Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — After giving up a goal in the opening minutes of last Saturday's hockey game, the Steamboat Storm was forced to rally against the Westminster Cliffhangers in front of the hometown crowd in order to escape with a tie.

The Storm's offense sputtered in the opening period of the non-league game after goalkeeper Marie Dailey surrendered a goal to the Westminster team just 3 minutes into the contest.

It wasn't until the second period that the local team answered.

Two minutes into the second, Lisa Owen netted the first Storm goal of the game. Mary Whelihan and Tara Nultmeier picked up assists on the play.

The Storm team (8-4-1) took the lead just a few minutes later when Marie Winter scored.

Susie Leeson and Patty Chovan provided a helping hand.

The Storm's scoring spree continued a couple of minutes later when Chovan made the score 3-1 with a goal of her own.

But after the three-goal period, the Steamboat team experimented with moving players into different positions.

It's a move that player Lisa Owen said helps the team grow and become stronger for more important games later this season.

"It's something we like to do in non-league games," she said. "By playing different positions, it allows our skaters to become stronger."

Unfortunately, the move also allowed the Cliffhangers' defense to take control.

The Storm surrendered two goals in the final period of play -- including one with less than 2 minutes remaining -- to tie the game at three goals each.

The Storm will try to get its offense back on track this weekend when it faces the Breckenridge Blast in two games at Howelsen.

The two teams met earlier this year with the Storm winning the game 9-0.

"I think we will see a much better team this time around," Owen said. "That was early in the season and both teams have grown a lot since we played that game."

The local women will play at 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.

The Storm is gearing up for the Women's Association of Colorado Hockey's end-of-season tournament, which will take place April 11-13.