Lady Panthers open season 1-1

Posted 3/20/18

“I like the way we’re looking for the second game of the season,” said PHS head coach Jack Haire. “I think we’re picking up right where we left off at the end of last season.”

Lady Panthers 1, Pinedale 0

A stellar game in goal by …

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Lady Panthers open season 1-1

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Despite chilly temps, the Powell High School girls’ soccer team opened the 2018 season fired up, winning its opener in a 1-0 shutout against Pinedale on Friday. The Lady Panthers fell to Star Valley on Saturday, 4-0.

“I like the way we’re looking for the second game of the season,” said PHS head coach Jack Haire. “I think we’re picking up right where we left off at the end of last season.”

Lady Panthers 1, Pinedale 0

A stellar game in goal by Powell’s Sydney Olsen led to the senior starting the season with a shutout, while the Lady Panthers scored in the closing seconds of regulation to earn a 1-0 victory over Pinedale.

The game wasn’t as close as the final score would indicate, as Powell created a host of scoring opportunities throughout the game only to come up just short.

Michele Wagner finally broke the stalemate with eight seconds left in the game, finding the back of the net for the win. Despite a roster that was short of three starters because of prior commitments, coach Haire said he was pleased with how his team played offensively.

“We dominated as we had hoped,” he said. “We played pretty good as a team. We had lots of shots on goal, we spent a lot of time down on their side of the field, which is encouraging.”

Coach Haire also appreciated the Lady Panthers’ willingness to play until the final whistle, instead of relegating themselves to overtime as the clock wound down.

“I love that our girls don’t quit,” he said. “We had some offsides issues we need to work on a little bit, but it’s just an aggressive forward. We have the opportunities to score, we have the girls to do it.”

As for any early-season rust, coach Haire said this was a Powell team that was ready to play, making the opener a memorable one.

“This is the best we’ve looked in the four years that I’ve coached the opening game,” he said. “That’s what I’m encouraged by. We have a lot of veterans, and girls that just want to win. That’s a good combination.”

Star Valley 4, Lady Panthers 0

Fresh off their last-second win over Pinedale the day before, Powell welcomed the Lady Braves on Saturday — a team coming off a 1-0 overtime loss to Cody on Friday.

“I thought we played well as a team, better than we played Star Valley last year and in previous years,” said coach Haire.

Both teams moved the ball well early, and a shot by Panthers forward Jaya Smith was just off the mark. Star Valley got on the board at the seven-minute mark, converting a penalty kick to take a 1-0 lead.

“We had lots of shots on goal, but they had a quality keeper and we just weren’t able to capitalize,” coach Haire said.

Both teams continued to play solid defense, though the Lady Braves doubled the lead to 2-0 before the half.

The Panthers continued to battle in the second half, creating good scoring opportunities. They were unable to finish, however, and with goals at the 38:22 and the 26:58 marks, Star Valley finished off the 4-0 win.

Coach Haire said it’s always tough to lose to the Lady Braves, but “as a program, we’re happy to be where we’re at.”

The coach credited his defensive line for their play in the first two games.

“Between Joey Haire, Jalie Timmons and Sadie Wenzel, our whole defensive line played well,” Haire said. “Offensively, between Michele Wagner, Jaya Smith and a new girl, Mariah Phister, I was really impressed with the hustle and the hard work this weekend. I’m super-excited for the rest of the season.”

Olsen started in goal for the second straight game, and continued to play well.

“She missed last year, but she kind of fit right back into the role this year,” coach Haire said. “Keepers always have a mental side they have to break through, we still have to do a little bit of work with her, but she’s looking good.”

The Lady Panthers will host Riverton Friday, with the game scheduled for a 3 p.m. start. Riverton lost to Worland 3-0 to begin the season; the Panthers won both times the teams faced last season, including a 1-0 victory in the state tournament.  Haire said the return of three starters this week will add to the team’s strengths, but there are aspects of the game the team will work on leading in to Friday’s game.

“We have to work on our communication,” Haire said. “We were breaking down communication-wise. When you have four white jerseys around the ball with one or two black jerseys, that’s not good. We’re going to really work on communication, as well as our give-and-go passing. I think we’re going to be way faster than Riverton this weekend.”

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