3A state play-in game next for Panthers

With a chance to end its regular season on a high note, the Powell High School boys soccer team did just that — even if the scoreboard didn’t show it.

The Panthers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to visiting Star Valley on Saturday in Powell, but did so only after rallying twice in both teams’ final rehearsal before state.

PHS (5-11), also fell to Class 3A’s No. 1-ranked Jackson Hole, 5-1, Friday, also in Powell. The Panthers will now have to force their way into the state tournament with a noon play-in game against Newcastle (0-11) on Saturday in Lander.

“It looks like a game that should be winnable,” PHS head coach Travis Rapp said. “ ... but at the same time, you don’t overlook anybody. If we just dictate our style of play we’ll be fine.”

Star Valley 3, Powell 2

PHS was on its heels early after the Braves’ Robert Smith scored on Panthers goalkeeper Sean Wagner in the seventh minute of play. From there, however, the Powell defense stiffened in front of Wagner as SVHS went scoreless for the rest of regulation.

Wagner, a junior, helped his own cause with a robust 33 saves between regulation and overtime. The keeper kept the match close when, in the 34th minute, Smith had a scoring opportunity on a penalty kick, firing it to the center of the PHS goal. Wagner appeared to be fooled by the shot and went to his right, but managed to make the save with a deflection off his feet.

The match seemed destined for a 1-0 finish before PHS junior Trey Ouellette used a

second chance in stoppage time to temporarily save the Panthers.

After missing on a cross kick, Ouellette got another shot when sophomore Owen Dent launched a corner kick to his teammate in front of the box. Ouellette fielded the pass cleanly before firing it past the Braves’ goalie to tie things up.

“We have guys that respond well when they’re challenged, and they listen well,” Rapp said. “Almost always when we talk at halftime about something they need to correct, they correct it.”

PHS did just that again in overtime after Star Valley’s Fernando Trevino scored in the third minute of the first 10-minute overtime half. In the final minute of the extra period, Alex Aguirre fielded a deflected shot from the Braves’ goalie and fired a cross into the back-right corner for a 2-2 tie.

The good feeling was short-lived for PHS, though, as a scramble in front of the Panthers’ goal in the fourth minute of the second overtime half proved to be the difference. A shot at Wagner was blocked, but a flurry of players moved toward the net to corral the ball. Wagner appeared to get a hand on it before it crossed the PHS goal line, but the official closest to the action ruled it a Star Valley score.

PHS tallied 16 total shots for the game while the Braves attempted 43.

Following the game, one of the officials gave Rapp and his team a compliment, and in light of the end result, the coach agreed after witnessing his team’s gutsy effort for 100 minutes.

“Just like the official said, we’re peaking at the right time,” Rapp stated.

Jackson Hole 5, Powell 1

After a rain and lightning delay that lasted nearly 30 minutes, the top-ranked Jackson Broncs used a variety of penalty and free kicks to defeat PHS for the third time this season.

Because of rainy conditions through the match, Rapp was unable to keep stats for the contest.

Sophomore Brian Crawford accounted for the Panthers’ lone goal, PHS’ first against Jackson this season.