Wins and losses are why teams play the game.

And while head coach Meredith Makoul would have hoped for a better start than the Salisbury field hockey team has put together, she had much more in mind in her first season with the squad.

The Lady Falcons, now 0-8 in the Colonial League, may have yet to crack the win column, but they've improved in a number of areas since the first day of practices. For Makoul, she's seen that maturity since taking over.

"I know a lot of people are getting on us for the losing season," Makoul said. "Obviously we all want to turn it around, but what we're looking for is changes. We are scoring. We're working together as a team, and the girls are putting out more effort than they were in the beginning of the season.

"There are a lot of good things happening. The scores don't exactly show it, but I am happy with how the girls have progressed so far this season."

For much of the season, the Lady Falcons have been enduring position switches when injuries pop up or there is a need for change in the lineup. Throw in a number of new faces from team's partnership with Central Catholic, and there figures to be a learning curve in trying to work together.

Makoul believes that teamwork is improving as the season progresses.

"In the beginning of the season we had girls at different spots, and we had injuries," Makoul said. "Learning to play with one another I think was a struggle, especially with attitudes in the past. But that is definitely coming together. It's about putting that all aside, and just playing and learning to play together."

The offense has improved from recent years, but the Lady Falcons still must improve on a number of areas. Having difficulty on their corner opportunities is a hurdle that has caused three shut outs this season.

The Falcons have yet to score more than two goals in a game this season.

"One thing that we haven't taken advantage of is our penalty corners," Makoul said. "Those are scoring opportunities, and we haven't figure out how to get them. But I think we are giving ourselves more opportunities. We just have to learn how to use them."

Makoul believes the Lady Falcons' inability to put together a complete game until the final whistle has been an issue, too.

"Conditioning-wise, we are not ready to play a full game," Makoul said. "What I've seen in the girls is we'll play 40 minutes, but the game is 60 minutes. In those 20 minutes, that's when other teams beat us. That's why the scores are why they are."

In the final two-and-a-half weeks of play, Makoul would like to see continuous improvement on the field, and potentially a few wins along the way.

"Definitely more wins," Makoul said. "I know that our girls are able to win games. It's just finding faith in themselves."

The Lady Falcons travel to Bangor on Wednesday to face the 3-5 Slaters. Results from Tuesday's game at Wilson, the Colonial League's other lone winless team, were not available at time of press.