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Steamboat Springs — It's amazing what fluidity in practice can accomplish, when fundamentals don't have to be drilled and players can just go out and play.

For Steamboat Springs High School girls lacrosse coach Jenn Kirkpatrick, the fluidity she's found in practice this week leads her to believe a successful weekend might be on the horizon for the winless Sailors.

Steamboat plays St. Mary's Academy at 4 p.m. today and Palmer at 5 p.m. Saturday. Both games are at Steamboat's Gardner Field.

"It's been a continual flow of action," Kirkpatrick said. "It's certainly been aided (by) being outside."

Steamboat is coming off a 13-10 setback to Overland last Friday. Although the game was another tally in the loss column, Kirkpatrick said it did more for the Sailors' confidence than anything. The Sailors played their best game of the season against Overland, nearly overcoming a four-goal halftime deficit.

"The girls have a much better understanding of the field and working as a unit," Kirkpatrick said. "I think the girls got a real boost of confidence even though we lost."

As the Sailors progress into today's and Saturday's games, Kirkpatrick said the focus has been getting to the ball first and winning all the little battles.

She said another key element will be getting off to a fast start. In every game this year, Steamboat has headed into the half trailing.

A large part of that - and a key element of practice this week - has been winning faceoff draws.

Kirkpatrick said she's worked intensively at lining the girls up at midfield and working on draws. Once the draw is done, Steamboat immediately works on its transition game.

"It works on getting movement down the field," she said. "You have to be really strong and be able to place the ball over your left or right shoulder, or push it forward. You want to start being accurate with where you want to go and line up your teammates."

Hannah Poland takes the majority of the faceoffs for Steamboat but will be replaced depending on matchups, Kirkpatrick said.

"Obviously, I'd like to come up with a win," Kirkpatrick said. "But success this weekend is the girls going out and giving 100 percent. Despite the outcome, it's knowing there is nothing else they could have done differently."