Steamboat Pilot & Today

After eight games on the road, the members of the Steam-boat Springs girls soccer team finally got the home-field advantage Tuesday afternoon.

"This is the first time we've been outdoors in Steamboat," coach Rob Bohlmann said. "You have to take advantage of that."

But on the field, the high-powered Sailors didn't need any help as they overpowered a young squad from Craig en route to a 5-0 victory.

Fifteen minutes into the contest, Sailor Kelly Labor made a strong move in front of the Bulldogs' goal and lifted the ball into the upper-left corner past the goalkeeper's hands for the first Steamboat score of the game.

The goal opened the floodgates for the Sailor offense.

Steamboat's Ann Barney hit a perfectly placed ball from 25 yards out for the second score two minutes later. Lindsay Ellis scored 29 minutes into the half, and Labor capped off the blitz by scoring her second goal of the half with less than five minutes remaining.

"We had a lot of movement in the center and passed well, which is what we needed to do," Ellis said. "Moffat County was our first game of the season. ... We played a lot better this game than the last game."Ellis said the Sailors wanted to come out strong against the 2-6 Bulldogs and make sure they controlled the tempo of the game.

"It's always dangerous when we play a team like Moffat County," Ellis said. "They've got nothing to lose, and we've got everything to lose."

Despite giving up four first-half goals, Moffat County coach Jim Loughran said he was happy with the Bulldogs' effort -- especially in the second half.

"We were down 4-0 after one and only gave up one more," Loughran said. "It's easy to give up, but I thought they really tried and played hard."

The Bulldogs were able to make a couple of deep runs in the second half, but they never really threatened to score as Steamboat rolled to its second win of the season against Moffat County. Steamboat is 8-0 in league play and 9-0 overall.

"They are very talented, and we just have some growing to do," Loughran said.

Loughran is Moffat Coun-ty's athletics director but was forced to take over as soccer coach this season when the school was unable to fill the vacated position.

"I really wanted the girls that wanted to play to have a program this year," he said. "We are just doing the best we can."

Moffat County is 1-6 in league play but has won games against Rangely and Eagle Valley this season.

Steamboat will be back on the field Thursday.

Steamboat will get another chance to play at home when the squad hosts a 4 p.m. game at the high school against Rifle.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to host Glenwood Springs on Thursday afternoon in Craig.