Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Friday, June 27, 2008) – The Pali Blues Soccer Club (8-0-0) return home to the friendly confines of the Stadium by the Sea this Monday to host the Fort Collins Force (2-3-1) in a crucial Western Conference match-up. With only four games remaining on the regular season slate, this contest has critical implications on the inaugural campaign of the Blues.

“With four games remaining, we have to refocus on our goals,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo commented. “Tuesday was a wake up call from the perspective of winning is not easy. We played very well, and I thought we played with energy.”

The Tuesday that Naimo refers to was a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders (1-2-3) at the Starfire Sports Complex. In what was a highly-contested affair, Danesha Adams put up the lone score of the evening when she scored a penalty kick in the 75th minute to keep the Blues’ record unblemished.

The only other match-up that resulted in a one-goal differential for the Blues this season was a 2-1 win over Fort Collins in early June. Adams struck early in that road contest when she scored a feed from midfielder Leah Tapscott in just the 4th minute of the contest. Tapscott set up a second tally in the 31st minute as defender Amy LePeilbet netted her first goal of the season. Force midfielder Sara Campbell recorded the lone notch for Fort Collins in the 41st minute to conclude what was an offensive first half.

Both clubs buckled down on defense for a scoreless second half in that game, and the Blues then held on to take the 2-1 decision. Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley backstopped the Blues for the win in net.

In light of that hard-fought result, Naimo knows that the Blues face a great opponent this Monday.

“Fort Collins is a very good team that pressures you and does not waste time trying to be dangerous,” Naimo stated. “That being said, our team knows how critical each of these remaining games are, and I believe we will be equal to the challenge."

Forward Kathryn Eriksson leads the Force attack with nine points on the season. She has registered four goals while adding one assist. Fort Collins, led by head coach Craig Deacon, are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings with seven points.

U.S. National Team player India Trotter will make her home debut on Monday at the Stadium by the Sea when these two clubs face each other. She has made an immediate impression on the Blues, scoring the game-winning goal last Sunday in a 3-0 defeat of the Vancouver Whitecaps on the road. Her efforts were good enough to earn her an honorable mention on the W-League Team of the Week.

Tickets for all home match-ups for the Blues are only $10 for adults ($8 with student ID) and $5 for kids under the age of 12. Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.

Stay tuned to the team website at www.bluessoccerclub.com for all updates regarding the Blues.