A rivalry game between the top two teams in the 3A West saw the Powell Panther girls’ soccer team drop its first game of the season 5-1 to Cody on Thursday before rebounding to defeat Worland on Saturday 3-0.

CODY 5, POWELL 1

After a short break the Panthers (7-1 overall, 4-1 3A West) returned to the homefield to take on the Fillies (8-1 overall, 5-0 3A West) to wrap up the first half of conference action.

Early on the Panthers had better possession but did not find much on the offensive end, before the Fillies struck on the counter.

A cross into the box found its way onto a Filly attacker before the Panthers could clear it and it found its way into the back of the net to make it 1-0 with 17:05 left in the first half.

“We definitely need to work on marking up defensively as an entire team and closing options down,” coach Danny Agee said. “I did see some good combination play and possession and we will work to expand on that and connect it more effectively in the final third.”

Cody then found another goal before the end of the first half, scoring on a ball that was not cleared on a scramble in the box to make it 2-0 with 4:05 left.

Powell didn’t go into the break trailing 2-0, as a good passing combination with just over a minute remaining between Ivy Agee and Emery Hernandez led to an Agee goal from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 at the break.

Early in the second half both teams had their chances, but it was Cody that scored once again with 22:53 left to make it 3-1.

Cody added two more goals in the final 10 minutes, sending the Panthers to their first loss of the season via a 5-1 scoreline.

“I don’t really see the loss as a major problem,” coach Agee said. “It showed us some things to try and address going forward. I know we have a great group and we did not play our best. The ladies have a great deal of potential.”

POWELL 3, WORLAND 0

After the first loss of the season the Panthers regrouped on Friday before heading down to Worland to take on the Warriors (3-5 overall, 3-1 3A East) in a nonconference match.

The Panthers and Warriors battled back-and-forth in the first half, with neither creating any significant chances as the two teams went into the half tied 0-0.

Powell didn’t take long to get on the board early in the second half, as Ivy Agee fired a shot into the back of the net just a minute in to make it 1-0.

The Panthers created more opportunities, and eventually doubled the lead on a Hernandez finish to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes left.

Agee added one more goal with 14 minutes left for good measure, and the Panthers rebounded with a 3-0 win.

“The ladies did well in a lot of the tactical areas we had discussed on Friday so that was great,” coach Agee said. “We started to pick up intensity and improve our basic passing and trapping and then it all came together.”

LANDER HOME GAME

The Panthers will not have much time to rest before taking on another difficult opponent, as the Panthers will host the Lander Tigers (4-2 overall, 2-2 3A West) at 3 p.m. today (Tuesday).

“Lander is a great, strong team,” coach Agee said. “I hope to see us press quickly to close down space and control their attack with some organized defensive pressure.”

Powell is looking for the season sweep of the Tigers after a 1-0 win earlier on the road.