The Powell Panther boys’ soccer team played three games in three days — wrapping up a postseason berth at the state tournament next week with victories over Lyman 7-1, Mountain View 5-2 and Pinedale 4-1 on a long road trip.

POWELL 7, LYMAN 1

The weekend began in Lyman (1-8 overall, 1-8 3A West) as the Panthers (10-2 overall, 10-1 3A West) looked for the season sweep of the Eagles.

Powell peppered the Lyman goal early and often, but was unable to find a goal over the first 13 minutes of action.

The Panthers got on the board a minute later on a finish just inside the box from Chance Franks.

Lyman answered shortly after the Powell goal, tying the game on a shot just outside the 18-yard box.

Powell reclaimed the lead with just under 10 minutes left in the half after a curled left-footed shot from Will Jackson just outside the box found the bottom corner to give the Panthers the advantage.

Neither team found a goal before the break and it remained 2-1 at halftime.

Franks got his second just five minutes into the second half, giving the Panthers some breathing room with 35 minutes left.

Franks completed the hat-trick less than 10 minutes later on a penalty kick, and Powell cruised in the second half.

“I believe our patience and application of game plan led to wearing out those opposing players and ultimately getting more goals in the second half,” coach David Gilliatt said.

Over the final 25 minutes the Panthers got another goal from Cameron Carpenter and goals from Steven Stambaugh and Franks to cruise to a 7-1 victory over the Eagles.

That win officially locked up a postseason berth for the Panthers at the state tournament next week in Green River, the fifth consecutive time Powell has made the tournament.

POWELL 5, MOUNTAIN VIEW 2

After the game Thursday the Panthers remained in Uinta County to take on the Mountain View Buffalos (2-8 overall, 1-8 3A West) on Friday.

Powell got on the board just two minutes into the game, as Franks snuck the ball past the Mountain View keeper to make it 1-0 early.

A foul in the box on Franks less than 10 minutes later led to a penalty, which he placed in the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Midway through the half a handling was called on Powell and Mountain View cut the lead to 2-1.

“Both Lyman and Mountain View have improved programs,” Gilliatt said. “Both schools have some strong defensive players who prevent our offense from executing in the first half as much as we’d like.”

Powell was unable to find another before the halftime break, keeping the score 2-1.

Carpenter and Rem DeVries scored in the second half to help Powell extend the lead out once more but the Buffalos scored one to make the score 4-2 late.

Franks completed another hat-trick with just seconds remaining on the clock to make it 5-2 for the Panthers and earn another season sweep of the Buffalos.

POWELL 4, PINEDALE 1

Wrapping up the road trip on Saturday the Panthers headed north to Pinedale (1-9 overall, 1-9 3A West) — trying to complete the road sweep over the Wranglers.

“Three away games in a row is a difficult task for any team and I was proud of my guys for their work rate and composure throughout all three games,” Gilliatt said. “Pinedale at their field had proven difficult in the past and they came out tough again on Saturday.”

Powell’s first goal came from a dangerous cross by Franks that deflected off a Wrangler into the back of the net for an own goal.

Another Carpenter goal came from a strong pass by Jackson, giving Powell a 2-0 advantage.

Franks got his goal when he rifled a free kick just outside the box low past the keeper to make it 3-0 at halftime for the Panthers.

In the second half the teams battled to an even scoreline, as Carpenter got his second goal of the game after a failed clearance by the Pinedale goalie to make the final score 4-1 in favor of Powell.

“Overall, tough to play three consecutive away games in a row but [it was] good practice for state and I was proud of their performance,” Gilliatt said.

POSTSEASON SCENARIOS

Powell has already locked up a spot in the postseason alongside Green River and Cody, who will all be the top three seeds coming out of the 3A West.

The Panthers sit in first, having played one game more than the other two.

That extra game for Green River will be against Cody on the road on Thursday, and Cody will also host Lander in another game on Tuesday.

If Cody beats Green River and Lander, and Green River beats Powell on Friday then all three teams will be tied with a 10-2 record in the 3A West having a 1-1 record against each other and the seeding will come down to further tie-breaking criteria.

If Green River beats Cody then the winner of Powell vs. Green River will take the No. 1 seed at state.

If Powell beats Green River on Friday the Panthers are guaranteed the No. 1 seed at state.

Lander is essentially locked into the No. 4 seed in the West, and either need to gain a point against either Cody, Lyman or Mountain View this week or hope Mountain View drops a point against Lyman, Lander or Pinedale.

FINAL HOME GAME

Powell will play host for the final game of the regular season, taking on Green River at 6 p.m. at Panther Stadium on Friday.

“We want to be focused and ready for that game but not psych ourselves out either,” Gilliatt said. “The loss against Cody was really good for us to reassess our strengths and weaknesses and fix our mistakes.”

He said that he knows neither team is the same as when they first met for a 1-0 Powell victory in Green River last month, and he knows it will be a good test of the Panthers’ progress this season.

“(We are) looking forward to the test,” Gilliatt said.

3A WEST STANDINGS

Overall record then conference record

1. Powell 10-2 (30 points) … 10-1 (30 points)

2. Green River 9-1 (27 points) … 9-1 (27 points)

3. Cody 9-3 (27 points) … 8-2 (24 points)

4. Lander 4-6 (13 points) … 4-5 (13 points)

5. Mountain View 2-8 (7 points) … 1-8 (4 points)

6. Pinedale 1-9 (3 points) … 1-9 (3 points)

7. Lyman 1-8 (3 points) … 1-8 (3 points)