The Shockwave will host the Sirens (1-2) at Washougal High School. Kickoff is at noon.

In their seventh season, the Shockwave features women from Vancouver as well as Oregon, ranging in age from 20 to 45. They play in the Western Conference of the Independent Women’s Football League, a full tackle league founded in 2000.

Portland dropped it first two games to the Seattle Majestics and the Corvallis Pride, both 3-0 teams. But the Shockwave are optimistic they can still make a run for a playoff appearance after a year absence.

“I’m thinking we have a good chance this weekend to turn things around,” sixth-year veteran Anetra Torres said. “We’re not out of it.”

The IWFL was revamped this season, going from four divisions to three. Last year the top four teams advanced to the playoffs, but this year the top three will advance, along with a wild card.

Since their last game at Corvallis on April 19, the Shockwave have been working on getting the 12 rookies settled in.

“This year we’ve gotten off to a rocky start,” second-year Shockwave coach Chad Howard said. “We still have a shot at the wild card, and if things work out in our favor, still winning the division. We control our destiny by winning our next six games.”

Portland has 32 players on its roster, including local high school graduates Rebecca Dawson (Hudson’s Bay), Aundrea Hymas (Evergreen) and Tracy Sand (Ridgefield).

Portland is also adjusting to the loss of some key players, including their three-year starting quarterback. Running back Lisa Lum stepped in to the fill the roll, with Torres at backup. Both players are 5-foot-3.

“(Lum) has played the position before as a backup and she did a good job,” said Torres, who also plays receiver. “It’s just different. We’re both short. It’s really hard to see sometimes over our line. She’s good with the running game, and she’s been pretty accurate hitting me passing.”

Howard is optimistic that things have fallen into place going into their third game. When the Shockwave played Corvallis, they outgained the Pride 255-235, but had six turnovers, two in the end zone.

“Last week we finally started to hit our groove,” Howard said. “Now that we’re starting to get things going, we have the ability to go 6-2.”

The Shockwave practice twice a week at Hudson’s Bay High School. Today will be the team’s first time setting foot on Washougal’s field.

“The Shockwave has been bounced around to so many different fields,” Torres said. “It’s just a field. Turf is turf.”

Portland will also be at home next Saturday, hosting Santa Rosa.