After a tough start to the week, Platte County reeled off four straight wins, including a 3-0 victory in the opening round of the Panther Classic on Saturday, Oct. 3 that avenged a previous loss. The Pirates scored twice in the first half and added a third in the 55th minute to beat St. Joseph Central at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside, Mo. The Indians won a regular season matchup between the two teams in early September by a score of 1-0.
In the rematch, Baylor Cox scored twice and set up Mason Hays’ goal, while sophomore midfielder Chandler Peterson set up one of Cox’s markers.
Platte County (10-6-1) lost 6-0 to host Park Hill South in a semifinal Tuesday, Oct. 6, dropping into the third-place game set for 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Panthers play in the championship at 7 p.m.
Park Hill South 3, Smithville 0
The Panthers earned their semifinal matchup with Platte County with an improved second half in their opener.
After letting Smithville hold the edge in possession in the first 40 minutes, Park Hill South scored twice late to ensure a victory. Noah Brizendine made seven saves during a busy first half, and Evan Morrow completed the shutout for the Panthers with three saves after halftime. Morrow missed the first half due to another school activity commitment.
Park Hill South also played without leading scorer Carson Cavitt-Wells, attending his brother’s wedding, and lost Dan Geary (thumb), Tanner Alderson (ankle) and Josh Wood (bone bruise) to injury during the course of play. Yet, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute when Turner Hall converted a penalty kick after Smithville committed a handball while defending a throw-in.
Ryan DiBernardo doubled the advantage in the 74th minute on an assist from left back Noah Anderson, who left a trail pass that DiBernardo fired home from 25 yards out. Michael Panella capped the scoring two minutes later on a scramble in front of goal, finally putting away the final rebound opportunity of a flurry in front of the Warriors goal.
North Kansas City 0, Park Hill 0
A goalless draw ended with a loss in penalty kicks for the Trojans. Peyton LaFerla saved the first try in the shootout, but Park Hill’s first three penalty takers missed, allowing the Hornets to win 3-1.
Park Hill dropped into the seventh-place game with a 3-1 loss to Liberty North on Monday, Oct. 5.
Christian Fullmer scored the lone goal for the Trojans, cutting their deficit to 2-1. The Eagles sprang out on a counter to score the final goal.
Other games
Platte County 2, Blue Springs 0
Cox scored once and set up Peterson on the other goal, both in the first half Thursday, Oct. 1 in Blue Springs, Mo. The Pirates were playing their fourth game in four days, a stretch that started with a 4-1 loss to rival Smithville.
Bailey Ride made the lead stand up with Platte County’s third shutout of the season. The shutout streak reached two games with the opener of the Panther Classic.
Platte County 1, Raytown South 1
Ride made three saves in a penalty shootout that ended with a 3-2 win for Platte County on Wednesday, Sept. 30 in Raytown, Mo.
Peterson scored the Pirates’ goal in regulation on an assist from Cox. Peterson, Hays and Colton Grisham scored penalties in the shootout to lead them to a second straight Suburban Conference Blue Division win and a 3-3 mark in league play.
Platte County 10, Winnetonka 1
The Pirates took a 7-0 lead early in the second half Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Platte County High School on the way to a Blue Division win.
Cox opened the scoring on his way to a hat trick, and the Pirates led 5-0 at halftime. Goals from Brayden Percival and Parker Wolfe extended the advantage to seven before Winnetonka broke through with 23 minutes to play.
Peterson, Blake Cochran, Jake Havemeier, Jonathan Anguiano and Noah Pasch also tallied single goals, while Jonah Hoppe provided two assists. Six other players recorded an assist, including one for Ride from his goalkeeper spot.
Park Hill South 6, Staley 0
Five different players scored Wednesday, Sept. 30 in Kansas City, Mo., helping the Panthers beat the team that ended their 2014 season.
Tyler Pisoni capped the win with a pair of second-half goals in the 48th and 58th minutes. He turned a poor clearance into a volley goal on the first and then teamed with a Noah Anderson on a give-and-go counterattack finished at the near post into the top corner of Staley’s goal.
Carson Cavitt-Wells scored once and assisted on two more in the first half, while Danny Gunderson assisted on Tanner Alderson’s opener and then scored the fourth. Cavitt-Wells sprung Gunderson on a breakway in the 29th minute, and he finished strongly to provide the 4-0 cushion at halftime.
Michael Panella scored 4 minute earlier on a header at the near post off of a Cavitt-Wells corner kick.
Park Hill 10, Ruskin 0
Fullmer scored four, and Nico Bosmediano provided four assists in a Suburban Conference Red Division win Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Park Hill District Soccer Complex in Riverside, Mo. Bosmediano also scored once.
Other goal scorers included Kyle Timmerman (two) and one apiece for Logan Crichlow, Paulo Murguia and Jeremiyah Jeffery.