]
Team USA Overwhelms Sweden 84-0, Force players Shine
...read more

[6/10/2013]
10 Force Players Receive All-American Honors
...read more

[3/26/2013]
Force Home Opener
...read more

[3/25/2013]
Interview with Down & Dirty radio
...read more

[2/17/2013]
Team USA features 11 Chicago Force Players
...read more

[2/14/2013]
Buy your ticket here to win!
...read more

[2/11/2013]
Future Chicago Force Player
...read more

[2/9/2013]
Chicago Shines at Team USA Tryouts
...read more

[1/10/2013]

...read more

[12/27/2012]
FANS! GEAR UP FOR THE 2013 SEASON at our NEW online store!!
...read more

[12/18/2012]

...read more

[12/10/2012]
Buy your 2013 Chicago Force calendar here!
...read more

[10/24/2012]
Chicago Force holds annual awards banquet
...read more

[10/18/2012]
TRYOUTS FOR THE CHICAGO FORCE WOMEN'S TACKLE FOOTBALL TEAM!
...read more

[9/17/2012]
TRYOUTS FOR THE CHICAGO FORCE WOMEN'S TACKLE FOOTBALL TEAM!
...read more

[8/6/2012]

...read more

[8/5/2012]

...read more

[8/5/2012]
Access to Championship Game Replay:
...read more

[7/22/2012]
Force Look Ahead to Play-offs
...read more

[7/10/2012]
Free Ticket Promo
...read more

[7/9/2012]
Cubs Owner Laura Ricketts Supports Force
...read more

[7/9/2012]
Behind the Scenes with Coach Konecki
...read more

[7/7/2012]
7 Force Players named to All-American Squad
...read more

[6/28/2012]
Lewandowski Guides Force on Defense
...read more

[5/5/2012]
Chicago Force Establish Hall of Fame, Induct Schaffrath & Bache
...read more

[5/5/2012]
Chicago Force Host Alumni for 10 Year Anniversary
...read more

[4/14/2012]
2012 Home Opener
...read more

[4/12/2012]
WEBCASTS FOR ALL FORCE HOME GAMES
...read more

[4/9/2012]
Intra-Squad Scrimmage Prepares Force
...read more

[4/9/2012]
Force set to open 2012 Season
...read more

[3/31/2012]
Chicago Force Raffle Winners
...read more

[1/25/2012]
Chicago Force Player Calendar
...read more

[1/9/2012]
The Business of Sports
...read more

[12/20/2011]
Berggren Excels In Rookie Season With Force
...read more

[12/20/2011]
Open Try-Outs
...read more

[12/18/2011]
Force Look for Help for 2012 Season
...read more

[10/27/2011]
Force Team Banquet Celebrates 2011 Season
...read more

[10/24/2011]
2012 Tryouts
...read more

[10/14/2011]
GOLF OUTING A SUCCESS - 80 and Sunny
...read more

[9/12/2011]
Chicago Force Serves at Melrose Park Taste
...read more

[8/10/2011]
Chicago All Stars Shine
...read more

[7/26/2011]
Sky Fitness Festival
...read more

[7/2/2011]
Women's Football Alliance Announces All American Teams
...read more

[6/28/2011]
Force to Host Conference Semi-Final
...read more

[6/23/2011]
PLAYOFFS! Not just Chicago storms causing a BLACKOUT in town
...read more

[6/2/2011]
FORCE Players Volunteer at Sheffield/Belmont Festival
...read more

[6/1/2011]
Women’s Football League: a Force to be Reckoned With
...read more

[5/12/2011]
It's a suite deal!
...read more

[3/31/2011]
Crowd comes to their feet at Exhibition
...read more

[3/31/2011]
Chicago Force prepare for Upcoming WFA Season
...read more

[2/23/2011]
Tri-Fitness Featured on WGN News
...read more

[2/18/2011]
Ross Forman
...read more

[1/17/2011]
Vital Injury Prevention Sessions Start
...read more

[12/20/2010]
Individual Tryouts in January
...read more

[12/1/2010]
Chicago Announces Schedule
...read more

[11/18/2010]
CHICAGO FORCE PART OF HISTORIC UNIFICATION OF WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
...read more

