Battling on the road against one of the other top teams in the state, the Powell High School girls’ soccer team suffered its first loss of the season, as the Panthers lost to Cody 3-2 last Tuesday, before rebounding with a chilly 5-0 home win over Worland on Thursday.

CODY 3, POWELL 2

Control of the 3A West was in the balance as the two final undefeated teams in 3A girls squared off when the Panthers (8-1 overall, 4-1 3A West) took on the Fillies (7-0 overall, 5-0 3A West) in a rematch of last year’s state championship game.

Cody created good chances over the first seven minutes, but the Panthers came closest to scoring in the first 15 minutes.

Ava Gilliatt’s curling effort went just wide 12 minutes in, and Ivy Agee’s volley went just over the crossbar two minutes later as the game remained tied 0-0.

A Fillies’ breakaway resulted in the first goal of the contest, as a finish from a tight angle made it 1-0 for the hosts 16:30 in.

“Honestly, I was pleased with how the team played almost the entire game. We dominated play and created many more chances than Cody did,” coach Danny Agee said. “We just needed to capitalize on our opportunities. We could have scored three before their first opportunity at goal.”

Agee got her goal shortly after, as she put in a free kick from 45 yards out that went just over the Filly keeper to tie the game as it remained 1-1 until halftime.

The second half paid off for the Panthers, as Ivy got her second goal from a strong piece of play from younger sister Mady Agee, making it 2-1 just three minutes into the second half.

Cody responded with a header off a corner kick nine minutes in to tie it again, and each team searched for the winner.

The Fillies got the opportunity soon after, as a foul was called in the box on the Panthers on another breakaway from Cody star Grace Hays, resulting in a Filly penalty kick.

“Grace is a quick player up top and she did create some problems in the beginning but I feel like we adjusted very well,” coach Agee said. “The two goals that came from her speed both resulted from a missed trap and because she ran past us. The ladies did great.”

The shot went into the top left and gave the hosts a 3-2 lead.

Powell had opportunities, with the best chance coming with a minute left as Ivy’s high arcing shot was going in until the outstretched hand of the Filly keeper knocked it away to preserve the 3-2 win and hand the Panthers their first loss of the season. 

POWELL 5, WORLAND 0

Returning home on Thursday the Panthers welcomed in the Warriors (3-6 overall, 3-2 3A East) looking to rebound quickly.

Powell did just that, as Mady scored just 17 seconds in to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

“I felt like we played well for about 17 seconds,” coach Agee said. “After that we were pretty flat and did not move well off the ball. We did score some good goals but it was not our finest showing.”

Jesi Agee added to Worland’s misery  early, as her corner went directly into the goal three minutes in to make it 2-0.

Ivy scored 17 minutes in on a free kick, and Mady added a second just a minute later to make it 4-0.

Gilliatt capped off the scoring for the Panthers 19:30 minutes into the first half as they led 5-0 at the break.

Mady tried to complete a hat-trick just four minutes into the second half, but was deemed offside, as the Panthers cruised in the second half despite frigid weather.

“There were a lot of variables in that game that we could not control. I was slow to realize that and I think that the biggest lesson was for me to see the bigger picture and to not get fixated on the little things,” coach Agee said.

SECOND HALF OF CONFERENCE

The Panthers now kick off the second half of the conference season starting today (Tuesday).

Powell welcomes in Lander at 3 p.m., as the Panthers will be looking for the regular season sweep of the Tigers (7-2 overall, 3-2 3A West) after a narrow 2-1 win on the road earlier in the year.

“Lander is a decent team but I have the utmost confidence in my players that if we bring our best we are going to do very well,” coach Agee said. “We need to keep our heads, myself included, and play within our strengths. We need to possess the ball, make solid runs off the ball and attack from the midfield and not take as much from the backfield.”