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Steamboat Springs — Winning breeds a certain kind of attitude.

So after seeing two years of losses mount up, Steamboat Springs High School girls lacrosse coach Jenn Kirkpatrick might be excused if she curtailed her expectations for the year.

But the third-year coach has no problem with relaying what she expects.

This is the best team she's had.

This is the most skilled team she's had.

This should be the most success the Sailors have had.

"I think in the past they have felt they are maybe used to losing, so they don't have the confidence," Kirkpatrick said. "I think this year I'm seeing a lot more confidence. They want to win, and they know what winning feels like and they want more of it."

The Sailors return a number of skill players that make Kirkpatrick think that this season there will be a big improvement on last year's 3-11 record.

Senior captains Rachel Ivancie, Mollie Wunder and Kristen Elliott are expected to provide leadership and scoring, while junior center Janie Townes should help on both ends of the field.

"We have to rely on everybody," Townes said. "My expectations are high. I think we're going to play a lot better this year as a team."

It's the team aspect that should help Steamboat in its tough conference, which includes powerhouses like Colorado Academy, Kent Denver and Denver East.

As Kirkpatrick puts it, Steamboat has 12 girls on the team that have lost and won games together - and the team is sick of losing.

"My first year was a lot of girls who had either never played or never played together," Kirkpatrick said. "Now we're a little more used to playing together. You can anticipate better, pass better, communicate better, and they're not all rookies. They have more skills."

Although it's been tough practicing in the gym, Kirkpatrick said, it's no secret what will make the team successful. She said for Steamboat to come up with more wins than losses the team will have to be precise in its passing, make sure it catches well and win the ground balls.

"I know everyone says that," Kirkpatrick said, "but the team who comes up with catches and ground balls is going to win the game."

Steamboat opens up play at 4 p.m. today at Lewis-Palmer. The team then plays two games Saturday, at 10 a.m. at Rampart and 4 p.m. at Grandview.