Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs High School girls lacrosse team started well but couldn’t keep up with Aspen on Friday at Gardner Field, eventually falling, 15-6.

The Sailors opened the scoring early in the game thanks to goals by seniors Nikki Fry and Aleigh Aurin to take a 2-0 lead.

But then Aspen started to seize play.

The Skiers scored the next four goals to take a 4-2 lead before the Sailors' Hanna Hartley and Fry tied it at 4.

Aspen scored the next three in the first half and the first two in the second half to take a commanding 9-4 lead.

“There has definitely been progress,” Steamboat coach Betsy Frick said. “We talk plays and doubles and more advanced moves. If you can’t catch and throw, you can’t do that.”

Aurin added a pair of goals to make it 9-6 before Aspen scored the final six goals for the end result.

Frick sounded encouraged by the start. The team features 20 players this year, including nine seniors. Five girls played Friday who never had played before, including goalie McKenzie Repollo, who picked up a stick for the first time Thursday.

“It was a good start,” Frick said.

The team resumes play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Liberty. It then plays at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Pine Creek. Judging by past results, they are two games that Steamboat should have a chance to win.

Even with all the new parts and moving pieces, Frick said she expects Steamboat to be competitive against the two teams and potentially come away with a win.

“We’re looking forward to the season,” she said. “I really think we’ll surprise some people.”

To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com