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Two years ago, the team suffered through a winless season at 0-16. But in a huge one-year turnaround, the Lady Panthers advanced to the state tournament last season and finished in sixth place. This year, head coach Jack Haire said the goal for the …
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The Powell High School Lady Panther soccer team will kick off the season at home on Friday against Pinedale, then take on Star Valley on Saturday.
Two years ago, the team suffered through a winless season at 0-16. But in a huge one-year turnaround, the Lady Panthers advanced to the state tournament last season and finished in sixth place. This year, head coach Jack Haire said the goal for the Lady Panthers is to go even further.
“As a coach I want nothing less than second place — I want to play the end game — I want to play the last game at state,” he said. “It’s bold, it’s big, I know.”
Haire said team will be playing against some solid teams such as Cody and Buffalo, but he believes “this team deserves to playing with the best in the state of Wyoming.”
The coach said the primary focus right now is on putting the best team together and teaching the first-time players how to play the game of soccer.
“I believe that, by the middle to the end of the season, we are going to be firing on all cylinders,” Haire said.
The Lady Panthers soccer team has several returning players, which includes about a dozen seniors and about the same number of juniors, with a total of 35-40 players across all classes.
The total number of players has grown from the 20-25 athletes a season ago.
“I’m so excited for this year,” Haire said, adding the Lady Panthers “might have some struggles throughout the season, but we’re going to come together.”
PHS will host Pinedale at 3 p.m. Friday.
“Pinedale has typically been thought of as an easy team but they have always played us tough,” Haire said. “Our team, our program, remembers the last time Pinedale was at our home and beat us — and we got some fire in our boots right now.”
The Lady Panthers will be missing three starters this weekend due to prior commitments, such as state FBLA and hockey.
“But I still expect our team to lay the hammer down,” said coach Haire. “I expect a very fast and physical soccer match.”
The second game of the season will also be at home on Saturday against Star Valley at 11 a.m.
Throughout the season, the Lady Panthers will play six home games with the Class 3A state tournament set for May 17-19 in Jackson.
“We got a competing team this year,” said coach Haire. “We feel good going into the season.”
