Despite a windy and colder contest the Powell High School girls’ soccer team continued to roll in the early season, dominating the visiting Buffalo Bison 8-1 at home on Thursday.

POWELL 8, BUFFALO 1

Concluding their three game homestand to begin the season the Panthers (3-0) welcomed in the Bison (0-3).

Powell started on the front foot, but was unable to find the back of the net over the first 10 minutes.

The Panthers got their first goal when Charlie Taylor drew a penalty in the box, and Ivy Agee stepped up and slotted it home to make it 1-0 with 29:30 remaining in the first half.

Agee followed with a second goal just minutes later on a long shot, and Powell led 2-0.

Buffalo did not go away, and took advantage of the wind to score a free kick goal with 15:28 left in the first half.

Just over a minute later Agee completed her hat-trick after a goalkeeper mistake saw the ball thrown right to Agee, making it 3-1.

Aspen French got on the board with 6:20 left in the half, scoring on a corner kick that was kept in by Ava Gilliatt and turned home by French to make it 4-1.

Agee added a fourth goal just before the half, making it 5-1 heading into the break.

Powell didn’t waste much time in the second half, as French got her second goal less than a minute in after a well worked sequence to make it 6-1.

“The wind always has an impact as it at the very least affects the flight and direction of passes and shots,” coach Danny Agee said. “I felt like we handled it fairly well and even scored a few going into the wind.”

The wind worked in Agee’s favor for her fifth goal, as the ball snuck into the net to make it 5-1 with 24:44 remaining.

She got her sixth and final goal with 8:30 remaining as the Panthers cruised to the 8-1 win.

“I really like the way that the ladies are covering one another,” coach Agee said. “I believe it really shows how the team is united together to get the job done, that is very impressive. It was a solid team effort.”

CONFERENCE STARTS

The Panthers now head into the main part of their season schedule, as coach Agee believes there is still one area in particular that the team can improve in this early part of the season.

“I felt like we were not moving well off the ball, and that definitely affected how well we were able to connect passes,” he said. “I really want us to keep building that as speed of play is the greatest way to off balance another team.”

The Panthers’ biggest challenge to date starts the 3A West Conference schedule, as they head to Lander at 3 p.m. on Friday to take on the Tigers (3-0), who are one of only three remaining undefeated 3A girls teams alongside Powell.

“Lander is always a strong, physical team. We need to minimize our dribbling to avoid unnecessary physical challenges so we can keep ourselves healthy,” Agee said. “Quicker ball circulation is going to be the focus this week.”

Powell then continues to Pinedale at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The Wranglers have yet to play an official game this season.