A frustrating start to the season appeared imminent for the Panther girls’ soccer team as they trailed 2-0 late in Saturday’s match against Pinedale. However, a comeback in the final eight minutes sparked a thrilling opening weekend victory, 3-2 over the visiting Wranglers.

Early on in the game and throughout much of the first half, the Powell High School girls controlled the ball and challenged the Pinedale keeper. Powell had many opportunities to score, but shots going wide as well as to the keeper left the door open for Pinedale to score first.

Pinedale got on the board midway through the first half on a counter attack that had a Wrangler win a 50/50 ball against junior goalkeeper Taylor SanFlippo and eventually find the back of the net. That gave Pinedale a 1-0 lead.

PHS appeared to answer just minutes later as freshman Kenna Cannon found her way behind the Wrangler defense — but the goal was called offside and the score remained 1-0 in favor of the visitors.

“I feel the frustration set in early as it was apparent we were dominating the game yet continued to fail to find the back of the net,” Panther head coach Kaitlin Loeffen said. “Roughly 18 shots in the first half and down one did not sit well with me or the team going into the second half.”

However, the beginning of the second half mirrored the first. 

The Panthers started attacking strongly and appeared poised to get one past the Wrangler keeper and tie the contest. And again, Pinedale found the back of the net off a counter.

A high flying ball was sent long towards the Powell net and SanFlippo appeared to make a routine catch; the ball slipped out of her hands and a scramble led to the ball being put in the back of the net to give Pinedale a 2-0 lead midway through the half.

But the Panthers did not quit.

Despite having two unlikely goals scored against them, the Powell girls were determined to find a way back into the contest.

PHS sophomore Kenzie Fields got things started on a cross from freshman Emily Orr which finally got the Panthers on the board with eight minutes left.

Just a minute later, senior Kabrie Cannon found Orr, who slotted the ball past the Wrangler keeper to tie the game with 7:36 left.

The contest appeared poised to be heading for overtime, but Powell scored the winning goal  with 1:33 left, after junior Jordyn Dearcorn again found Orr who finished. It gave the Panthers a 3-2 comeback victory.

“Emily [Orr] stepped up tremendously late in the second half,” Loeffen said. “I pulled her [Orr] for one possession and simply told her, if she was going to prove herself, now was the time we needed it, and she went out and scored two goals.”

The victory gives the Panthers a 1-0 start in Class 3A West conference play — an important step in their quest for their first state tournament appearance since 2017.

“This game proved the importance of the offseason. Those that worked when no one was watching came ready to play,” Loeffen said.

PINEDALE TOURNAMENT

After a thrilling opening weekend, the Panthers will head to Pinedale to take part in the Pinnacle Cup on Friday and Saturday.

The Panthers’ first game kicks off at 1 p.m. Friday against Rawlins. If they win, the Powell girls will advance to the semifinal on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. to play the winner of Buffalo, Pinedale or Torrington. If the Panthers win the semifinal, the championship will be at 3 p.m.

Should the Panthers lose in the quarterfinal, they will drop down to the consolation bracket starting at 4 p.m. Friday. Losing in the semifinal would result in a third-place match on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

“We will continue to iron out our formation while making a few tweaks this week,” Loeffen said. “We will continue to work on finishing and trying to incorporate set plays.”

POWELL 3, PINEDALE 2

Goals — Emily Orr 2, Kenzie Fields 1

Assists — Orr 1, Kabrie Cannon 1, Jordyn Dearcorn 1