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The competitive season for Steamboat's Chix with Stix women's hockey team began with a loss and tie during the weekend.

The Chix tied Synergy of Denver, 2-2, on Saturday at Howelsen Ice Arena. The teams met again Sunday, and Synergy won, 4-0.

The Chix (0-1-1) play in the A division in the Women's Association of Colorado Hockey and are coached by Tim Shorland and Rob Kiem. There are 15 active players on the roster.

"The first night the shots were pretty even," Chix member Lisa Owen said. "In the second game, we came out kind of flat, and they scored within the first five minutes."

In Saturday's game, the teams played through a scoreless first period before Synergy got on the board 6 minutes and 45 seconds into the second period.

The Chix answered four minutes later on a power play goal from Val Dietrich. Renee Dupree and Kit Rice were credited with assists, but Synergy pulled ahead in the closing minutes of the second period.

The Chix answered again off an unassisted goal from Dietrich four minutes into the third. Steamboat killed two penalties -- one in the third and another in overtime -- to preserve the tie.

Chix goalie Carol Vittore stopped 20 of Synergy's 22 shots on goal. Steamboat also had 22 shots on goal.

In Sunday's game, the Chix had 16 shots on goal, but none made it past Synergy's goalie. Denver, meanwhile, scored four goals in the easy win. Vittore stopped 14 shots on goal.

The Chix play Denver University and the Clash of Denver in Denver this weekend. The game against DU is on campus, and the game against the Clash is at the Apex Center in Arvada.

The Chix are Steamboat's only A division women's team. The Steamboat Storm and Steamboat Edge are women's B2 Mountain Division teams.

"Practices started in early October," Owen said. "But 60 to 75 percent played in summer and fall coed leagues at the rink."