Boys earn favor of three voters

After a 2-1 start to the season last Saturday, the Powell boys soccer team received a further bit of good news this week. The team earned votes from three of the nine ballots submitted in the first Wyopreps coaches’ and media soccer polls of the year.

Buffalo, Powell’s opponent on Friday, received three first-place votes and was listed on every ballot to grab the top spot in the first poll of the regular season. Jackson, which received five first-place votes, was No. 2, followed by Cody, which earned the remaining first-place vote. The Panthers and Broncs are two of the three teams in the 3A Northwest quadrant this soccer season.

Lander and Star Valley rounded out the top five. Worland, the third member of the 3A Northwest, earned votes from five of the nine voters to lurk just outside the top five. They were followed by Powell, which received one fourth-place vote and two fifth-place votes.

On the girls’ side, the Panthers were not mentioned in the first round of ballots cast. Cody High School received three of a possible seven first-place votes to debut as the No. 1 team in the state.

Jackson, which received two first-place votes, earned the No. 2 spot, squeaking in front of Lander.

Pinedale, which earned one first-place vote, was tied with Star Valley for the No. 4 position to round out this week’s top five.

Buffalo earned the remaining first-place vote in the state, but was only mentioned by two other voters to finish on the outside of this week’s top five. Worland earned mention from two voters and was the only other 3A team featured in the initial poll.

Powell hosts Buffalo in a 5 p.m., Friday, girls’ soccer game at Powell High School. The Panther boys will be on the road that same day to face No. 1 Buffalo. On Saturday, the Powell girls host No. 4 Pinedale in an 11 a.m. contest. The Panther boys tangle with Pinedale at 1 p.m. on Saturday.