Panther boys drop difficult opening match

Posted 3/28/23

Weather continued to wreak havoc on the early season schedule for the No. 2-ranked Powell Panther boys’ soccer team. The originally scheduled Pinnacle Cup in Worland was canceled on Wednesday …

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Panther boys drop difficult opening match

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Weather continued to wreak havoc on the early season schedule for the No. 2-ranked Powell Panther boys’ soccer team. The originally scheduled Pinnacle Cup in Worland was canceled on Wednesday due to too much snow on the fields, but the Panthers were able to salvage an early season matchup with the No. 1-ranked Warriors — playing host on Friday in a top matchup where the Panthers fell 2-1.

Worland (2-0-1) came out and dominated the possession from the start, but was unable to find a strong shot against a stingy Powell (0-1) defense.

“Your first game is always tough and it’s really tough against a more challenging opponent,” coach David Gilliatt said.

Against the run of play, Chance Franks was fouled outside the box — earning a dangerous free kick opportunity for the Panthers.

Franks shot low and across the frame of the goal, finding the far side of the net and giving Powell a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the game.

Worland began to dominate possession in the contest, as Powell struggled to transition the ball forward.

“We didn’t implement things that we worked on this season, last season or the season before that,” Gilliatt said. “Friday was frustrating because we didn’t implement anything that we have worked on.”

Multiple opportunities for Worland were stopped by keeper Holden Cooper, and another chance hit the inside of the post and bounced out just before the half.

Powell held off the advances and maintained the narrow 1-0 margin heading into the half.

Worland again attacked early in the second half, putting consistent pressure on the Panthers.

Warrior defender Trae Bennett got his head to a corner kick, finding its way across the goal and tying the contest at 1-1 just five minutes into the second half.

Powell got a second strong attacking opportunity on another free kick about 30 yards out in the 60th minute.

The free kick from Franks was on target and spilled by Warrior keeper Kade Weber, but despite the loose ball Powell made no follow-up attempts and the score remained tied.

Both teams found better opportunities to attack, but Worland got the final say late in the contest.

A misplayed ball at the back by Powell found its way to Worland’s Court Gonsalez, who made no mistake in slotting the ball in the back of the net with nine minutes left to give Worland the 2-1 lead.

The Warriors held off any attempts to push the ball upfield by the Panthers, earning a 2-1 victory in a battle of top 3A teams.

“Worland deserved to win because we didn’t play our game,” Gilliatt said. “I think we decided, ‘Let’s abandon all strategy and kick it.’ We are not going to play that way, I was disappointed that’s how it ended up.”

   

SCHEDULE CHANGE

Powell was originally scheduled to head on the road for three games this weekend in Pinedale, Lyman and Mountain View.

Schedule changes between the schools have instead flipped the schedule to where Mountain View will play in Powell on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Lyman will play the Panthers on Friday at noon.

“It’s of greater value to us to lose, to expose things like that early on. Now we know what to work on,” Gilliatt said.

No junior varsity matches will be played either day.

That means Powell will now head to Lyman (0-0) and Mountain View (0-1) on Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5, while also making up the already rescheduled game against Pinedale on Saturday, May 6.

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