Ending a scoring drought helped the Powell Panther boys’ soccer team take a significant step towards the state tournament in Gillette this month. Powell fell to Lander 6-0 on Tuesday, April 28, before ending a four game losing skid against Pinedale 3-0 on Saturday.

LANDER 6, POWELL 0

At home the Panthers (4-6 overall, 3-4 3A West) welcomed in the Tigers (9-2 overall, 6-1 3A West).

The visitors got on the board early and often, as the Tigers scored five minutes in, and quickly added another off a corner 15 minutes in and a second corner made it 3-0 just before the midway point of the first half.

Lander didn’t let up, as the visitors added a fourth goal with 15 minutes left in the first half, and a fifth made it a 5-0 score at the break as Powell’s scoring drought continued.

Powell had more opportunities in the second half but couldn’t score, despite the visitors getting a red card in the final 15 minutes.

Even after receiving the red card the Tigers added one final goal, as a deflected shot found its way into the net and made the final score 6-0.

POWELL 3, PINEDALE 0

Heading into Saturday the Panthers were in a must-win situation, as a victory against the Wranglers (0-7 overall, 0-7 3A West) moved Powell closer to a state spot and a loss meant the Panthers would need to be perfect down the stretch to secure a position.

Powell’s best chance in the first half came off a shot by Gianreye D’Alessandro, hitting the crossbar with 16:30 left in the half.

Ryan Rivas came up with a one-vs.-one save just before the halftime whistle, as the scoring drought continued.

Powell hadn’t scored since a penalty kick in a big second half against Lyman with two minutes left on April 17 meaning the Panthers hadn’t scored in just over four and a half games. That meant 367 minutes of gametime separated the Panthers between their two goals.

D’Alessandro got the Panthers on the board after stealing the ball at the back of the Wrangler defense, before firing it past the keeper to make it 1-0 just five minutes into the second half.

Ethan Frame added to the Panther lead with 22 minutes left, as he fired home a shot to make it 2-0.

Frame didn’t have to wait long to find his second, as he finished another shot just two minutes later as he nutmegged the Wrangler keeper to make it 3-0 midway through the half.

D’Alessandro almost added another with seven minutes left, but his long free kick hit off the crossbar as the Panthers earned the 3-0 win.

That win gave the Panthers a third in the conference, and an eight point lead over the Wranglers who earned one point earlier in the conference season after losing in a shootout to Lander.

One more loss by the Wranglers or one more win ensures the Panthers finish ahead of them to end the year, but one more challenge remains for Powell to lock up a state spot.

BRIDGER VALLEY TRIP

Powell heads on its final road trip of the regular season, taking on a pair of Bridger Valley opponents on Friday and Saturday.

The Panthers start with a game against Mountain View (5-2 overall, 4-2 3A West) at 5 p.m. on Friday before a key game against Lyman (1-6 overall, 1-5 3A West) at noon on Saturday.

If Powell defeats the Eagles on Saturday they lock up a spot at the state tournament heading into the final week of the regular season.

The Panthers end the regular season at home next week against Cody on Thursday.

3A WEST STANDINGS

(Overall record followed by conference record)

1. Cody 8-1-1 overall, 6-1 3A West

2. Lander 9-2 overall, 6-1 3A West

3. Mountain View 5-2 overall, 4-2 3A West

4. Powell 4-6 overall, 3-4 3A West

5. Lyman 1-6 overall, 1-5 3A West

6. Pinedale 0-7 overall, 0-7 3A West