[11/2/2010]
Future Force Hopefuls strut their stuff on Boy's teams
...read more

[10/21/2010]
Local Student Wins ESPN Award
...read more

[10/15/2010]
UPCOMING TRY-OUTS!!
...read more

[10/11/2010]
5th Annual Force Golf Outing a Success
...read more

[10/1/2010]
The Force moves forward to help unify Women's Football
...read more

[9/13/2010]
FORCE VOLUNTEER AT MELROSE PARK FESTIVAL
...read more

[7/6/2010]
USA Wins Gold Medal at Inaugural IFAF Women's World Championship of American Football
...read more

[7/2/2010]
Team USA Wins to Advance to Gold Medal Game
...read more

[6/27/2010]
USA Records 63-0 Victory over Austria to Open IFAF Women's World Championship
...read more

[5/26/2010]
Alumni Weekend
...read more

[5/25/2010]
JENNIE MCNULTY'S COMEDY SHOW
...read more

[5/25/2010]
Force Players assist NFL with Flag Football Clinic
...read more

[5/11/2010]
Chicago Tribune Series
...read more

[4/22/2010]
USA FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 45 Member Roster for 2010 Women’s National Team
...read more

[4/16/2010]
VICTORY FLIP!!!
...read more

[4/16/2010]
Girls in the Game
...read more

[4/12/2010]
Final Raffle Winner: Ricky Marks
...read more

[4/12/2010]
2Guys and a Mic interview Head Coach John Konecki
...read more

[4/5/2010]
Otis Wilson to perform Coin Toss
...read more

[3/26/2010]
Chicago Force Ready for 2010 Season Kickoff
...read more

[3/13/2010]
Force Coaches to lead USA Football's Women's Team
...read more

[3/12/2010]
Girl Scouts Meet the Force
...read more

[2/22/2010]
Force Adds Intern for 2010
...read more

[2/11/2010]
Chicago Force hold Physicals at AthletiCo
...read more

[2/7/2010]
Season just around the corner
...read more

[1/3/2010]
Head Coach encouraged by what he sees at recent tryouts
...read more

[12/29/2009]
Force Players Stuff the Bus for Charity
...read more

[12/23/2009]
2010 Season Schedule Announced
...read more

[12/12/2009]
2010 Tryouts a Success!
...read more

[11/19/2009]
Force Players Teach Flag Football for Girls
...read more

[11/12/2009]
Warner Bros Pictures invites Force to movie preview
...read more

[10/27/2009]
Force Banquet Celebrates 2009 Season
...read more

[10/6/2009]
Force Golf Outing is a Fall Classic
...read more

[9/29/2009]
Megan Finnegan: A Powerful Person
...read more

[9/12/2009]
UPCOMING DECEMBER TRYOUTS!!
...read more

[8/9/2009]
Force All-Stars Represent
...read more

[7/2/2009]
Help the Force get the whole team to KC!
...read more

[6/25/2009]
The Force place 13 on the 2009 IWFL All-Star Team!!!
...read more

[6/1/2009]
Force Players "Give Girls Game"
...read more

[5/12/2009]
Chicago Pride interviews Force wide receiver
...read more

[4/20/2009]
Robbie Leeann Topp performs the coin toss
...read more

[4/18/2009]
Force Win Home Opener on Alumni Night
...read more

[4/11/2009]
Force Dominate In Season Opener
...read more

[4/8/2009]
Intra-squad Scrimmage a Success
...read more

[4/6/2009]
St. Baldrick's follow up story
...read more

[3/20/2009]
Intra-Squad Scrimmage and Media Day
...read more

[3/13/2009]
Coaches will shave their heads for charity
...read more

[3/12/2009]
2009 Force Schedule
...read more

[2/15/2009]
Thanks Dr. Weber
...read more

[2/5/2009]
Andersonville AthletiCo hosts Player Physicals
...read more

[2/5/2009]
Win MONEY and support the Force
...read more

[1/9/2009]
A Recap of 2009 Try-outs
...read more

[1/8/2009]
Brittney Payton tries out for Chicago Force
...read more

[1/8/2009]
Force Gears for Another Run
...read more

[11/24/2008]
IWFL AND USA FOOTBALL PARTNER TO STRENGHEN AMERICA’S FAVORITE SPORT
...read more

[11/3/2008]
2008 Team Banquet / Awards
...read more

[9/30/2008]
Force Players Golf for Children's Charity
...read more

[9/30/2008]
Force golf outing a HUGE success
...read more

[9/2/2008]
Force Volunteer at the Taste of Melrose Park
...read more

[8/28/2008]
Chicago Hope Academy
...read more

[8/15/2008]
Force has 15 selected for the 2008 IWFL All-Star Team!!!
...read more

