The Powell Panther boys’ soccer team wrapped up a postseason berth on Friday after a 1-1 regulation scoreline followed by a 5-4 shootout win over Mountain View secured the bid to state. That was followed by a disappointing 1-0 loss Saturday to Lyman, which  stopped the Panthers from getting to second in the standings heading into the final week of the season.

POWELL 1, MOUNTAIN VIEW 1 (5-4 SO)

Looking to avenge one of their earlier season losses the Panthers (7-5 overall, 5-4 3A West) matched up with the Buffalos (7-3 overall, 5-3 3A West) to try  paying back Mountain View for a 1-0 loss in Powell in April.

Both teams had their opportunities to attack and were organized throughout, and it was Powell that struck first late in the first half.

That goal came from Braxton Batt, who scored off a quick free kick taken by Cody Fisher and gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Powell maintained that lead for much of the game, until the Buffalos got an equalizing goal with approximately 11 minutes left to tie the game.

Both teams played the rest of the game with no goals, sending it into penalty kicks to determine a winner.

Both teams made their first kick, before Powell gained an advantage with the second set of kicks.

Powell made its shot while the Buffalos had theirs saved as the Panthers held a 2-1 lead.

“With the current 3A system of going straight to penalties after 80 minutes of regulation time, we practice taking penalties every week,” coach David Gilliatt said. “Truett Carter is a monster at stopping them so we felt confident he would save at least one.”

The two teams continued to match each other over the final three rounds, as neither team missed and Powell earned the 5-4 shootout win to lock up a spot at the state tournament next week in Gillette.

“It was a really good win against an organized and very experienced Mountain View team,” Gilliatt said. That current group has been playing together since they were young and it’s the strongest team Mountain View has fielded in all the time I’ve coached against them. We knew it would be tough going in but I was proud of the guys for sticking to the strategy and taking them to penalties.”

LYMAN 1, POWELL 0

After the win Friday the Panthers took on the Eagles (3-6 overall, 2-6 3A West), looking for the regular season sweep.

Powell had a chance early, but Fisher’s free kick was saved by the Eagle keeper.

Heat played a factor throughout for the Panthers in one of the warmer contests of the season.

“We did have some important players experience vomiting and dizziness before and during the game. I’m still not sure if it was due to the heat or just exhaustion from the game the day before,” Gilliatt said.

Powell still had its chances early, but it was Lyman that got on the board in the first half.

A long shot from the sideline found its way into the back of the net with 15 minutes left and the Eagles led 1-0.

Throughout the game the Panthers continued to have chances, but were unable to take advantage of one-on-one opportunities against the keeper as they fell in an important game 1-0 to the Eagles.

“We consistently lacked composure in our shots and 1v1s with the keeper,” Gilliatt said. “We also had many unforced errors where we kicked it out of bounds without really being pressured.”

FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME

Powell heads to Cody for its final regular season game this Friday against the rival Broncs (12-1 overall, 8-1 3A West) at 6 p.m.

“We’ll review some of these mistakes this week and work to improve those areas before we play Cody this Friday,” Gilliatt said. “Just clean up our game when passing out of the back to maintain a bit more possession. We need to be smarter with our scoring chances as they will likely be limited against Cody.”

Powell remains in the mix for the No. 2 seed in the west, but is currently one point behind Mountain View and tied with Lander.

All four postseason teams have been determined in the west, with Cody being the only team to be locked into its position at the No. 1 seed.

If Powell ends as the No. 2 seed it will likely take on Worland which is the No. 3 seed in the east; if the Panthers end as the No. 3 or 4 seed they will take on either Torrington or Buffalo which are tied at the top of the 3A East and have split their regular season matches.

3A WEST STANDINGS

(Overall record then conference record, teams earn one additional point for shootout losses)

1. Cody 12-1, 36 points; 8-1, 24 points

2. Mountain View 7-3, 22 points; 5-3, 16 points

3. Powell 7-5, 21 points; 5-4, 15 points

4. Lander 7-3, 21 points; 5-3, 15 points

5. Lyman 3-6, 9 points; 2-6, 6 points

6. Pinedale 0-9, 1 point; 0-8, 1 point

3A EAST STANDINGS

1. Torrington 9-4, 27 points; 8-1, 24 points

2. Buffalo 8-5, 24 points; 8-1, 24 points

3. Worland 6-7, 20 points; 5-4, 17 points

4. Douglas 4-8, 12 points; 3-5, 9 points

5. Rawlins 3-9, 12 points; 2-6, 9 points

6. Newcastle 0-12, 0 points; 0-9, 0 points