Last-second heroics lift PHS: Panthers win 3-2 over Riverton

Posted 3/27/18

“It was a tough one,” Dent said. “Do I tell them to slow down and run the clock out, or do I have them keep playing?”

The Powell High School boys, who lost their season-opener in an overtime heartbreaker against Pinedale, decided against …

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Last-second heroics lift PHS: Panthers win 3-2 over Riverton

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With visiting Riverton tying the game late on a penalty kick and time winding down in regulation, Panthers head soccer coach Jeff Dent wondered if his team should pump the brakes and prepare for overtime.

“It was a tough one,” Dent said. “Do I tell them to slow down and run the clock out, or do I have them keep playing?”

The Powell High School boys, who lost their season-opener in an overtime heartbreaker against Pinedale, decided against a repeat performance. With less than 10 seconds in regulation, Powell played to the whistle, with Kyler Muffett catching a rebound off the Riverton goalie and burying it home for the 3-2 win.

“Man, this was pure excitement,” Dent said. “They played hard all the way through the game. Against Pinedale, we weren’t organized. Star Valley [in game two], we were sort of organized. We did a lot of working on our passing and talking to each other this week, and it came together [Friday]. They had their heads up, they saw each other, they moved on and off the ball. It’s what we’ve been working for.”

The teams were evenly matched, with both creating scoring opportunities in the first half. Dent knew the Wolverines would be a physical team, and they didn’t disappoint.

“With Riverton as physical as they are, I was afraid it might scare my men off the ball a little bit,” Dent said. “It didn’t. They stepped up and they played, and they played hard. They played their game and stuck with it.”

Rob Sessions got the Panthers on the board first, scoring his second goal of the season on a nice crossing pass by Sam Bauer.

“Rob [Sessions] is very hungry for goals,” Dent said. “He goes hard, sometimes almost too hard, he tends to leave the team behind him. He’s a strong player with an excellent shot. When he makes an early score like that, it really build the boys up.”

Riverton answered with a goal of their own, however, and the game went into the half tied at 1-1. The Panthers controlled the tempo at the start of the second half, and with 25:59 to play in regulation, Powell took a 2-1 lead off the foot of Luis Gutierrez. It was Gutierrez’s first goal of the season.

“Luis [Gutierrez] has awesome feet. He can move a ball around you without even moving it 2 feet,” Dent said. “He’s just an amazing player. He went around their defense, went around their goalie and just pushed the ball into the net.”

Dent called Gutierrez one of his “solid players” who’s also adept at keeping a cool head during games.

“Sometimes we as coaches want to push him [Gutierrez] harder, but he just keeps going steady,” Dent said. “Having him in the midfield is a very big strength for the team. He and Rob [Sessions] have different styles, but it works well together.”

Just as it looked that the Panthers would be able to ride out their 2-1 advantage, they gave Riverton a late break: A penalty in the Panthers’ zone gave the Wolverines a free kick. Riverton converted, and just like that it appeared the game was headed to overtime.

But Muffett, a student at Rocky Mountain High School who moonlights with the Panthers during soccer season, had other plans.

“Kyler [Muffett] has been with me for a couple of years, and this was his first varsity goal,” Dent said. “He’s always been right there in the action, always trying hard. We’ve worked on his positioning, and I think that’s what happened there. He was in his position and the ball was loose, and he stepped in and took care of it.”

Dent credited Powell’s defense for keeping their heads throughout the game, especially after the late penalty that evened the score. The return of defender Jace Smith, who had yet to play this season due to a basketball injury, also sparked the Panthers.

“Having Jace [Smith] back was huge,” Dent said. “He got some practices in this week, got qualified and stepped up. He’s my general on the field. He took care of his line, and he’s hungry, too. He wants the ball and wants to make things happen. He’s a competitor.”

Senior goalie Gabe Katz picked up his second win on the season for the Panthers, turning away nine shots.

“Gabe [Katz] has really good hands, he’s really stepped up his game,” Dent said. “He’s been working with [Northwest College keeper] Luke Holt, as has Ashton Brewer — they’re both excellent goalies. I think Gabe is going to have a very good year.”

Offensively, the Panthers were busy, recording 17 shots on goal.

“I was impressed, I was very happy,” Dent said. “For a young team like I have, the skill and the tenacity is amazing. I’m really excited about what’s going to be coming next.”

Powell (1-2) travels to Worland (3-0) today (Tuesday) to take on the undefeated Warriors, and Dent expects a tough test. Worland has scored six times in three games, while not allowing a goal against this season.

“Worland is doing very well,” Dent said, adding, “Their coach works them well, gets them into position. They play well as a team, so they’re going to be tough again. We’ll work on our passing and possession, and go in with that.”

“We want to beat them, that’s our goal,” he said.

Tribune photo by Carla Wensky

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