[7/18/2008]
Jon (The Coach) Cohn and the coin toss
...read more

[7/8/2008]
The Chicago Force featured on Nike
...read more

[6/30/2008]
UNDEFEATED FORCE CONTINUE CHAMPIONSHIP QUEST
...read more

[6/24/2008]
Future Chicago Force player - 2018
...read more

[6/24/2008]
Undefeated Force Hosting Playoffs this Saturday 6/28
...read more

[6/24/2008]
Chicago Force helps to "Give Girls Game"
...read more

[6/9/2008]
Chicago Force meet the new head of CPD and former Philly FBI chief Jody Weis
...read more

[5/12/2008]
IWFL Announces 2008 Championship Game Venue
...read more

[4/17/2008]
Chicago Steel meets the Chicago Force
...read more

[4/9/2008]
2008 Scrimmage Game Day
...read more

[3/25/2008]
Media Day Full Contact Game Scrimmage
...read more

[3/18/2008]
2008 Chicago Force Team Captains
...read more

[3/8/2008]
2008 Season Approaches
...read more

[1/31/2008]
Chicago Force kicks off 2008 with first fundraiser
...read more

[1/22/2008]
2008 Contract Signing
...read more

[11/26/2007]
2008 Try-Out press release
...read more

[11/26/2007]
2007 Awards Banquet
...read more

[11/19/2007]
Last Try-out for 2008 Season
...read more

[9/17/2007]
Chicago Force Players chosen for 2007 All Star Squad
...read more

[6/30/2007]
Chicago Cubs suite winner!
...read more

[6/24/2007]
The Force and Chicago's On-Air Local News
...read more

[6/24/2007]
The Force Celebrates Youth Football Day with Under Armour
...read more

[5/18/2007]
Jeannie Tanner to sing National Anthem at Home Opener
...read more

[4/11/2007]
Media Day Full Contact Game Scrimmage
...read more

[8/3/2006]
UPCOMING EVENT: Chicago Force BOWLING Fundraiser
...read more

[7/10/2006]
Chicago finishes the season 6-3 with a hard fought game against the Demolition.
...read more

[6/27/2006]
Chicago Force WIN and advance to PLAYOFFS!
...read more

[6/24/2006]
Chicago Force Finish 6-2
...read more

[6/20/2006]
Check out our fans at our AWAY Kansas City game!
...read more

[6/17/2006]
Chicago Force wins 42-0 against KC Storm
...read more

[6/12/2006]
The Force on CBS Channel 2 - Thursday, June 15 at 5pm.
...read more

[6/10/2006]
The Force suffer their second loss of the season, now 4-2.
...read more

[5/27/2006]
Chicago Force weekend WIN against Predators 36-8
...read more

[5/22/2006]
Chicago Force weekend WIN against Iowa Crush 20-6
...read more

[5/19/2006]
Chicago Force live on WGN TV
...read more

[5/16/2006]
Chicago Force Suffers First Season Loss. Current Record: 2-1
...read more

