Panther soccer team hopes to avoid ‘09 repeatStrictly speaking, Powell and Buffalo don't schedule each other annually in soccer. It only seems that way. The Panthers and Bison have become common first-round foes at the state tournament and the 2010 state championships, which get started today (Thursday) in Sheridan, are no exception. Both the Powell boys (6-6-2) and the Panther girls (4-9) find their road to the championship half of the state soccer bracket blocked again by Buffalo.

“It would be nice to beat them for a change,” said Panther girls' soccer coach Brad Hammond, who recently announced that this would be his final season at the helm of the Powell girls' program. Hammond was named an assistant coach for the fledgling Northwest College soccer program earlier this year.

“I don't think Buffalo is unbeatable,” said Hammond. “I honestly think the power teams in the state this year were playing in the western division. We'll have to play a great game, but I don't think it's beyond our reach.”

If the Panthers are to pull off the first-round upset, the team will have to control the action at midfield.

“They've got a central midfielder who is outstanding,” said Hammond. “She's only a junior, but she's already given a commitment to a Division I school. Obviously, we'll have to work on that.”

Assuming the Panthers can handle that element of the equation, they are then faced with the task of breaking onto the scoreboard. Six of Buffalo's seven victories — the Bison girls carry a 7-5-2 season mark to Sheridan — have come by way of shutout.

“We've worked early this week with our forwards, practicing our runs,” said Hammond. “Their defenders aren't as quick as their midfield. I feel like we can do some things offensively if we can win the battle at midfield.”

Powell's girls will face either Newcastle or Cody on the second day of state tournament action.

“Obviously, you want to go in and win the whole thing,” said Hammond. “But we just want to turn some heads and still be playing on Saturday. That's something we've never done, so it would be nice to go someplace we haven't been before.”

Powell's boys will be looking to take a similar step today (Thursday) when they face the 10-2-2 Bison.

The Panthers enter state tournament action off a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to Cody. While the result may have placed a tick in the loss column, it clearly elevated the spirit of the Panthers on the eve of the state championships.

“That wasn't our time,” said Panther coach Pat D'Alessandro. “Maybe (this week) will be our time.”

There's little question that the balance of power in boys' 3A soccer this season slanted heavily toward the western half of the state. At various times during the year, the Panther boys have demonstrated the ability to hang with any of the teams above them in the west standings.

Powell defeated Worland in the regular season and took both Jackson and Cody to overtime before falling. The team also holds a 3-0 shutout win over 3A East runner-up Lander.

Now the Panthers face a Bison team whose only losses on the year came against 4A schools Sheridan and Kelly Walsh. The Bison played Cody to a 3-3 standoff in their regular-season encounter.

Depending on the outcome, the Panthers will face either Newcastle or Jackson on Friday.

The 3A state soccer championships run through Saturday in Sheridan.