Soccer finishes regular season

Posted 5/18/10

Both teams had multiple chances to win the contest in regulation. Powell got good looks early in both the first and second halves, but spent many of the latter minutes of both periods holding on defensively to keep Cody out of goal.

The Panthers' …

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Soccer finishes regular season

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Boys take Broncs to O.T.Powell High School wrapped up the soccer regular season last Thursday, getting swept by Cody in both boys' and girls' action. The Panther girls fell by a 4-0 final count. Powell's boys dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision in overtime. “I couldn't be more proud of the way we played,” said Pat D'Alessandro, whose team kept the defending state champions off the scoreboard until fewer than three minutes remained. “You'd like to win the game after putting that much energy into it, but I can't fault anyone for the energy they gave.”

Both teams had multiple chances to win the contest in regulation. Powell got good looks early in both the first and second halves, but spent many of the latter minutes of both periods holding on defensively to keep Cody out of goal.

The Panthers' best chance in regulation came in the closing minute of the second half. A quick counterstrike gave Powell numbers heading down the field and the Panthers were able to loft a shot from the left of the goal over the reach of a leaping Cody keeper and toward the back corner of the goal. The shot struck the crossbar and bounded away. The match official whistled the end of the second half before the Panthers could gather for a follow-up shot.

Both teams again had ample opportunity in the first overtime period. Cody twice missed shots on an empty net following deflections in front of the Panthers' goal. A frantic 30 seconds of action late in the first overtime saw Powell bounce two shots off Cody defenders and a third off the side-post of the goal.

After an early shot on goal to start the second overtime, the Panthers found themselves playing defense against a pressing Cody attack. Powell turned away a pair of point-blank header attempts off corner kicks by Cody before the Broncs were finally able to beat the Powell defense for the game's only goal.

“That's the best we've ever played against Cody,” D'Alessandro said after the game.

Contrary to the drama of the boys' game, much of the speculation in the Powell-Cody girls game evaporated early.

The Panthers surrendered three goals in the game's opening 10 minutes, including one that came within the game's first 60 seconds, as Cody cruised to a regular-season sweep of Powell.

“I was frustrated that we didn't come out ready to play better in our final home game of the season,” said Powell head coach Brad Hammond. “We just didn't run early if we got beat. I don't know what it is about Jackson and Cody, but mentally we need to be prepared better.”

Once Cody's early flurry was on the scoreboard, the Panthers seemed to find some added life. Powell kept Cody off the board for the remainder of the first half. The visiting team was able to sneak just one additional shot into goal against Powell in the second half.

“I really wish we'd come out to play early,” said Hammond. “I was pleased they bounced back after and were able to compete late in the first half and for much of the second half, but we can't put ourselves that far down so early.”

Both Powell teams will travel to Sheridan this Thursday for the start of 3A state soccer action. Both teams face Buffalo in the opening round.

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