[5/10/2006]
Force Dominate in Road win over Predators
...read more

[4/26/2006]
The FORCE on The Score AM 670 Mike North Show
...read more

[4/26/2006]
Chicago Forces WINS Home Opener
...read more

[4/25/2006]
HOME OPENER SATURDAY, April 29th
...read more

[4/22/2006]
Chicago Force Honored at 100 Champions Event
...read more

[3/26/2006]
Fundraiser at T's Bar and Restaurant
...read more

[3/26/2006]
NEW! Calendar of Events posted on site
...read more

[2/28/2006]
PLAYER NEWS: Directions to Practice Fields
...read more

[1/20/2006]
We are still recruiting
...read more

[1/10/2006]
New Home for the Force..LANE TECH
...read more

[1/10/2006]
Player's Corner Unveiled on Site
...read more

[12/20/2005]
2006 Bowling Fundraiser
...read more

[12/12/2005]
Dec 17th (Sat) Tryout Directions and Details!!!
...read more

[11/4/2005]
2nd Tryout Directions and Details Posted
...read more

[10/31/2005]
Force Banquet and Tryout Photos Posted
...read more

[10/29/2005]
Come Meet our Tryout Rookies
...read more

[10/26/2005]
2005 End of Season Awards Announced!
...read more

[10/20/2005]
Chicago Force Banquet just days away.
...read more

[10/20/2005]
1st Tryout Details and Directions Posted
...read more

[10/11/2005]
15 yr old Girl QB steps in and wins Highschool Varsity Game.
...read more

[10/10/2005]
Chicago Force Management Changes Hands
...read more

[10/4/2005]
Original Force Founder, Lisa Cole, dedicates a mile at the Chicago Marathon
...read more

[10/1/2005]
Unveiling of New Website
...read more

[10/1/2005]
Chicago Force Banquet Scheduled
...read more
--8/6/2012--

Women’s football: Chicago Force falls to San Diego Surge in WFA championship


Photo Credit: Jessica McPeake

By ERIC VAN DRIL

PITTSBURGH — Wipe away the first and final three minutes of Saturday’s Women’s Football Alliance Championship game and the Chicago Force would have captured the franchise’s first championship by 23 points.

But by allowing the San Diego Surge four long touchdowns drives during that six-minute span — including a 66-yard punt return with 1:49 remaining for the decisive score — the Force fell 40-36 in Pittsburgh.

“The first three minutes we got off to a pretty awful start, but we held it together like we always do,” said Albi Zhubi, of Chicago, who made five receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. “We fought and we fought and to come up short is difficult.”

Although San Diego managed to quickly turn a 36-27 deficit into a 40-36 lead and pinned the Force on their own 5-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, Chicago quarterback Sami Grisafe guided the Force offense down the field with three long passing plays.

The Evanston resident connected on consecutive plays with Barrington’s Ashley Berggren for 22 yards, Zhubi for 28 and Trish Harper for 30. But Grisafe was intercepted on the fourth play of the drive when she lost her grip on the ball and couldn’t connect with Zhubi on a slant.

In the locker room after the game and during the eight-hour bus ride from Pittsburgh to Chicago, Grisafe and her teammates were left to deal with the disappointment and second-guess what happened in the final three minutes.

“It will be difficult for the rest of our lives,” said Grisafe, who threw for 269 yards and four touchdowns. “This is the second time we’ve had an upset in a championship game, and we still don’t have one (title) for the organization, so it’s not a feeling I enjoy by any means. The second time doesn’t make it easier.

“But it’s good for more people than for less. I wish we were on the other side of it, but I’m glad it wasn’t a blowout; some lopsided, boring game to watch with a bunch of running. I’m glad it was an exciting, edge-of-your-seat type game because it was a good display for women’s football.”

Still, Grisafe and her teammates can take satisfaction in that they participated in the highest-profile women’s football game in WFA history. The game was played in front of 2,307 fans at Heinz Field and broadcast on ESPN3.

For a league trying to build its reputation and fan base, a high-scoring championship that came down to the final play was unquestionably a positive for the WFA.

“To be the first women’s championship game in an NFL stadium, I think it was a great showing,” Grisafe said. “Hopefully ESPN likes it and it will catapult (the league) into some new opportunities.”

On the somber journey home, Grisafe and many of her Force teammates talked about what they could have done differently to change Saturday’s result. But at a certain point, the conversation shifted to next season.

Although some players won’t return to the team — including Zhubi and cornerback Emma Finestone — the loss made many on the Force eager to resume pursuit of the franchise’s first championship next season.

“We’re already talking about that in two weeks from now we’re going to get in the gym and start our offseason training,” Grisafe said. “We want it and we’re not going away.”

Click here for Chicago Sun-Times Wilmette Life article

© 2016 - Chicago Force Football - All rights reserved.
1722 W. Jarvis Chicago, IL 60626
Another web design by: MetlerMedia