Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs girls soccer team lost its first game of the season Monday in Littleton.

The Lions defeated the Sailors, 7-2, in Steamboat's first non-league game of the year.

Littleton is a member of the 5A Continental League and was arguably the toughest opponent thus far on Steamboat's schedule.

Sailors coach Rob Bohlmann said his team did some positive things with regards to maintaining possession and formulating some decent attacks.

What Steamboat didn't do particularly well, Bohlmann said, was adjust to Littleton's counterattack.

"Our transition from losing possession to getting organized defensively was where the difference in the game was," Bohlmann said.

The loss moved the Sailors to 9-1 on the season. They remain atop the Western Slope standings at 9-0.

"There's an old saying in soccer that the game is sometimes the best teacher," Bohlmann said.

Monday, Steamboat learned where it needs to improve before postseason play begins.

The dominance the Sailors have displayed through their first eight games has been positive and fun for the players.

On the other hand, not facing a truly talented opponent, other than Glenwood Springs, has prevented Steamboat from improving much as a unit on the field.

On several occasions this year, when the game's outcome was certain, the Sailors visibly self-imposed pressure -- practice for when that pressure actually comes.

Monday it came.

"We did some really good things," Bohlmann said. "Our possession of the ball was honestly 65 percent to their 35 percent. ... As we get closer to the postseason, knowing we will be playing against faster counter-attacking teams, this is a reminder that this is an area we have to spend time working on. It's better that it came now."

Steamboat returns to the field today when it hosts Moffat County at 4 p.m. at the high school football field.

The game was moved back a day due to inclement weather.

If rainy or snowy conditions continue through today, the game might have to be moved to Woodbury Field in Craig.