The Steamboat Springs girls lacrosse team got off to a roaring start this season, winning six of its first seven games despite having a young team with only three seniors. 

Since then, the girls have dropped two straight road games with a 16-8 loss to Battle Mountain and a 17-9 defeat to Evergreen. 

Junior Hailey Znamenacek and sophomore Julia Sturges are each averaging over two goals per game for the Sailors — 2.6 and 2.3, respectively. Sturges is also assisting on 2.1 goals per game. Winter French, the team’s freshman goaltender, has impressed between the posts, saving over 50% of shots against. 

The girls are currently 6-3 on the season and ranked second in the 4A Mountain East division, behind Battle Mountain — a team the Sailors have fallen to twice already this season. 

Steamboat has an opportunity to get right back in the win column when it welcomes the Aspen Skiers to town at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Sailors have already defeated Aspen once this season, 11-9, in mid-March. 

Steamboat boys lacrosse has caught its stride
Since its three game losing streak against top opponents earlier this season, the Steamboat boys lacrosse team has rattled off four straight wins including victories over Summit, Battle Mountain and two against Vail Mountain. 

Steamboat now sits 6-4 on the season and 4-1 in league play with its most recent victory coming on the road in Vail, 12-4. 

Senior George Redfern currently leads the team in goals per game (3.0) and assists per game (2.7). Sophomore Caden Sulentich is controlling the draw well at a 70% clip while junior goaltender Ike Alexander has been a stalwart in the net for the Sailors all season. 

Steamboat head coach, Amos Gilbert, said the two goals of the team this season are to go undefeated in home games and win the league championship. The Sailors are just two home contests away from accomplishing the first and are currently sitting in third place of the 4A Western division ranking, behind Battle Mountain and Aspen. 

The Sailors will play both teams one more time in the regular season for a chance to catch up, but first they hit the road for a game against Golden on Saturday. Steamboat then returns home on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. matchup with Glenwood Springs at Steamboat Springs High School.