Marshall, Peetz return for 2009

By George TannerNikki Marshall and Carly Peetz, both recently invited to the pool of potential players for the U.S. womens U-23 national team,Celtic Shirt, will return to the Colorado Force for its 2009 season, and the team will welcome two new players from the University of Nebraska.The Force, which plays in the United Soccer Leagues W-League, will open its season against the Seattle Sounders on May 27 in Loveland. Home games are at the Loveland Sports Park, just west of I-25 and south of U.S. 34 on Boyd Lake Road.Marshall, a midfielder for the Force last summer, was among the top performers last fall for the U.S. Under-20 sides World Cup title in Chile. Marshall anchored the U.S. teams defense and was named woman of the match in the championship game against North Korea. Marshall, a Skyline High School alumna, plays for the University of Colorado. Carly Peetz, one of the W-Leagues top central defenders in 2008, returns after achieving All-Big 12 honors for the University of Nebraska. Peetz, from Lincoln, Neb., has played for the U-20 and U-21 national teams.Two of Peetz Nebraska teammates will be joining the Force, Shay Powell and Molly Thomas.  Powell, Nebraskas leading scorer last fall, was a member of the W-Leagues Ottawa Fury in 2008 and was named to the W-League national team. Thomas was on the Big 12s all-newcomer team and was second to Powell in scoring for the Cornhuskers.The Force has 13 returning starters from last season. Other returning regulars includ Sara Campbell, Sally Cole, Emmalie Pfankuch, Alex Cousins,Tibet Copa Shirt, Cayla Deacon, Maggie Doe, Estelle Johnson, Lisa Kosena, Kara Linder, Mo Smunt and Julie Williford. Cousins , Doe ,Argentina Shirt, Johnson and Pfankuch are Fort Collins-area high school stars currently playing Division I soccer.The Force is coached by Craig Deacon, who is in his fifth season with the team.