A gusty Friday evening had the Powell Panther boys’ soccer team battling for its undefeated 3A West record against Lander — winning the match after a 6-5 shootout ended a 0-0 tie, before cruising to a comfortable 8-0 victory over Pinedale on Saturday.

POWELL 0 (6), LANDER 0 (5)

Cold, windy conditions made for a difficult contest for the No. 2-ranked Panthers (7-1 overall, 7-0 3A West) throughout as they battled with the Tigers (1-5 overall, 1-4 3A West) for the second time in six days.

Lander took control early in the contest, using the wind at its back to create chances from long range.

Powell battled the wind, holding a low-block against the Tigers and trying to find chances on the counterattack.

“I don’t think we took advantage of the fact that the wind held the ball up on those longer balls,” coach David Gilliatt said. “I think we did a good job of holding them when the wind was coming at us.”

Lander had one of the best chances in the first half, with a long range attack hitting off the crossbar and out of bounds.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net — going into halftime tied 0-0.

Powell created additional chances in the second half, pressing the initiative, but Lander continued to hold out the Panthers.

A stinging shot by Chance Franks was stopped by the Tiger goalkeeper, as neither team could break the deadlock and finished the game tied 0-0.

“In the second half I thought we had a lot more chances on goal than they did,” Gilliatt said. “They didn’t have many shots on us at all. Their keeper, just like last year, really kept them in the game.”

In the past, the game would have continued into extra time — consisting of two 10 minute periods that resulted in either a winner or a tie after 100 minutes.

However, a new rule was implemented by the Wyoming High School Activities Association this season for 3A teams.

That rule states that the two teams will go directly into a penalty shootout, with the winner taking three points and the losing team gaining a point due to the two teams being tied after 80 minutes.

The rule only applies to conference games during the regular season. Once the teams reach the state tournament, if the two teams are tied after regulation, the teams will play the two extra time halves before going to a penalty shootout.

In the five years under Gilliatt’s tenure, this is the first time Powell has gone to a shootout.

“This is my fifth year coaching at the high school level and I have never had a shootout,” Gilliatt said. “It was a good experience, I’m glad we won. These boys have a lot of grit and they find a way to win — so I’m proud of them in that regard.”

In the shootout in Powell, the two teams continued to battle — with each team making the first four kicks each to set up an all important fifth kick.

Holden Cooper came up with the save for the Panthers, giving Morgan Hobbs a chance to win the game.

He shot to his left, but the Tiger keeper guessed correctly and saved it to send the match to sudden death penalties.

Both teams made their next, before the seventh kicker for Lander sent the ball over the frame and gave Powell another chance to win.

Center back Logan Jensen stepped up and knocked the ball into the back of the net to keep the Panthers undefeated in the 3A West.

POWELL 8, PINEDALE 0

After a battle on Friday night, the Panthers turned around to take on Pindale (1-5 overall, 1-5 3A West).

Powell took control of the contest from the jump, getting a goal inside the first five minutes from Cameron Carpenter.

Franks doubled the Panther lead after 11 minutes, and Carpenter made the score 3-0 at halftime with another goal just a minute before the break.

“In the first half I was not satisfied with how we were playing,” Gilliatt said. “I didn’t yell at them, but there were definitely things to correct. Usually in those huddles it’s a discussion on what we can improve on, and asking them what we can do better in the second half. I think they did a really good job in the second half.”

Morgan Hobbs capped off an intelligent run 11 minutes into the second half to make it 4-0, and Rem DeVries got on the scoresheet shortly after.

Franks got another with 19 minutes left in the game, Will Jackson got a goal with 12 minutes left and Franks capped off the scoring — earning his hat trick on a penalty with 10 minutes left to make it 8-0.

Holden Cooper finished with three saves in the contest, with the Panthers earning their fifth shutout of the season.

RIVALRY CONTEST

Powell will keep the contest at home this weekend, matching up with rival No. 3-ranked Cody (5-3 overall, 5-2 3A West) at 6 p.m. on Friday.

“It’s gonna be a tough game,” Gilliatt said. “I want them to be mentally prepared for this game, I’ll do my best to make sure they are physically prepared. They have some good weapons that we need to make sure we track, they are really well coached.”

The Panthers currently sit on top of the 3A West, with Cody sitting in third since Green River holds the tiebreaker with the two teams level on points.

POWELL 8, PINEDALE 0

Goals — Chance Franks 3, Cameron Carpenter 2, Morgan Hobbs 1, Rem DeVries 1, Will Jackson 1

Assists — Chance Franks 4, Cameron Carpenter 1, Will Jackson 1, Jason Medina 1

3A WEST STANDINGS

Overall record then conference record

1. Powell 7-1 (21 points) … 7-0 (21 points)

2. Green River 5-1 (15 points) … 5-1 (15 points)

3. Cody 5-3 (15 points) … 5-2 (15 points)

4. Lander 1-5 (4 points) … 1-4 (4 points)

5. Mountain View 1-4 (3 points) … 1-4 (3 points)

6. Pinedale 1-5 (3 points) … 1-5 (3 points)

7. Lyman 0-4 (0 points) … 0-4 (0 points)