Conference action swung into full action last week with the Powell Panther girls’ soccer team taking on three ranked opponents — losing to Cody 7-2 on Wednesday, defeating Green River 5-3 on Friday and losing to Lander 3-2 on Saturday.

CODY 7, POWELL 2

A weeks’ delay due to weather saw the Panthers (3-3 overall, 3-2 3A West) head on the road to take on the No. 1-ranked Fillies (7-0 overall, 6-0 3A West) on Wednesday.

Chaos ensued early in the contest, when Alli Boysen opened the scoring inside the first minute for Cody on a breakaway.

Fortunately for Powell, an immediate response came from Ivy Agee who launched a shot from 25 yards out and found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.

That goal was the first for Powell against Cody since 2019, as the Panthers searched for their first victory over the Fillies since 2014.

Cody again restored the lead just 7:30 minutes into the game, and extended it further a minute later.

Both teams had opportunities to score in the final 30 minutes of the half, but strong goalkeeping helped keep the game at 3-1 heading into the half.

Agee closed the gap early in the second half, sending a volley from 30 yards out on frame — placing it perfectly in the top corner to make it 3-2 just minutes into the second half.

“I was very proud of the ladies as they continued to work hard the entire game and having the score be 3-2 into the second half was a great benchmark that will help us gain more confidence going forward,” coach Danny Agee said.

Unfortunately for Powell, Boysen continued to use her height and speed to beat the Panther defense, quickly restoring the two goal advantage.

The lead quickly swelled, growing to a 6-2 advantage inside the first 12 minutes of the half.

Boysen got one more goal late in the contest, finishing with a 7-2 scoreline and five goals.

Jaedyn Hampton finished with 21 saves in the contest for the Panthers.

POWELL 5, GREEN RIVER 3

Green River is a newcomer to the 3A ranks this year after competing in 4A last season. That left the Panthers with little knowledge of their opponents, hoping to leave with a victory on the road against the No. 3-ranked Wolves (1-2 overall, 1-2 3A West).

Just over five minutes into the game, Agee scored from a second opportunity on a corner kick to make it 1-0 in favor of the Panthers.

The lead doubled 27 minutes into the game, when Agee fired a 25-yard, left-footed shot past the Green River keeper to make it 2-0.

The Wolves created opportunities the rest of the half, and got on the board with just under five minutes left in the first half to make it 2-1.

Powell appeared to regain a two goal advantage on a goal by Kenzie Fields with just over a minute remaining, but she was in an offside position when she received the ball — keeping the score at a one goal game.

Another close call came less than 30 seconds later, when a long-range effort from Agee hit the post and bounced out of play — the score stayed 2-1 at the half.

Agee completed her hat-trick six minutes into the second half, restoring the two-goal advantage for the Panthers.

Green River again cut into the lead on a long-distance effort, making it 3-2 just 10 minutes into the second half.

A few minutes later the Wolves tied the game on a penalty kick after a handling in the area was called on the Panthers — tying the game 3-3 with 28 minutes left in the game.

It took less than 10 seconds for the Panthers to regain the lead.

Agee took a pass back off the kickoff and, with the wind at her back, took a shot from 70 yards that went over the Green River keeper to quickly make it 4-3 in favor of Powell.

“Green River is a good team, and their top striker is a force to try and contain,” coach Agee said. “It is the part of our game that we are working to improve at and the ladies did well. The third goal was a penalty kick and there is not much we could have done about it. We were quick to answer and that said a lot about the ladies.”

Just over midway through the half, a hustle play by Mary Shopa found the back of the net to help put the Panthers in a more comfortable position up 5-3.

Powell was able to hold off any late chances from the Wolves, and walked away with a 5-3 victory.

Hampton finished with seven saves in the victory for the Panthers.

LANDER 3, POWELL 2

Finishing off a busy schedule with their third game against a top three opponent in four days, the Panthers looked for another upset on the road against the No. 2-ranked Lander Tigers (2-2 overall, 2-1 3A West).

Both teams found attacking opportunities throughout the half, but the match remained at a stalemate for a majority of the first half.

A well worked attack led to a shot from 25 yards out from the Tigers, that snuck under Hampton to give Lander the lead 1-0 with seven minutes left in the first half.

Lander appeared to be in control in the final minute and was poised to take a 1-0 lead into the locker room.

One final attack by Agee up the right wing saw a shot rifled across the frame of the goal, finding the far corner with just 20 seconds left in the half to tie the game 1-1 heading into the half.

A free kick from 40 yards out for Lander was crossed perfectly to the middle of the 18-yard box and was tapped in to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead 15 minutes into the second half.

As they have done in almost every game this season Powell had a quick response, when a right-footed shot from Agee squeezed past the Lander keeper to tie the game 2:30 minutes after the Tigers took the lead.

Both teams had opportunities over the next 10 minutes, but a foul was called in the box with just over 12 minutes left to give Lander an opportunity to take the lead.

Hampton guessed the right way but the ball was placed just past her outstretched hand to give Lander the 3-2 lead.

“Let’s be honest, there are some games that you just aren’t meant to win,” coach Agee said. “Three hard fought games in four days is rough and fatigue became a factor. We played very well but just struggled to score a few chances. However, the ladies made huge strides in our individual defending and in our group organization.”

Lander was able to hold off the final attacks from the Panthers, finishing with the 3-2 victory.

Hampton finished with seven saves in the loss for Powell.

THANKFUL FOR SUPPORT

“I have to say, as a coach it can be so easy to get caught up in the team and the games and overlook everything that actually makes a year a success,” coach Agee said.

He said that the team has received an outpouring of support this season as the Panthers continue to make strides on the field, with assistant coach Callee Erickson helping spearhead the efforts for the program off the field.

“There has been so much support shown to these ladies through fundraisers and donations and even just the offering of one’s personal time to help Callee and I get something done,” coach Agee said. “Any request I have made to parents has been met with more volunteers than we needed — even to the point of packing camp to Lander and cooking a wonderful meal for the entire team.”

He said the team continues to roll along and is grateful for the support from the community for the Panther girls’ soccer team and all the other programs this year.

RETURNING HOME

Powell doesn’t have to wait long for another shot at the Tigers, returning home to Powell High School at 3 p.m. on Friday to take on Lander.

Powell currently sits in second place in the 3A West due to playing more games than Lander, and has a chance to contend with the Tigers for the No. 2 seed despite the loss this past weekend.

The Panthers then stay at home to take on Pinedale (0-4 overall, 0-4 3A West) for the first time this weekend at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

“I don’t plan on doing anything different than we are currently doing,” coach Agee said. “We have a goal and plan for how we want to approach that goal. There have been improvements made in every single game that we have played and that is all that we will aim to do this next week against both Lander and Pinedale.”

CODY 7, POWELL 2

Goals — Ivy Agee 2

Shots — Ivy Agee 10, Kenzie Fields 2, Jordyn Dearcorn 1, Kenna Cannon 1, Emily Orr 1, Mary Shopa 1, Sara Shopa 1

Saves — Jaedyn Hampton 21

POWELL 5, GREEN RIVER 3

Goals — Ivy Agee 4, Mary Shopa 1

Assists — Jordyn Dearcorn 1

Shots — Ivy Agee 10, Coy Erickson 2, Jordyn Dearcorn 1, Mary Shopa 1, Kenzie Fields 1

Saves — Jaedyn Hampton 7

LANDER 3, POWELL 2

Goals — Ivy Agee 2

Shots — Ivy Agee 14, Coy Erickson 4, Mary Shopa 2, Jordyn Dearcorn 1, Emily Orr 1

Saves — Jaedyn Hampton 7