Lady Panthers settle for state play-in game

Following three straight losses, including two in the 3A Northwest Conference, the Powell Lady Panthers soccer team will be forced to play its way into the state tournament this season.

Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to visiting Worland solidified PHS’ postseason fate after the Lady Panthers dropped a 5-0 decision on the road at Cody on Saturday. After upsetting No. 1-ranked Star Valley on April 25, PHS has dropped three straight matches, starting with Buffalo on Friday to fall to 5-7 on the season. The Lady Panthers finished their conference slate with an 0-4 record.

Worland 3, Powell 0

PHS looked much better in its second try against the Lady Warriors, holding Worland scoreless in the first half as the first 40 minutes ended in a 0-0 tie.

The Lady Panthers had several scoring opportunities early, getting a half-dozen tries in the first half. The best came when senior Aimee Kawano played a ball to wide-open senior Jourdyn Haire at the top of the box. Haire had at least 10 feet of open space as Worland goalkeeper Aubrey Goodrick turned her attention to Kawano. But instead of Haire’s shot going straight, she unintentionally sent the shot toward Goodrick, and the ball traveled harmlessly out of bounds.

“We had great ball movement and quite a few shots on goal ... we just couldn’t get them in,” PHS head coach Jack Haire said.

The Lady Warriors got the only goal it would need in the 49th minute. Emily Keller broke free from the PHS defense and fired a cross near the top of the box that got past Powell’s outstretched goalkeeper Gabby Hirsch.

Two goals for Worland later in the second half cemented the shutout. Still, coach Haire said the final score didn’t tell the whole story.

“Three-nothing does not reflect the game that was played on the field,” the coach said. “We moved the ball perfectly, the girls worked hard, they communicated ... that was one of the best games we played all season.”

Newcastle will likely be the Lady Panthers’ play-in opponent, and Haire is confident his team is moving in the right direction despite its recent misfortune.

“We’re improving,” he said. “The effort is there and I think we look good heading toward state.”

Buffalo 6, Powell 2

Filling in for sophomore goalkeeper Gabby Hirsch, usual junior varsity keeper and freshman Sydney Olsen was unable to keep Buffalo at bay before senior Aimee Kawano took over in the second half Friday in Buffalo.

BHS poured on the offense as the Lady Panthers were unable to keep up with the hosts.

“We didn’t move the ball around as well as we wanted to,” coach Haire said. “(It was) a little disappointing; we just didn’t play to our potential.”

Seniors Jourdyn Haire and Aimee Kawano provided PHS’ two scores. The Lady Panthers totaled nine shots.

Cody 5, Powell 0

A road trip from Buffalo on Friday to Powell and Cody on Saturday apparently slowed the Lady Panthers to a point of no return.

“We were just all tired,” coach Haire said. “We didn’t get home until 1 a.m. and we had a game nine hours later. And Cody’s a good team, man; they deserve to be No. 2 in the state.”

The Fillies built a 2-0 lead in the first half starting with a penalty kick from Sami Heimer. In the final two minutes of the first half, Ashley Nieters played another ball past Hirsch, who resumed her role as PHS’ starting keeper.

Four minutes into the second half, Nieters scored her second goal of the match for a 3-0 lead, and the blowout was on.

Hirsch finished with 18 saves. The Lady Panthers took 10 shots against the Fillies.