The Lady Panthers are looking to turn heads in the 3A conference this year. This year the Panthers have strength in numbers, talent and attitude. The team is coached by Kay Pomeroy, and assisted by former Panther Goalie, Stacee Olberding. The lady squad already has two conference wins under their belt, beating Worland 3-1, and rival Lander 1-0. Co-captain, Danielle Heny, said “we will continue to progress, and make people like Lander start noticing the Lady Panthers.”

In the conference win against Worland, Stickerod had two goals, and Melissa Kolacny had one. Against Lander Stickerod scored the Panthers only goal to beat the tigers.

With the Panther’s success came defeat, and the team used those matches as a learning curve to mold their team into a competitive group to be reckoned with. “I really think it is a combination of everyone meshing will together, that makes awesome plays happen,” said leading scorer and co-captain, Haley Stickerod. The team has kept a positive atmosphere at practice to keep the 2006 season on the right path to success. The players and coaches stress working on specific areas targeted to problems of past games, in preparation for their next opponent. At practice the Panthers look to their seniors to lead the team, captains Shannon Olberding, Haley Stickerod, Danielle Heny, and Madyson Drelling, from Rocky, all contribute in making the Panther team the winning combination they are. A major part of the team is group of juniors, sophomores and freshman that continue to show improvement and the skills necessary to be apart of the varsity squad now and in the future years.

“I think our team this year has just found its “click,” said Olberding, “…we all want to improve, and want to improve, this is a huge difference from past years.” The 2006 team is determined and focused to win more games, and put Powell on the map in Wyoming high school soccer.

The Lady Panthers face the Cody Lady Broncs today at 4:00 p.m. The team is focused and ready to secure another win on their quest to an appearance at the regional tournament.