Steamboat Springs — So many times, the Steamboat Springs High School hockey has been close in this first section of the season. It was close Friday night, when two second-period goals from Chatfield led to a 2-1 loss, keeping the Sailors from their first win of the season.

On Saturday, frustration may have mounted for Steamboat, which was listless and uncompetitive against a strong Lewis-Palmer squad in a 7-2 loss.

The defeat dropped Steamboat to an 0-8 record.

“Tonight, they didn’t play very well,” Steamboat coach Chris Campanelli said. “In the second period, we had that high intensity and we were able to control it, but the first period was not a good period.

“If we don’t start playing three periods of hockey, we’re going to continue to struggle.”

Steamboat got a second-period goal from junior Jack Coon, then a strike in the third from Brendan Selby.

Those were highlights, Campanelli said, and there were others, from Coon’s first goal of the season to strong play from Jack McNamara, Jordan Gorr and Grant McNamara.

Still, that didn’t amount to nearly enough to hang with Lewis-Palmer, which got a pair of goals from both Joseph Duca and Nick Pavlik.

There was plenty of ugly for the Sailors.

“We were breaking down mentally,” Campanelli said. “You have to be mentally ready the entire time you’re on the ice, every second of every shift. Falling off of your position, piling up in corners, not staying where you’re supposed to be will cause breakdowns.”

Campanelli said there’s a bright side, and it starts with his players, who he said remain eager to improve.

The team has plenty of time — though limited practice time — to make some adjustments. It doesn’t play again until Jan. 9.

“All we can do is go back to work and try to do what it takes to be successful,” Campanelli said. “The kids’ attitude is still positive and they still seem to be having fun, but I know they’re hungry for their first win. We’ll give it everything we got.”