AFTON - Without starting keeper Karla Gaytan, midfielder Logan Yule and defenders Kyra Klinghagen and Jaycee Page, the Worland Lady Warriors found a way to defeat the Star Valley Lady Braves 3-2 in a matchup between top-ranked 3A girls soccer teams Friday night at Star Valley High School.

"I was super impressed with their teamwork today. Every single player stepped up and worked hard. I had McKenna [Butte] in goal and she's been practicing for five days. The on goal was off a PK [penalty kick] that she didn't know she could pick up but to step on a varsity field with only five days of practice, she played phenomenally.

"Casey [Wassum], we've been talking about stepping outside that role of being just a scorer and she was able to do that today. The other girls saw that and stepped up too, it was just awesome," said WHS girls soccer coach Danielle Warren.

In the first half senior Casey Wassum scored two goals for the No. 2 Lady Warriors but the No. 5 Star Valley Lady Braves answered with goals of their own to go into halftime tied at 2-all.

Out of the break, Warren slid Wassum from attacking to defending and relied on her younger players to get a goal.

The match's deciding goal was scored by junior Kendall Wright who took a rebounded Tymberlynn Crippen shot and put the ball into the back of the net.

'We do a word of the week each week and one of them was teamwork and it basically means working together for a common goal and not caring who gets the credit. I think, sometimes, in team sports we forget that and it can't just be one player. It has to be everyone, working and being willing to work. I think Casey saying she's willing to play center back was huge for our team. It speaks volumes about her and shows the other girls what it takes to win," said Warren.

Downing Star Valley Friday night was a big win for Worland regarding seeding for the 3A State qualifying matches on May 11 and 12 at Worland High School. As it sits, they are currently in a tie with Powell for the No. 2-seed out of the Northwest. On Tuesday Powell lost 2-1 to Cody in overtime and if the Lady Panthers fall to the Fillies again on May 8, the tiebreakers to determine the No. 2-seed for the Northwest will kick in.

Breaking the tie between the Lady Warriors and Lady Panthers will be their records against the highest conference opponents not in the same division, which is Star Valley. Powell is 0-2 on the season vs. Star Valley while the Lady Warriors are 1-0. Meaning Worland will be the No. 2-seed out of the Northwest if it comes down to tiebreakers.

Today, the Lady Warriors play the Pinedale Lady Wranglers at 11 a.m. to close out their five-match road trip.