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The Steamboat Springs girls soccer team rarely finds itself behind, but on Saturday, the Sailors got involved in a much closer contest against Palisade than many would have expected.

The first time the teams met, Steamboat routed Palisade, 6-0. This time, Steamboat won, 7-4, but didn't pull ahead by more than one goal until the second half. In fact, the Sailors trailed or were tied with the Bulldogs for much of the first 40 minutes.

But with an established group of veterans and a league win streak that spans more than two seasons, coach Rob Bohlmann wasn't about to panic.

At halftime, he let the players get some water and talk among themselves before he delivered a brief speech. The team was missing several players because of spring break, which runs through next weekend, but the level of execution wasn't up to Steamboat's usual high standards.

"The biggest thing we said is we're human and having one of those days," he said. "There was no need to panic. This break could be timely for us as long as we keep our conditioning levels where they need to be."

In Steamboat's previous 10 games, the opposition has scored four goals -- total. On Saturday, the Bulldogs managed to knock four past sophomore goalie Shannon King.

"We are finally getting healthy," Palisade coach Sean Kennedy said. "I thought their defense wasn't quite what it was the first time we played them, but we took advantage of that."

Steamboat struck first at five minutes in on junior Kelly Labor's 19th goal of the season. Palisade tied the game seven minutes later off a corner kick. The ball got lost in a pack in front of the net before Palisade's Emily Temple got her foot on it and knocked it through.

The Bulldogs took the lead 16 minutes into the first half on Jenna Bulla's hard, high-flying shot from 35-plus yards out on the flank.

But the Sailors responded quickly, scoring on their next possession when junior Casey Garth capped off her strong run with a pass to Labor, who quickly sent it off to Ryan.

Steamboat struck again less than two minutes later on Ryan's second goal of the game, which came off an assist from junior Ann Barney.

Bulla evened the score for Palisade on another hard chip shot from 30-plus yards away. But with an unassisted goal just before halftime, Steamboat senior Lindsay Ellis gave the Sailors the lead for good.

"We played sloppy and couldn't find a rhythm in the first half," Ryan said. "Normally, we do play well from behind. It seems like every time we get scored on, we retaliate in minutes. (Saturday), we'd retaliate, but we'd seem to settle and let up."

The Sailors were more organized in the second half and pulled ahead by two goals off a great pass from junior Kathleen Lyon to Labor six minutes in. Labor took the ball near midfield and cut toward the goal, waiting for Palisade keeper Kelli Given to commit one way before firing it the opposite direction.

Senior Nicole Balvanz gave Steamboat a 6-3 edge on her unassisted goal midway through the second half. Ryan scored her third goal of the game eight minutes later, capping off Steamboat's offensive output Saturday.

The Bulldogs' Nicky Bau--mann added a goal late on another hard shot from 25-plus yards out.

Despite the loss, Kennedy thought his team's effort should give it confidence for the remainder of the league season.

"Steamboat deserves to be in the top eight in the state," he said. "They are the best team we've faced."

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com